MONROE - Volleyball remains a game of momentum swings.
The Monroe volleyball team learned a valuable lesson about communication in the season opener.
Monroe lost a four set season-opening match to Lake Geneva Badger 23-25, 25-12, 26-24, 25-14 Tuesday, Aug. 27.
"It really just feels like we have to work on our communication," said senior Savannah Koester, who had 11 assists, seven kills and five aces. "We have a lot of talent. We just need to get together and communicate."
The Cheesemakers were able to pull out a thrilling first game 25-23. Monroe coach Danya Ward was excited to see the Cheesemakers improve on their block coverages compared to the scrimmage.
"They improved on what we needed to work on after the scrimmage," Ward said. "I can only assume they will improve on what we need to work on from tonight. Communication for sure."
Koester's powerful jump serve was a bright spot for the Cheesemakers. "Her jump serve is killer," Ward said. "She will only get better."
After winning the first set, the Cheesemakers couldn't ride that momentum into the second set. The Badgers reeled off five straight points and jumped out to an 11-3 lead. The Cheesemakers couldn't recover from the slow start in the second set.
Ward said the Cheesemakers need to work at improving on defense, passing and finding hitters.
The Cheesemakers had 13 service errors.
"We missed 13 serves," Ward said. "That's 13 points we just handed to them. That gets us in a slump and they take the mental game."
The Cheesemakers raced out to a 14-7 lead in the third set behind Koester's powerful jump serve and the attacking front row play of senior Taylor Barrett and senior Kirsten Vetterli. The Badgers rallied to take an 18-15 lead. Koester answered for the Cheesemakers with two aces to spark a 21-18 lead. Barrett had a key kill to give the Cheesemakers a 22-19 lead, but they couldn't close out the Badgers. The Badgers capped the comeback with senior Emma Dumez's kill for the comeback win.
Barrett finished with a team-high eight kills. Monroe sophomore Paige Murphy had a team-high 12 assists and senior Whitney Disch had two blocks.
In the final set, the Badgers rolled to an 11-7 lead and similar to the second set cruised from there. The Cheesemakers struggled with service receive. Ward wants to see the Cheesemakers get more accurate passing and setting so they can feed their hitters.
"We have to know which one of our hitters are on fire," Ward said. "We have to know where our hitters are. We need someone to step up and be a leader and they will get the ball."
Monroe will host its first Badger South Conference match Thursday against Madison Edgewood. The Cheesemakers will then host the Monroe Invitational Saturday. Koester is looking forward to a busy schedule during the first week of the season.
"The tournament Saturday is a great opportunity," she said. "The more we can get our hands on the ball, the more we will build a stronger bond and the communication will flow."
The Monroe volleyball team learned a valuable lesson about communication in the season opener.
Monroe lost a four set season-opening match to Lake Geneva Badger 23-25, 25-12, 26-24, 25-14 Tuesday, Aug. 27.
"It really just feels like we have to work on our communication," said senior Savannah Koester, who had 11 assists, seven kills and five aces. "We have a lot of talent. We just need to get together and communicate."
The Cheesemakers were able to pull out a thrilling first game 25-23. Monroe coach Danya Ward was excited to see the Cheesemakers improve on their block coverages compared to the scrimmage.
"They improved on what we needed to work on after the scrimmage," Ward said. "I can only assume they will improve on what we need to work on from tonight. Communication for sure."
Koester's powerful jump serve was a bright spot for the Cheesemakers. "Her jump serve is killer," Ward said. "She will only get better."
After winning the first set, the Cheesemakers couldn't ride that momentum into the second set. The Badgers reeled off five straight points and jumped out to an 11-3 lead. The Cheesemakers couldn't recover from the slow start in the second set.
Ward said the Cheesemakers need to work at improving on defense, passing and finding hitters.
The Cheesemakers had 13 service errors.
"We missed 13 serves," Ward said. "That's 13 points we just handed to them. That gets us in a slump and they take the mental game."
The Cheesemakers raced out to a 14-7 lead in the third set behind Koester's powerful jump serve and the attacking front row play of senior Taylor Barrett and senior Kirsten Vetterli. The Badgers rallied to take an 18-15 lead. Koester answered for the Cheesemakers with two aces to spark a 21-18 lead. Barrett had a key kill to give the Cheesemakers a 22-19 lead, but they couldn't close out the Badgers. The Badgers capped the comeback with senior Emma Dumez's kill for the comeback win.
Barrett finished with a team-high eight kills. Monroe sophomore Paige Murphy had a team-high 12 assists and senior Whitney Disch had two blocks.
In the final set, the Badgers rolled to an 11-7 lead and similar to the second set cruised from there. The Cheesemakers struggled with service receive. Ward wants to see the Cheesemakers get more accurate passing and setting so they can feed their hitters.
"We have to know which one of our hitters are on fire," Ward said. "We have to know where our hitters are. We need someone to step up and be a leader and they will get the ball."
Monroe will host its first Badger South Conference match Thursday against Madison Edgewood. The Cheesemakers will then host the Monroe Invitational Saturday. Koester is looking forward to a busy schedule during the first week of the season.
"The tournament Saturday is a great opportunity," she said. "The more we can get our hands on the ball, the more we will build a stronger bond and the communication will flow."
