BRODHEAD - A blackout swarmed the court. It wasn't an ill-timed power outage.
Brodhead senior Kristen Ruchti hugged a friend as the blackout came from black-clad volleyball fans who stormed the court to celebrate the Cardinals' WIAA Division 2 Fort Atkinson sectional semifinal sweep of River Valley on Thursday.
Behind a raucous crowd, the Cardinals powered their way to a 25-22, 25-19, 25-20 win over the Blackhawks to advance to the sectional championship, in which the Cardinals will play Madison Edgewood at 7 p.m. Saturday. Brodhead is one win away from the first state tournament appearance in school history.
Ruchti, a University of Wisconsin-Parkside basketball recruit, is pumped about extending an historic volleyball season.
"Everyone wants to get to state," Ruchti said. "That is our goal and we are going to get there. I guess basketball can wait until we are done. We are not going to be done until we get to state."
The Cardinals jumped to an 11-7 lead in the first game with an ace by senior Courtney Mielke. The Blackhawks rallied, but a kill and three straight service points by Ruchti, who had a team-high 21 kills, extended the lead to 21-16. Fellow senior Jordan Riese, who had 11 kills, sealed the first game by hammering a game-winning smash.
In the second game, the Cardinals built an 11-5 lead behind Ruchti and Mielke.
The Cardinals surged to a 14-5 lead in the final game with Ruchti's six-point run from the service line. The Cardinals dominated the net in the final game with Mielke, Ruchti, Riese and Dana Lewis blocking aggressively and tipping balls over a smaller Blackhawks' front line.
"We just have some power to use," Brodhead coach Eric Ebensperger said. "We are just clicking right now. We were really pumped up at home."
The Blackhawks came back and cut the Cardinals' lead to 19-16. Every time the Blackhawks made a rally, the Cardinals answered. A tip kill late by Lewis gave the Cardinals a 23-20 lead.
Mielke, who transferred from Orfordville Parkview last year, was amazed by the support.
"I said before the third game, 'I have never seen a crowd this big at a high school match before," Mielke said. "It seemed like the whole school was here. All the girls expected so much. It's nice having so many weapons on the team."
Brodhead senior setter Cassie Wymer had a team-high 45 assists. Junior libero Amanda Johnson had 13 digs and Mielke added 10 digs.
Hitting to coaches in practice has paid big dividends for the Cardinals. Communication in volleyball is paramount.
"You have to all trust each other to know the other one will be there to back you up," Mielke said.
The Cardinals are not entering uncharted territory yet. When this year's Brodhead seniors were sophomores, the Cardinals lost a three-game match to the Crusaders.
"We have played in the sectional final before," Ebensperger said. "Never been to the big dance."
Brodhead senior Kristen Ruchti hugged a friend as the blackout came from black-clad volleyball fans who stormed the court to celebrate the Cardinals' WIAA Division 2 Fort Atkinson sectional semifinal sweep of River Valley on Thursday.
Behind a raucous crowd, the Cardinals powered their way to a 25-22, 25-19, 25-20 win over the Blackhawks to advance to the sectional championship, in which the Cardinals will play Madison Edgewood at 7 p.m. Saturday. Brodhead is one win away from the first state tournament appearance in school history.
Ruchti, a University of Wisconsin-Parkside basketball recruit, is pumped about extending an historic volleyball season.
"Everyone wants to get to state," Ruchti said. "That is our goal and we are going to get there. I guess basketball can wait until we are done. We are not going to be done until we get to state."
The Cardinals jumped to an 11-7 lead in the first game with an ace by senior Courtney Mielke. The Blackhawks rallied, but a kill and three straight service points by Ruchti, who had a team-high 21 kills, extended the lead to 21-16. Fellow senior Jordan Riese, who had 11 kills, sealed the first game by hammering a game-winning smash.
In the second game, the Cardinals built an 11-5 lead behind Ruchti and Mielke.
The Cardinals surged to a 14-5 lead in the final game with Ruchti's six-point run from the service line. The Cardinals dominated the net in the final game with Mielke, Ruchti, Riese and Dana Lewis blocking aggressively and tipping balls over a smaller Blackhawks' front line.
"We just have some power to use," Brodhead coach Eric Ebensperger said. "We are just clicking right now. We were really pumped up at home."
The Blackhawks came back and cut the Cardinals' lead to 19-16. Every time the Blackhawks made a rally, the Cardinals answered. A tip kill late by Lewis gave the Cardinals a 23-20 lead.
Mielke, who transferred from Orfordville Parkview last year, was amazed by the support.
"I said before the third game, 'I have never seen a crowd this big at a high school match before," Mielke said. "It seemed like the whole school was here. All the girls expected so much. It's nice having so many weapons on the team."
Brodhead senior setter Cassie Wymer had a team-high 45 assists. Junior libero Amanda Johnson had 13 digs and Mielke added 10 digs.
Hitting to coaches in practice has paid big dividends for the Cardinals. Communication in volleyball is paramount.
"You have to all trust each other to know the other one will be there to back you up," Mielke said.
The Cardinals are not entering uncharted territory yet. When this year's Brodhead seniors were sophomores, the Cardinals lost a three-game match to the Crusaders.
"We have played in the sectional final before," Ebensperger said. "Never been to the big dance."
