ARGYLE - The Argyle High School volleyball team is just two wins away from advancing to its first state volleyball tournament and that isn't a surprise for Orioles coach Jen Butler.
"I knew coming into the season they had the talent and potential to make it to the sectional," Butler said. "I just had to see how hard they were going to work and how much they wanted it. I would love to see them be able to reach that goal (state)."
To get to where they want to go, the Orioles (17-7) will have to get by Randolph (30-6) in a WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal at 7 p.m. Thursday at Monona Grove High School. Both the Orioles and the Rockets were the top seeds in their regional.
Argyle junior Ashley Bruehlman and sophomore Jena Saalsaa have developed a great rapport on the court, working in unison to put balls away at the net.
Bruehlman leads the Orioles with 283 kills, an average of 11.7 kills per match, and 243 digs, an average of 10.1 per match. Saalsaa has 174 kills.
"It's always a good feeling when she (Bruehlman) rotates to the front row because we know she can put it down," Butler said. "It helps because we have two powerful hitters out there."
The Orioles have gotten solid play from middle hitters Dorissa DeNure and senior Sam Mick. At the start of the season, Mick wasn't playing middle hitter. Butler moved her to middle hitter midway through the season, and she likes the results that have followed. DeNure has a team-best 34 blocks and Mick has 18 blocks and a team-high 52 aces.
"I thought she (Mick) was doing a good job blocking, and I wanted to try her in the middle," Butler said. "She has really stepped up into that spot. As it turns out she is a really good hitter from that spot too."
Argyle senior Kayla-Butler Paulson has 622 assists, an average of 25.9 per match, and has 243 digs. Sophomore Jadyn Saalsaa has a team-high 255 digs this season. Senior outside hitter Morgan Godfrey (91 kills and 16 blocks) gives the Orioles another strong hitter at the net.
Butler said each player on the team has come together to make Argyle stronger.
"Each person knows their role," she said. "They are the true definition of a team."
Randolph finished second in the Trailways North Conference after posting an 8-1 mark to finish just behind conference champion Lourdes Academy (9-0).
Randolph is led by sophomore JoLea Woreck, who has 296 kills, an average of 8.2 per match, and senior Morgan Paul (252 kills, an average of seven per match).
The top servers for the Rockets are senior Breanna Huizenga, who has 68 aces and is serving at 92.3 percent, and Paul who has 67 aces and a 93.2 serving percentage. Huizenga also is a defensive stalwart with 520 digs, an average of 14.4 per match.
Two of the six matches the Rockets lost this season came in the season-opening Whitewater tournament Aug. 26. Randolph had a 15-match winning streak that was snapped when it lost two sets to host Mount Horeb in an invitational Sept. 24.
The one common opponent between Argyle and Randolph is Johnson Creek. Both the Orioles and Rockets beat Johnson Creek in three sets.
"I think if we play our game we have a chance of winning," Butler said. "I think we match up well. I think it will be a really close game. I think they (Orioles) really want it. They have been putting in the hard work."
"I knew coming into the season they had the talent and potential to make it to the sectional," Butler said. "I just had to see how hard they were going to work and how much they wanted it. I would love to see them be able to reach that goal (state)."
To get to where they want to go, the Orioles (17-7) will have to get by Randolph (30-6) in a WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal at 7 p.m. Thursday at Monona Grove High School. Both the Orioles and the Rockets were the top seeds in their regional.
Argyle junior Ashley Bruehlman and sophomore Jena Saalsaa have developed a great rapport on the court, working in unison to put balls away at the net.
Bruehlman leads the Orioles with 283 kills, an average of 11.7 kills per match, and 243 digs, an average of 10.1 per match. Saalsaa has 174 kills.
"It's always a good feeling when she (Bruehlman) rotates to the front row because we know she can put it down," Butler said. "It helps because we have two powerful hitters out there."
The Orioles have gotten solid play from middle hitters Dorissa DeNure and senior Sam Mick. At the start of the season, Mick wasn't playing middle hitter. Butler moved her to middle hitter midway through the season, and she likes the results that have followed. DeNure has a team-best 34 blocks and Mick has 18 blocks and a team-high 52 aces.
"I thought she (Mick) was doing a good job blocking, and I wanted to try her in the middle," Butler said. "She has really stepped up into that spot. As it turns out she is a really good hitter from that spot too."
Argyle senior Kayla-Butler Paulson has 622 assists, an average of 25.9 per match, and has 243 digs. Sophomore Jadyn Saalsaa has a team-high 255 digs this season. Senior outside hitter Morgan Godfrey (91 kills and 16 blocks) gives the Orioles another strong hitter at the net.
Butler said each player on the team has come together to make Argyle stronger.
"Each person knows their role," she said. "They are the true definition of a team."
Randolph finished second in the Trailways North Conference after posting an 8-1 mark to finish just behind conference champion Lourdes Academy (9-0).
Randolph is led by sophomore JoLea Woreck, who has 296 kills, an average of 8.2 per match, and senior Morgan Paul (252 kills, an average of seven per match).
The top servers for the Rockets are senior Breanna Huizenga, who has 68 aces and is serving at 92.3 percent, and Paul who has 67 aces and a 93.2 serving percentage. Huizenga also is a defensive stalwart with 520 digs, an average of 14.4 per match.
Two of the six matches the Rockets lost this season came in the season-opening Whitewater tournament Aug. 26. Randolph had a 15-match winning streak that was snapped when it lost two sets to host Mount Horeb in an invitational Sept. 24.
The one common opponent between Argyle and Randolph is Johnson Creek. Both the Orioles and Rockets beat Johnson Creek in three sets.
"I think if we play our game we have a chance of winning," Butler said. "I think we match up well. I think it will be a really close game. I think they (Orioles) really want it. They have been putting in the hard work."
