JUDA - Argyle sophomore Ashley Bruehlman had a team-high 15 kills to lead the Orioles to a four-set win over Juda that clinched the outright Six Rivers East Conference championship on Tuesday.
"Ashley Bruehlman was a very strong force," Juda coach Scott Anderson said. "Kayla Butler-Paulson would set it up to Ashley, and we had a hard time competing with that. They are really hot going into the postseason."
It's the first time Argyle has won the conference since 1997.
"We talked about that at the beginning of the year," Argyle coach Jen Butler said. "Winning the conference was one of our goals. It was definitely a great feeling. They knew what they are playing for. They came out and accomplished their goal."
Juda (12-7, 6-5 Six Rivers East) edged Argyle 29-27 in the first game. The Orioles (12-4, 9-2 Six Rivers East) answered by winning three straight games 25-17, 25-16, 25-15.
Bruehlman had a team-high 13 aces and 23 digs. With the Orioles leading 14-13 in the final game, Bruehlman had four straight aces.
"It wasn't because our serve receive wasn't strong," Anderson said of Bruehlman. "She was just on fire in that last game."
Argyle junior Kayla Butler-Paulson racked up 30 assists, and Doriss DeNure posted five blocks and had 19 digs.
Juda junior Sara Jordan and junior Chelsea Burkhalter each notched seven digs. Senior teammate Megan Powers had a team-best 14 assists, and Jordan had 14 digs.
Argyle will close out the regular season at Pecatonica Thursday.
Barneveld 3, Monticello 0
MONTICELLO - Monticello had Barneveld on the ropes in the first set but couldn't slam the door, and the Eagles rallied to win.
Barneveld knocked off the Ponies 31-29, 25-8, 25-18.
With the loss, Monticello drops to 3-12, 2-10 Six Rivers East.
"We had four game points, but couldn't get it done," Monticello coach Scott Smice said of the first set. "We couldn't close. That set the tone for the rest of the game."
Monticello junior Bri Graber had six kills, and sophomore Courtney Kammes had five kills. Freshman teammate Hannah Zanow posted six blocks, and junior Jessie Garrison dished out 17 assists. Monticello's Chandler Hansen racked up 18 digs.
The Ponies played three freshmen, and two played key roles in the final set.
"Abby Wicker and Alyssen Noriega both made some plays in the third set," Smice said. "We played right with one of the top three teams in the conference."
Pecatonica 3, Albany 0
ALBANY - Pecatonica junior Liz Tisch delivered 14 assists and six digs to help lead the Vikings to a sweep of Albany.
Pecatonica (11-5, 7-4 Six Rivers East) rolled to a 25-7, 25-11, 25-14 win over the Comets. Pecatonica senior Britt Miller had a team-best seven aces and five blocks. Sam Mabin had a team-high seven kills.
"The key for us is we had to play to our level of play and stay aggressive," Pecatonica coach Tori Leonard said. "We focused on what we had to do to be successful."
Pecatonica will host Argyle in a Senior Night match on Thursday to close out the regular season.
"Ashley Bruehlman was a very strong force," Juda coach Scott Anderson said. "Kayla Butler-Paulson would set it up to Ashley, and we had a hard time competing with that. They are really hot going into the postseason."
It's the first time Argyle has won the conference since 1997.
"We talked about that at the beginning of the year," Argyle coach Jen Butler said. "Winning the conference was one of our goals. It was definitely a great feeling. They knew what they are playing for. They came out and accomplished their goal."
Juda (12-7, 6-5 Six Rivers East) edged Argyle 29-27 in the first game. The Orioles (12-4, 9-2 Six Rivers East) answered by winning three straight games 25-17, 25-16, 25-15.
Bruehlman had a team-high 13 aces and 23 digs. With the Orioles leading 14-13 in the final game, Bruehlman had four straight aces.
"It wasn't because our serve receive wasn't strong," Anderson said of Bruehlman. "She was just on fire in that last game."
Argyle junior Kayla Butler-Paulson racked up 30 assists, and Doriss DeNure posted five blocks and had 19 digs.
Juda junior Sara Jordan and junior Chelsea Burkhalter each notched seven digs. Senior teammate Megan Powers had a team-best 14 assists, and Jordan had 14 digs.
Argyle will close out the regular season at Pecatonica Thursday.
Barneveld 3, Monticello 0
MONTICELLO - Monticello had Barneveld on the ropes in the first set but couldn't slam the door, and the Eagles rallied to win.
Barneveld knocked off the Ponies 31-29, 25-8, 25-18.
With the loss, Monticello drops to 3-12, 2-10 Six Rivers East.
"We had four game points, but couldn't get it done," Monticello coach Scott Smice said of the first set. "We couldn't close. That set the tone for the rest of the game."
Monticello junior Bri Graber had six kills, and sophomore Courtney Kammes had five kills. Freshman teammate Hannah Zanow posted six blocks, and junior Jessie Garrison dished out 17 assists. Monticello's Chandler Hansen racked up 18 digs.
The Ponies played three freshmen, and two played key roles in the final set.
"Abby Wicker and Alyssen Noriega both made some plays in the third set," Smice said. "We played right with one of the top three teams in the conference."
Pecatonica 3, Albany 0
ALBANY - Pecatonica junior Liz Tisch delivered 14 assists and six digs to help lead the Vikings to a sweep of Albany.
Pecatonica (11-5, 7-4 Six Rivers East) rolled to a 25-7, 25-11, 25-14 win over the Comets. Pecatonica senior Britt Miller had a team-best seven aces and five blocks. Sam Mabin had a team-high seven kills.
"The key for us is we had to play to our level of play and stay aggressive," Pecatonica coach Tori Leonard said. "We focused on what we had to do to be successful."
Pecatonica will host Argyle in a Senior Night match on Thursday to close out the regular season.
