MONROE - Middle hitter Taylor Barrett believes the Monroe volleyball team is on the brink of getting over the hump and winning its first Badger South Conference match.
Barrett and the Cheesemakers (9-22, 0-5 Badger South) got off to a strong start Thursday, but were edged by Fort Atkinson in three sets 25-21, 25-20, 25-17.
"We are so close all the time," said Barrett who had six kills and three blocks. "Our problem is when we have the lead we have to finish it out and not let up. If we can play like this we can compete with anybody. If we can finish out our season like this and take it into the tournament there is no doubt that we will be a contestant."
Monroe senior Kirsten Vetterli made her return after missing six matches due to an ankle injury.
"In the first game, it was in my head," Vetterli said. "I was just thinking about getting back to playing. When I got that block in the second set, I got the confidence and I just started playing."
The Cheesemakers had aggressive play at the net in the first set by seniors Barrett, Savannah Koester and Whitney Disch. Koester, who finished with six kills, had a spike to give the Cheesemakers a 14-6 lead. Disch also had a key set over the Blackhawks' front row and Koester had an ace to give the Cheesemakers a 21-16 lead.
The Cheesemakers couldn't slam the door on the Blackhawks. After a sideout by the Blackhawks, Fort Atkinson sophomore Arielle Hachtel scored eight straight service points to give the Blackhawks a comeback win.
"They all kind of slipped away," Monroe coach Danya Ward said of the three close sets. "We came out focused and with a different attitude. We came out and played as a team tonight. It's a little weird, but I think they got some confidence from a loss. I think they are ready to take that into the conference tournament."
The Blackhawks jumped out to a 14-8 lead in the second set. The Cheesemakers battled back with a kill by Kari Jordan that cut the Blackhawks' lead to 14-12. Fort Atkinson freshman Miah Garant scored four consecutive service points and had two aces to give the Blackhawks a 19-13 lead.
Vetterli delivered late in the second set. She and Koester combined on a block and she had a block of her own to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 19-16. She then came through with a kill to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 21-19, but that is as close as the Cheesemakers would get.
"It feels really good to have Kirsten back," Ward said. "She was a little frustrated with herself in warm-ups and in the first set. As soon as I asked her if someone else should go in there, she turned it around. That is why I made her a captain. She really stepped up to the plate."
Both teams struggled at times with serving. The Blackhawks had four service errors in the second set and seven in the game. The Cheesemakers also finished with seven service errors.
Ward said the jump serving by Garant was the difference in the second set.
"That definitely threw us for a loop," she said.
The Blackhawks rolled to start the third set jumping out to an 8-2 lead. Garant had five consecutive service points and four aces. She finished with a match-high eight aces.
The Cheesemakers stormed back from a 13-4 deficit. Jordan had a clutch dig that scored a point to slice the deficit to 18-13. Barrett had a key block and scored four straight service points. Disch delivered a kill that cut the Blackhawks' lead to 18-14.
Monroe sophomore Paige Murphy had 12 assists and two aces. Monroe senior Katie Holmes and Jordan each added four digs.
"I told them in the locker room that was the first time it was 22-15 and they didn't act like the game was over," Ward said. "It's late in the season to learn that. When we go to the conference tournament we know what to expect and our confidence is up."
Barrett and the Cheesemakers (9-22, 0-5 Badger South) got off to a strong start Thursday, but were edged by Fort Atkinson in three sets 25-21, 25-20, 25-17.
"We are so close all the time," said Barrett who had six kills and three blocks. "Our problem is when we have the lead we have to finish it out and not let up. If we can play like this we can compete with anybody. If we can finish out our season like this and take it into the tournament there is no doubt that we will be a contestant."
Monroe senior Kirsten Vetterli made her return after missing six matches due to an ankle injury.
"In the first game, it was in my head," Vetterli said. "I was just thinking about getting back to playing. When I got that block in the second set, I got the confidence and I just started playing."
The Cheesemakers had aggressive play at the net in the first set by seniors Barrett, Savannah Koester and Whitney Disch. Koester, who finished with six kills, had a spike to give the Cheesemakers a 14-6 lead. Disch also had a key set over the Blackhawks' front row and Koester had an ace to give the Cheesemakers a 21-16 lead.
The Cheesemakers couldn't slam the door on the Blackhawks. After a sideout by the Blackhawks, Fort Atkinson sophomore Arielle Hachtel scored eight straight service points to give the Blackhawks a comeback win.
"They all kind of slipped away," Monroe coach Danya Ward said of the three close sets. "We came out focused and with a different attitude. We came out and played as a team tonight. It's a little weird, but I think they got some confidence from a loss. I think they are ready to take that into the conference tournament."
The Blackhawks jumped out to a 14-8 lead in the second set. The Cheesemakers battled back with a kill by Kari Jordan that cut the Blackhawks' lead to 14-12. Fort Atkinson freshman Miah Garant scored four consecutive service points and had two aces to give the Blackhawks a 19-13 lead.
Vetterli delivered late in the second set. She and Koester combined on a block and she had a block of her own to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 19-16. She then came through with a kill to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 21-19, but that is as close as the Cheesemakers would get.
"It feels really good to have Kirsten back," Ward said. "She was a little frustrated with herself in warm-ups and in the first set. As soon as I asked her if someone else should go in there, she turned it around. That is why I made her a captain. She really stepped up to the plate."
Both teams struggled at times with serving. The Blackhawks had four service errors in the second set and seven in the game. The Cheesemakers also finished with seven service errors.
Ward said the jump serving by Garant was the difference in the second set.
"That definitely threw us for a loop," she said.
The Blackhawks rolled to start the third set jumping out to an 8-2 lead. Garant had five consecutive service points and four aces. She finished with a match-high eight aces.
The Cheesemakers stormed back from a 13-4 deficit. Jordan had a clutch dig that scored a point to slice the deficit to 18-13. Barrett had a key block and scored four straight service points. Disch delivered a kill that cut the Blackhawks' lead to 18-14.
Monroe sophomore Paige Murphy had 12 assists and two aces. Monroe senior Katie Holmes and Jordan each added four digs.
"I told them in the locker room that was the first time it was 22-15 and they didn't act like the game was over," Ward said. "It's late in the season to learn that. When we go to the conference tournament we know what to expect and our confidence is up."
