BRODHEAD - The Brodhead volleyball team made a run to the state tournament last year but coach Erin Kammerer isn't looking too far down the road after the Cardinals won the Brodhead Invitational tournament Saturday.
"We try to take it one goal at a time," Kammerer said. "Our goal right now is to play hard all the time for a conference title. Once we get to the postseason, we will set another goal."
Brodhead went 5-0 in the tournament and knocked off Evansville in three sets 19-25, 25-16, 17-15 to win the gold bracket. Lake Mills finished third place, defeating Whitewater 25-18, 25-17. It's the second straight year the Cardinals have won the team title.
"It's a great feeling to know that we can defend our home court," Kammerer said. "To know we can walk away with the gold as a whole team is pretty nice."
Monroe won the silver bracket and Monticello won the bronze bracket.
In pool play, Brodhead (8-2, 2-0 Rock Valley South) beat Albany 25-9, 25-11 and rolled past Belleville 25-14, 25-19. The Cardinals then knocked off Beloit Turner 25-5, 25-20 to get to the gold bracket. The Cardinals then edged Whitewater in three sets 25-10, 16-25, 17-15.
"They came loaded and ready to play," Kammerer said. "Whitewater was our toughest match besides Evansville."
Brodhead junior Kylie Moe had a team-high 26 kills and senior Abby Flesher had 22 kills and seven blocks. Senior Payton Wright dished out 74 assists and Blake Boegli racked up 39 assists. Junior Amber Pickel added six blocks.
Monroe (5-13, 0-2 Badger South) cruised through pool play. The Cheesemakers beat Argyle 25-19, 25-23 and knocked off Juda 25-22, 27-25. The Cheesemakers finished 4-1 in the tournament. Evansville beat Monroe 25-17, 25-22 to advance to the gold bracket.
In silver bracket play, Monroe edged Belleville 25-13, 18-25, 15-9 and slipped past Juda 14-25, 25-15, 15-5.
"We usually go into the Brodhead tournament really pumped up," Monroe coach Heidi Witt said. "This weekend was a turning point for them. I'm hoping they remember this feeling and continue to compete."
The Cheesemakers had to dig deep in the second set against Juda in pool play. The Panthers led the Cheesemakers 19-9, but Monroe battled back to win 27-25.
"That is something they have never done before," Witt said. "They played spectacular. They came back and fought hard. They played with so much determination and heart. Everyone played and made contributions."
Monroe senior Kari Jordan and sophomore Alicia Kuester each had 19 kills. Sophomore Chloe Schroeder had 13 kills and two blocks. Junior Hannah Vetterli racked up 12 kills, 11 aces and seven digs. Junior Paige Murphy dished out 46 assists and had a team-high 20 aces. Senior Lauren Curtis had a team-high 12 digs and sophomore Hannah Neuenschwander added 31 assists.
Monticello finished 1-1 in pool play and was placed in the bronze bracket because they finished last in pool play in the points given up (90) tiebreaker. The Ponies beat Whitewater 25-23, 25-17 and then lost to Evansville 20-25, 16-25.
In the bronze bracket, Monticello (6-1, 2-0 Six Rivers East) edged Argyle 17-25, 25-15, 15-4. The Orioles played without senior outside hitter Jenna Langmeier who was taking the ACT test. Both the Ponies and Orioles will play each other Tuesday in Monticello with first place in the conference on the line.
"I will definitely tell them it was good to beat Argyle in the tournament, but conference is what matters," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "They (Argyle) didn't have one of their best players. You still have to play hard. I expect it will be an interesting match on Tuesday."
The Ponies rolled past Albany 25-9, 25-19 to win the bronze bracket.
Monticello senior Alyssah Kubly had 44 kills for the tournament to go along with 23 digs, six aces and five blocks. Fellow senior Paige Dilley had 25 kills, 21 digs and six aces.
Monticello senior Jordan Garrison notched 67 assists and senior Mackenzie Zanow had 20 digs and 14 kills. Senior Brecklyn Klosterman added four blocks.
"I think it was a successful tournament," Smice said. "I think we can take out of it that every point matters. I'm still moving people around and trying to set up our offense."
"We try to take it one goal at a time," Kammerer said. "Our goal right now is to play hard all the time for a conference title. Once we get to the postseason, we will set another goal."
Brodhead went 5-0 in the tournament and knocked off Evansville in three sets 19-25, 25-16, 17-15 to win the gold bracket. Lake Mills finished third place, defeating Whitewater 25-18, 25-17. It's the second straight year the Cardinals have won the team title.
"It's a great feeling to know that we can defend our home court," Kammerer said. "To know we can walk away with the gold as a whole team is pretty nice."
Monroe won the silver bracket and Monticello won the bronze bracket.
In pool play, Brodhead (8-2, 2-0 Rock Valley South) beat Albany 25-9, 25-11 and rolled past Belleville 25-14, 25-19. The Cardinals then knocked off Beloit Turner 25-5, 25-20 to get to the gold bracket. The Cardinals then edged Whitewater in three sets 25-10, 16-25, 17-15.
"They came loaded and ready to play," Kammerer said. "Whitewater was our toughest match besides Evansville."
Brodhead junior Kylie Moe had a team-high 26 kills and senior Abby Flesher had 22 kills and seven blocks. Senior Payton Wright dished out 74 assists and Blake Boegli racked up 39 assists. Junior Amber Pickel added six blocks.
Monroe (5-13, 0-2 Badger South) cruised through pool play. The Cheesemakers beat Argyle 25-19, 25-23 and knocked off Juda 25-22, 27-25. The Cheesemakers finished 4-1 in the tournament. Evansville beat Monroe 25-17, 25-22 to advance to the gold bracket.
In silver bracket play, Monroe edged Belleville 25-13, 18-25, 15-9 and slipped past Juda 14-25, 25-15, 15-5.
"We usually go into the Brodhead tournament really pumped up," Monroe coach Heidi Witt said. "This weekend was a turning point for them. I'm hoping they remember this feeling and continue to compete."
The Cheesemakers had to dig deep in the second set against Juda in pool play. The Panthers led the Cheesemakers 19-9, but Monroe battled back to win 27-25.
"That is something they have never done before," Witt said. "They played spectacular. They came back and fought hard. They played with so much determination and heart. Everyone played and made contributions."
Monroe senior Kari Jordan and sophomore Alicia Kuester each had 19 kills. Sophomore Chloe Schroeder had 13 kills and two blocks. Junior Hannah Vetterli racked up 12 kills, 11 aces and seven digs. Junior Paige Murphy dished out 46 assists and had a team-high 20 aces. Senior Lauren Curtis had a team-high 12 digs and sophomore Hannah Neuenschwander added 31 assists.
Monticello finished 1-1 in pool play and was placed in the bronze bracket because they finished last in pool play in the points given up (90) tiebreaker. The Ponies beat Whitewater 25-23, 25-17 and then lost to Evansville 20-25, 16-25.
In the bronze bracket, Monticello (6-1, 2-0 Six Rivers East) edged Argyle 17-25, 25-15, 15-4. The Orioles played without senior outside hitter Jenna Langmeier who was taking the ACT test. Both the Ponies and Orioles will play each other Tuesday in Monticello with first place in the conference on the line.
"I will definitely tell them it was good to beat Argyle in the tournament, but conference is what matters," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "They (Argyle) didn't have one of their best players. You still have to play hard. I expect it will be an interesting match on Tuesday."
The Ponies rolled past Albany 25-9, 25-19 to win the bronze bracket.
Monticello senior Alyssah Kubly had 44 kills for the tournament to go along with 23 digs, six aces and five blocks. Fellow senior Paige Dilley had 25 kills, 21 digs and six aces.
Monticello senior Jordan Garrison notched 67 assists and senior Mackenzie Zanow had 20 digs and 14 kills. Senior Brecklyn Klosterman added four blocks.
"I think it was a successful tournament," Smice said. "I think we can take out of it that every point matters. I'm still moving people around and trying to set up our offense."
