NEW GLARUS - Senior middle blocker Karina Moen understands every match is a must-win in the Capitol South Conference as New Glarus tries to keep pace with Wisconsin Heights and Waterloo.
Moen had a match-high 10 kills to help lift the Glarner Knights to a sweep of Belleville in three sets 25-11, 25-15, 25-23 Tuesday, Sept. 24. Moen had the game-winning kill in the third set to cap a comeback win. It's the second time the Knights have defeated the Wildcats this year.
"It feels good to beat Belleville, especially because they are so close," Moen said of the Highway 69 rivals. "They are always tough."
New Glarus coach Megan Maas warned her team Monday about not having any letdowns the second time facing Belleville.
"Every match is a must-win," Maas said. "I'm always concerned about every match especially with Belleville because we already beat them once. I told the girls you still need to show up, play and perform."
New Glarus (5-14, 4-2 Capitol South) with the win trails Wisconsin Heights by two wins and Waterloo by one. Maas doesn't believe that it's a given Wisconsin Heights will finish the conference season unbeaten.
"I think anybody can beat any team on any given night," she said. "That is why we play the game. It will be tough."
The Knights started out strong jumping out to a 10-3 lead in the first set and didn't relinquish the lead. New Glarus senior Mandi Sargent had a kill to give the Knights a 13-5 lead and they cruised from there.
The second set started much the same way the first one went. Moen had a kill early in the set to give the Knights a 5-1 lead. Sargent had a tip and kill later in the set to give the Knights an 11-5 lead and they rolled to the win.
Maas said the key for the Knights in the first two sets is they were aggressive at the net, on defense and serving.
"That is why we missed some serves," Maas said. "Everyone was aggressive in their positions. One of the things you worry about as a coach is when you get ahead and then they take a break. It would have been very easy to take a step back after the first game."
The final set was a seesaw battle. New Glarus sophomore Bridget Craker delivered an ace and Moen had a kill to give the Knights a 10-7 lead. The Wildcats stormed back with some hot serving by junior Cassidy Rung who came through with five straight service points and had two aces to give the Wildcats a 19-14 lead. During the spurt, Belleville freshman Grace Schulting and junior Taylor Wallom each had kills to spark the Wildcats.
"We just broke down," Maas said. "We stopped talking and communicating. That is what caused our breakdowns."
New Glarus senior Sierra Watrud answered with six straight service points highlighted by two kills by sophomore outside hitter Maddie Macht to give the Knights a 23-20 lead. Moen put the Wildcats away with a kill to cap the comeback.
Watrud had a team-high 15 kills and Maddie Macht had eight digs and two aces. New Glarus senior Sierra Macht had nine kills. Moen attributed the success of the hitting to junior Breanne Kreklow's setting and the team's passing.
"Things got a little scary there, but we finished strong," Moen said. "Breanne did an awesome job of putting the ball right in our hands. We start our approach before she even sets the ball. She makes it look good."
Maas praised Moen as a hitter and Kreklow for their performances late in the third set in the comeback win.
"Karina has been solid for us all year," she said. "Kreklow is very confident with how she can run the offense. She's good at finding the girl who is the hot hitter and feeding them the ball."
Moen had a match-high 10 kills to help lift the Glarner Knights to a sweep of Belleville in three sets 25-11, 25-15, 25-23 Tuesday, Sept. 24. Moen had the game-winning kill in the third set to cap a comeback win. It's the second time the Knights have defeated the Wildcats this year.
"It feels good to beat Belleville, especially because they are so close," Moen said of the Highway 69 rivals. "They are always tough."
New Glarus coach Megan Maas warned her team Monday about not having any letdowns the second time facing Belleville.
"Every match is a must-win," Maas said. "I'm always concerned about every match especially with Belleville because we already beat them once. I told the girls you still need to show up, play and perform."
New Glarus (5-14, 4-2 Capitol South) with the win trails Wisconsin Heights by two wins and Waterloo by one. Maas doesn't believe that it's a given Wisconsin Heights will finish the conference season unbeaten.
"I think anybody can beat any team on any given night," she said. "That is why we play the game. It will be tough."
The Knights started out strong jumping out to a 10-3 lead in the first set and didn't relinquish the lead. New Glarus senior Mandi Sargent had a kill to give the Knights a 13-5 lead and they cruised from there.
The second set started much the same way the first one went. Moen had a kill early in the set to give the Knights a 5-1 lead. Sargent had a tip and kill later in the set to give the Knights an 11-5 lead and they rolled to the win.
Maas said the key for the Knights in the first two sets is they were aggressive at the net, on defense and serving.
"That is why we missed some serves," Maas said. "Everyone was aggressive in their positions. One of the things you worry about as a coach is when you get ahead and then they take a break. It would have been very easy to take a step back after the first game."
The final set was a seesaw battle. New Glarus sophomore Bridget Craker delivered an ace and Moen had a kill to give the Knights a 10-7 lead. The Wildcats stormed back with some hot serving by junior Cassidy Rung who came through with five straight service points and had two aces to give the Wildcats a 19-14 lead. During the spurt, Belleville freshman Grace Schulting and junior Taylor Wallom each had kills to spark the Wildcats.
"We just broke down," Maas said. "We stopped talking and communicating. That is what caused our breakdowns."
New Glarus senior Sierra Watrud answered with six straight service points highlighted by two kills by sophomore outside hitter Maddie Macht to give the Knights a 23-20 lead. Moen put the Wildcats away with a kill to cap the comeback.
Watrud had a team-high 15 kills and Maddie Macht had eight digs and two aces. New Glarus senior Sierra Macht had nine kills. Moen attributed the success of the hitting to junior Breanne Kreklow's setting and the team's passing.
"Things got a little scary there, but we finished strong," Moen said. "Breanne did an awesome job of putting the ball right in our hands. We start our approach before she even sets the ball. She makes it look good."
Maas praised Moen as a hitter and Kreklow for their performances late in the third set in the comeback win.
"Karina has been solid for us all year," she said. "Kreklow is very confident with how she can run the offense. She's good at finding the girl who is the hot hitter and feeding them the ball."
