ARGYLE — Tuesday’s Division 4 regional match up featured familiar foes in No. 8 Argyle and No. 9 Monticello. The two teams — both members of the Six Rivers East Conference — had seen each other three times during the regular season. The Ponies won the first contest 2-0, while the Orioles won the conference series 3-2, 3-0.
“It’s good because we’ve played them multiple times now,” Argyle head coach Jen Butler said prior to the match. “We know what to expect, but it is tough to beat a team three times. They are good. It’s No. 8 versus No. 9, so it’s going to be a battle.”
Argyle completed the feat, though, beating Monticello for the third time this season 3-0.
“We knew we had to come in and play our game and push hard,” freshman Avari Steiner said. “We knew what they were going to do, where they push the ball and where we needed to be on defense.”
Argyle took the first two sets 25-15, 25-20. Down to their last hope, the Ponies played with more energy and hustle in the third set.
“We played as a team because we knew this could be our last game,” senior Jaden Zuber said. “We didn’t have anything to lose, so we might as well play our hearts out. I think that’s why we played better and had more fun.”
Monticello took an early lead, getting the first point on a kill from Dalana Trumpy that went through the Oriole block. Argyle responded, though, to take a 4-2 lead. Kylie Butler tallied three straight kills, followed by an ace from Mya McNett.
The Orioles extended their lead to 9-6 with another four-point rally. Once again, Butler came up clutch with back-to-back-to-back aces.
“Obviously, Kylie has a great hit and we needed to adjust to that a little bit better,” Monticello head coach Alison Zimmerman said.
The Ponies pushed on, though, tying the set at 10 with another kill from Trumpy. After the two teams tied the set at 11 and 12 — the sixth and seventh time the set was knotted up — Trumpy gave Monticello a 13-12 lead with a tip. With two more Pony points, coach Butler called a timeout.
Jillian Ryan recorded a kill and tip, as Monticello extended its lead to 20-15 — the largest lead of the set. Although Argyle mounted a small rally — forcing a Pony timeout — Monticello reached 23 points with a kill from Zuber and two points from the service line.
Argyle called its second timeout, trailing 23-19. The Orioles kept the Ponies at bay while scoring seven of the next eight points. Avari Steiner sparked the rally with a kill from the left side, followed by an ace from her sister Sadie Steiner. A service error gave the ball back to Monticello, but Alexis Rosenstiel’s block put the ball back in Avari Steiner’s hands.
The freshman’s second serve gave Argyle a 25-24 lead, as the ball snagged the net and hit the floor in front of Monticello’s back row. Trumpy then sent the ball sailing deep on an attack, as Argyle pulled out the extra-point victory 26-24.
“We were on a rollercoaster with our sets and everything this season, but I’m proud of the way they finished,” coach Butler said.
Argyle’s sweep marked the end of Monticello’s season and Zuber’s decorated career. She was the lone senior returning with experience, having played at state in back-to-back seasons. In 2022, Zuber made second-team all-conference.
“I didn’t expect to be sad because I’ve played four years and went two state twice,” Zuber said. “Most athletes around here don’t get that opportunity. I knew this was a rebuilding this year with new players, positions and a new coach. I wanted to have fun and I did that this year.”
With the win No. 8 Argyle (10-14, 5-6 Six Rivers East) advances to play No. 1 Barneveld (19-3, 11-1 Six Rivers East) in a WIAA regional semifinal. The Eagles, ranked No. 9 in Division 4, recently beat the Orioles 3-1 on Oct. 10.
“There are things we need to clean up, like our serves,” coach Butler said. “If we stay strong and play aggressive, we can give Barneveld a challenge and surprise some people.”
