MONTICELLO - The Darlington volleyball team has been in a position before to contend for championship in a Monticello tournament.
"We had that mindset that it would come down to us and Argyle or Black Hawk," Darlington coach Jen Schwartz said. "We played in a tournament in Monticello three weeks ago and took second. I was glad to see them respond and come away with the tournament win. We want to improve every day. They wanted that championship and they went after it."
Schwartz's prediction came true in the six-team Monticello tournament Saturday. Darlington defeated Black Hawk in the title match 25-13, 21-25, 15-10. After winning the first set, the Warriors battled back to win the second set.
"I think we may have relaxed a little bit," Schwartz said. "We had a few small break-downs. I told them in the third game it was their tournament to win and they did it. I was really happy they didn't get down on themselves. They didn't give up."
Darlington sophomore Kennedy Rankin had a team-high 31 kills, eight aces and seven blocks in the tournament and her junior sister Taryn Rankin racked up 26 kills. Junior teammate Callie Norton dished out 24 assists, posted 13 aces and had 13 kills for the tournament.
Each of the six teams in the tournament played two sets each against the five other teams. The two teams with the best record in sets during pool play matched up in the championship match. Junior Taylor Jacobson added 13 kills and had a team-best nine blocks.
Darlington went 8-2 in sets during pool play and Black Hawk was 8-1. With the win in the title match, Darlington improves to 5-5, 2-3 SWAL.
"On paper you have to give Darlington the upperhand because they are in a division higher, but you still have to go out and play the game," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "I thought Black Hawk would be right there."
Argyle finished 7-3 in pool play and just missed a chance to play for a championship. Monticello went 4-6 and used three freshman on the varsity. Pecatonica finished 2-8 and Albany was 1-9. The only sets the Redbirds lost came in pool play where both the Warriors and Argyle earned splits. Darlington beat Argyle 25-20 and then the Orioles beat the Redbirds 25-22. In the first set against Black Hawk in pool play, the Warriors outlasted the Redbirds 25-19, but the Redbirds defeated the Warriors 25-22 to win the second set.
"I told the girls I wasn't concerned with wins and losses," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "I wanted to get the freshman some fast-paced experience."
Monticello split two sets with Black Hawk. The Ponies defeated Black Hawk 25-22 in the first set and dropped the second set 25-19.
"I think we are getting to that point," Smice said of turning a corner and getting comfortable on the court. "They are getting used to each other. The attitude has changed for the better. I think my leaders and captains understand their roles on the floor."
The Ponies split two sets with Pecatonica beating the Vikings 25-20 in the first set and then losing the second set 25-11. Monticello defeated Albany in two sets 25-11, 25-20.
"There are some games where we play really well and we lay an egg on the next game," Smice said. "We have had some leads late in sets this year that we have lost. We have to work on finishing the game."
"We had that mindset that it would come down to us and Argyle or Black Hawk," Darlington coach Jen Schwartz said. "We played in a tournament in Monticello three weeks ago and took second. I was glad to see them respond and come away with the tournament win. We want to improve every day. They wanted that championship and they went after it."
Schwartz's prediction came true in the six-team Monticello tournament Saturday. Darlington defeated Black Hawk in the title match 25-13, 21-25, 15-10. After winning the first set, the Warriors battled back to win the second set.
"I think we may have relaxed a little bit," Schwartz said. "We had a few small break-downs. I told them in the third game it was their tournament to win and they did it. I was really happy they didn't get down on themselves. They didn't give up."
Darlington sophomore Kennedy Rankin had a team-high 31 kills, eight aces and seven blocks in the tournament and her junior sister Taryn Rankin racked up 26 kills. Junior teammate Callie Norton dished out 24 assists, posted 13 aces and had 13 kills for the tournament.
Each of the six teams in the tournament played two sets each against the five other teams. The two teams with the best record in sets during pool play matched up in the championship match. Junior Taylor Jacobson added 13 kills and had a team-best nine blocks.
Darlington went 8-2 in sets during pool play and Black Hawk was 8-1. With the win in the title match, Darlington improves to 5-5, 2-3 SWAL.
"On paper you have to give Darlington the upperhand because they are in a division higher, but you still have to go out and play the game," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "I thought Black Hawk would be right there."
Argyle finished 7-3 in pool play and just missed a chance to play for a championship. Monticello went 4-6 and used three freshman on the varsity. Pecatonica finished 2-8 and Albany was 1-9. The only sets the Redbirds lost came in pool play where both the Warriors and Argyle earned splits. Darlington beat Argyle 25-20 and then the Orioles beat the Redbirds 25-22. In the first set against Black Hawk in pool play, the Warriors outlasted the Redbirds 25-19, but the Redbirds defeated the Warriors 25-22 to win the second set.
"I told the girls I wasn't concerned with wins and losses," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "I wanted to get the freshman some fast-paced experience."
Monticello split two sets with Black Hawk. The Ponies defeated Black Hawk 25-22 in the first set and dropped the second set 25-19.
"I think we are getting to that point," Smice said of turning a corner and getting comfortable on the court. "They are getting used to each other. The attitude has changed for the better. I think my leaders and captains understand their roles on the floor."
The Ponies split two sets with Pecatonica beating the Vikings 25-20 in the first set and then losing the second set 25-11. Monticello defeated Albany in two sets 25-11, 25-20.
"There are some games where we play really well and we lay an egg on the next game," Smice said. "We have had some leads late in sets this year that we have lost. We have to work on finishing the game."
