SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk junior Alyssa Piefer has dedicated her practice time to perfecting a powerful serve.
Piefer used that practice to be a difference maker Tuesday night to propel Black Hawk to a sweep of Monticello, 25-13, 25-14, 25-9, in the WIAA Division 4 Williams Bay regional quarterfinal. Piefer scored four straight service points in the second game to help the Warriors jump out to a 5-1 lead they never relinquished. She scored eight straight service points to start the third game as the Warriors rolled to the win.
"I'm very happy just getting my serve in," Piefer said. "We have been working on placing it well. We just work on hard-core serves and aces."
Black Hawk coach Rachel Wolff was excited with Piefer's serving prowess.
"I think Piefer did a great job serving, not only getting it in, but putting something on it," Wolff said. "Throughout the course of the season, she has not always been that effective. I would hate to have been behind the ball trying to pass it up."
Black Hawk advances to the regional semifinal match against Burlington Catholic Central, which has won three straight Division 4 state championships. Catholic Central is ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association state poll.
"I have a lot of faith in our girls that we will go in and play our best," Wolff said. "You can't go in there and make mental and physical errors that cost you. Hopefully, we can stick with them and do our best. Who knows? We will give it our best shot."
The Ponies started out strong playing the Warriors to a tie at 7 early in the first game. Black Hawk junior Melissa Wellnitz scored six consecutive service points, which was highlighted by senior Katie Place's kill to give the Warriors an insurmountable 14-7 lead. Moments later, Black Hawk junior Rachel Rygh hammered a spike for a 16-9 lead.
"They (Black Hawk) are better than a No. 3 seed," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "We knew coming in it would be a tall order. We knew we had to play almost perfectly to have a chance. Black Hawk did more things perfect and got the job done."
After Piefer's hot serving sparked the Warriors to a 5-1 lead in the second game, the Ponies made a push. Monticello rallied from a 9-4 deficit. After the Ponies forced a sideout, sophomore Becky Nelson delivered an ace and junior Taylor Pfeuti's kill cut the Warriors' lead to 10-7. However, that is as close as the Ponies would get.
Black Hawk senior Kim Wellnitz had a team-high eight kills, three aces and two blocks. Piefer had a match-high 11 assists.
"Any team can come back and take you down if you are not on your game," Black Hawk senior Nicole Kloepfer said, who had seven kills and seven assists. "I think the major thing that helped us was our intensity. Tonight we brought our game and played up to our potential. Tonight we had the intensity to carry through the match."
The Warriors surged out to a 17-3 lead in the final game and the lead was never in jeopardy. Smice understands that the Ponies just dug too big of a hole.
"That has kind of been our M-O," Smice said. "We start out slow. Then you have to climb the hill. I'm not saying we would have beat Black Hawk. The morale would have been different."
Melissa Wellnitz and Place each had five kills and Rygh had four. The Warriors now turn their attention to the regional semifinal Friday at Burlington Catholic Central.
Pfeuti and Haley Blum had two kills apiece to lead the Ponies.
Catholic Central knocked Black Hawk out of the regional two years ago and Faith Christian, who is ranked No. 2, beat the Warriors last year.
"I'm really excited," Piefer said. "We are just ready to play. We will keep practicing hard and hope for the best."
Piefer used that practice to be a difference maker Tuesday night to propel Black Hawk to a sweep of Monticello, 25-13, 25-14, 25-9, in the WIAA Division 4 Williams Bay regional quarterfinal. Piefer scored four straight service points in the second game to help the Warriors jump out to a 5-1 lead they never relinquished. She scored eight straight service points to start the third game as the Warriors rolled to the win.
"I'm very happy just getting my serve in," Piefer said. "We have been working on placing it well. We just work on hard-core serves and aces."
Black Hawk coach Rachel Wolff was excited with Piefer's serving prowess.
"I think Piefer did a great job serving, not only getting it in, but putting something on it," Wolff said. "Throughout the course of the season, she has not always been that effective. I would hate to have been behind the ball trying to pass it up."
Black Hawk advances to the regional semifinal match against Burlington Catholic Central, which has won three straight Division 4 state championships. Catholic Central is ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association state poll.
"I have a lot of faith in our girls that we will go in and play our best," Wolff said. "You can't go in there and make mental and physical errors that cost you. Hopefully, we can stick with them and do our best. Who knows? We will give it our best shot."
The Ponies started out strong playing the Warriors to a tie at 7 early in the first game. Black Hawk junior Melissa Wellnitz scored six consecutive service points, which was highlighted by senior Katie Place's kill to give the Warriors an insurmountable 14-7 lead. Moments later, Black Hawk junior Rachel Rygh hammered a spike for a 16-9 lead.
"They (Black Hawk) are better than a No. 3 seed," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "We knew coming in it would be a tall order. We knew we had to play almost perfectly to have a chance. Black Hawk did more things perfect and got the job done."
After Piefer's hot serving sparked the Warriors to a 5-1 lead in the second game, the Ponies made a push. Monticello rallied from a 9-4 deficit. After the Ponies forced a sideout, sophomore Becky Nelson delivered an ace and junior Taylor Pfeuti's kill cut the Warriors' lead to 10-7. However, that is as close as the Ponies would get.
Black Hawk senior Kim Wellnitz had a team-high eight kills, three aces and two blocks. Piefer had a match-high 11 assists.
"Any team can come back and take you down if you are not on your game," Black Hawk senior Nicole Kloepfer said, who had seven kills and seven assists. "I think the major thing that helped us was our intensity. Tonight we brought our game and played up to our potential. Tonight we had the intensity to carry through the match."
The Warriors surged out to a 17-3 lead in the final game and the lead was never in jeopardy. Smice understands that the Ponies just dug too big of a hole.
"That has kind of been our M-O," Smice said. "We start out slow. Then you have to climb the hill. I'm not saying we would have beat Black Hawk. The morale would have been different."
Melissa Wellnitz and Place each had five kills and Rygh had four. The Warriors now turn their attention to the regional semifinal Friday at Burlington Catholic Central.
Pfeuti and Haley Blum had two kills apiece to lead the Ponies.
Catholic Central knocked Black Hawk out of the regional two years ago and Faith Christian, who is ranked No. 2, beat the Warriors last year.
"I'm really excited," Piefer said. "We are just ready to play. We will keep practicing hard and hope for the best."
