NORMAL — According to Genoa-Kingston’s Alivia Keegan, she has one of the best jobs around.
The Cogs’ dominant defense leads to crisp passes to their junior setter. Then, she knows that no matter who she sends the ball to, they’re going to get the job done.
“It’s amazing,” Keegan said. “It feels like I’m running on clouds. The pass is there. I set it up and know they’re going to hammer it wherever they put it and it’s going to score.”
That formula played out Friday for Genoa-Kingston in a 25-21, 25-15 victory over Illinois Valley Central in the Class 2A state semifinals at Illinois State’s Redbird Arena.
Keegan was a maestro for the Cogs (36-4), who advanced to play IC Catholic (33-1) at 1:55 p.m. Saturday for the state championship. She dished out 17 assists with nine digs, two aces and even six kills.
“She’s a floor general,” Genoa-Kingston coach Keith Foster said of Keegan. “It’s exciting as a coach to know you can focus on the other team and how you can defeat the team you’re playing when you have someone like Alivia who’s running our offense and dictating passes.
“She betters the ball. When the pass isn’t there, which isn’t often, she’s able to find a way to put the ball in a spot where hitters can take advantage.”
Keegan was all over the court at the end of the second game to secure the win over IVC (36-4-1). She assisted Lily Mueller on one of her match-high 10 kills to give the Cogs a 20-13 lead.
For the next point, Keegan served an ace. Needing a side out late in the game, she saw a hole on the other side of the court and popped a one-armed kill over the net. IVC never scored again.
“Confidence is definitely the key,” Keegan said. “I worked to put the ball in a different area.”
When Keegan keeps it in system, she’s confident in her entire collection of hitters. Alayna Pierce had eight kills and Kaitlin Rahn added five for the Cogs.
“That comes with a lot of trust on our team,” Keegan said. “If the pass brings me to an area where I can’t end up going where I want to go, knowing I have the back side or back row, our outside, middle, I trust our hitters a lot.”
The hitters also appreciate that aspect. Mueller pointed out the program’s motto is to go out swinging.
“All across the net, every single hitter can get kills, which is why we’re so successful,” Mueller said. “We’re able to spread the offense out.”
As a coach, Foster knows how valuable having a diverse setter like Keegan is on both sides of the net.
“Because of the tempo and the balance the team has, it keeps teams guessing, freezes middles,” Foster said. “We’re unpredictable.”
Genoa-Kingston showed few nerves on the big stage, dominating from the beginning of the match.
“We talked in the locker room,” Keegan said. “We got our jitters out. We danced to ‘Cotton-Eyed Joe.’ That’s our daily routine. We did that, and we came in heads high, strong, confident.”
Ever since losing last season to Rock Falls in the sectional championship match, the Cogs had the goal of playing for the state title. Saturday, that opportunity arrives.
“We used that loss to fuel us this year,” Foster said. “The kids are just so mentally tough. I don’t think they look across the net and see a better team ever. I just don’t think they see it that way.
“They play as if they think we’re the better team.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.