MONROE - The Monroe volleyball team seems to have a knack for the dramatic. With a thrilling four-game win over Platteville in Friday's WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal, 25-21, 19-25, 25-13, 25-23, the Cheesemakers earned a shot at a regional title.
"We like to make things interesting," head coach Dave Gersbach said. His team plays at No. 1 seed Edgerton at 7 p.m. today for the regional championship.
Monroe took the first game despite heavy resistance from the Hillmen. In the second game, Platteville found its groove and the Cheesemakers nearly fell apart.
Trailing 7-5, the Hillmen rattled off 11 straight points behind the serving of Jessica Jentz to take a 16-8 lead.
Monroe fought back, using two kills from Jamie Armstrong and three from Chelsea Wyss to creep back to 19-15. Platteville then went on another 5-0 run to put the game out of reach.
"We weren't playing like ourselves. We had to take a step back and play like we know how to," Armstrong said.
When the third game rolled around, Monroe relaxed and dominated, leading 16-5 at one point.
"We were doing things that we don't normally do. When we get flustered we try to do too much," Gersbach said. "When we're calm and we play our game, we're great."
Game 4 may have been the biggest roller coaster of them all. Monroe went up 4-3 early after a pair of aces by Armstrong, but the Hillmen rattled off eight of the next nine points to take an 11-5 lead.
Gersbach called a timeout, hoping to limit the damage. In the mean time, he replaced Wyss with backup Kyleigh Sellnow.
"Anybody can step in on this team. We know Kyleigh from basketball and we know where her confidence is at," Gersbach said. "Someone without that kind of confidence may not be able to pull that off."
Sellnow slammed a pair of kills down the Hillmen's throats, bringing the score back to 13-8. Then Wyss came back in to serve, a move Gersbach doesn't regret.
Armstrong then went off, netting three kills and two blocks over Monroe's next six points, bringing the game to a 14-14 tie. The string continued, with Wyss serving 10 straight times, leaving Monroe with an 18-14 lead.
"I just sat back there and said, 'OK, just take your time, you can do it,'" Wyss said. "I got it over."
Platteville edged closer, taking five of seven points. A couple of Cheesemaker breaks later, and the score was at match point, 24-19.
"We just needed a sideout," Gersbach said.
Platteville then took four straight points, striking fear into the home crowd. But when the Hillmen's final return went wide right, the Cheesemakers celebrated at mid-court.
"Everyone on this team wanted it, and this proves it. We're working hard for every point," Armstrong said. "There's going to be a lot of nerves on Saturday because we want it so much. A win would mean so much for this program."
Armstrong led all hitters with 19 kills, 22 digs, four blocks and four aces. Wyss had 12 kills, Jessica Wyssbrod dished out 19 assists and Jaclyn Ditter added four blocks.
"We like to make things interesting," head coach Dave Gersbach said. His team plays at No. 1 seed Edgerton at 7 p.m. today for the regional championship.
Monroe took the first game despite heavy resistance from the Hillmen. In the second game, Platteville found its groove and the Cheesemakers nearly fell apart.
Trailing 7-5, the Hillmen rattled off 11 straight points behind the serving of Jessica Jentz to take a 16-8 lead.
Monroe fought back, using two kills from Jamie Armstrong and three from Chelsea Wyss to creep back to 19-15. Platteville then went on another 5-0 run to put the game out of reach.
"We weren't playing like ourselves. We had to take a step back and play like we know how to," Armstrong said.
When the third game rolled around, Monroe relaxed and dominated, leading 16-5 at one point.
"We were doing things that we don't normally do. When we get flustered we try to do too much," Gersbach said. "When we're calm and we play our game, we're great."
Game 4 may have been the biggest roller coaster of them all. Monroe went up 4-3 early after a pair of aces by Armstrong, but the Hillmen rattled off eight of the next nine points to take an 11-5 lead.
Gersbach called a timeout, hoping to limit the damage. In the mean time, he replaced Wyss with backup Kyleigh Sellnow.
"Anybody can step in on this team. We know Kyleigh from basketball and we know where her confidence is at," Gersbach said. "Someone without that kind of confidence may not be able to pull that off."
Sellnow slammed a pair of kills down the Hillmen's throats, bringing the score back to 13-8. Then Wyss came back in to serve, a move Gersbach doesn't regret.
Armstrong then went off, netting three kills and two blocks over Monroe's next six points, bringing the game to a 14-14 tie. The string continued, with Wyss serving 10 straight times, leaving Monroe with an 18-14 lead.
"I just sat back there and said, 'OK, just take your time, you can do it,'" Wyss said. "I got it over."
Platteville edged closer, taking five of seven points. A couple of Cheesemaker breaks later, and the score was at match point, 24-19.
"We just needed a sideout," Gersbach said.
Platteville then took four straight points, striking fear into the home crowd. But when the Hillmen's final return went wide right, the Cheesemakers celebrated at mid-court.
"Everyone on this team wanted it, and this proves it. We're working hard for every point," Armstrong said. "There's going to be a lot of nerves on Saturday because we want it so much. A win would mean so much for this program."
Armstrong led all hitters with 19 kills, 22 digs, four blocks and four aces. Wyss had 12 kills, Jessica Wyssbrod dished out 19 assists and Jaclyn Ditter added four blocks.
