MONTICELLO — With a three-set victory over Monticello on Monday, Sept. 25, Argyle continued its upward trend in the second half of the conference season. The last time these two teams met — nearly a month ago — the Orioles won a grueling five-set match.
“I’m glad we came away in three,” Argyle head coach Jen Green said. “Last time we met it went five — it was a battle. We’ve been straight up improving from day one, focusing on fundamentals and trying to find that magical lineup that works for everybody to work as a team.”
Green returned to the team this fall after a two-year hiatus. She was tasked with developing a competitive, well-knit team with just four upperclassmen in the program — Mya McNett, Alexis Rosenstiel, Ava Wiegel and Sadie Steiner. With transfer Kylie Butler and freshmen Avari Steiner and Brooke Wellnitz in the rotation, Argyle seems to have found the key to success.
“They are a great group of girls,” Green said. “Some of them have been thrown in multiple positions already this year. They take it well. They are team players, and their attitudes are just great.”
Monticello entered the season under similar circumstances but has yet to find the recipe for consistent success. First-year head coach Alison Zimmerman has tried multiple rotations that can feed to hard hitters Jaden Zuber and Dalana Trumpy, but “nothing seems to work in [their] favor.”
“The passing and setting are not there for us,” Zimmerman said. “Our hitters are ready to hit — they are hungry for the ball — but they aren’t getting what they want. The rolls and tips aren’t cutting it.”
The Ponies, defending Six Rivers East champions, have won just two conference matches this season against Juda and Black Hawk. Despite the lack of momentum, Monticello came out fighting in set one.
Argyle and Monticello were tied nine different times in the first set with six different lead changes. The first five points of the set came from errors on both sides, before Zuber registered a kill to tie the set at three. The Ponies held the lead until an eight-point rally put the Orioles up 14-8.
Kennadee Johnson’s attack went deep, sending Wellnitz to the service line. With the serve in hand, McNett rattled off three straight points. Monticello’s timeout did little to slow the momentum, as Wellnitz tallied an ace, followed by another McNett kill.
Trumpy put an end to the run with a kill and took over at the service line. There, she led Monticello on a six-point run to tie the set at 14. All six points came on Oriole errors.
Although the Ponies gave up the lead, they rallied back to take a 22-19 advantage. Zuber smashed a kill, and a double called on Argyle setter Avari Steiner tied the set at 19. Two more errors, both by Butler, gave Monticello the lead.
Momentum hung in the air, though, as three straight points ended in miscommunication from both teams. Wellnitz tipped the scales in Argyle’s favor with a kill, as the Orioles won the last three points for a 25-23 set win.
Argyle took an early 4-1 lead in the second set, thanks to two kills from Butler. Monticello hung around, though, tying the set at five, six and eight all. The Orioles steadily pulled away, 16-11, winning two points to Ponies’ one.
Johnson then won a battle at the net that sparked a 5-1 run for Monticello. When the Ponies got within one at 17-16, Green called a timeout.
Although Argyle took the first three points out of the break, Monticello rallied with four straight points to tie the set again at 20. Four points later the set was tied again at 22, but — just as they did in the first set — the Orioles won the final three points to take the set 25-23.
“Our energy and hard work paid off,” McNett said of Argyle’s ability to persevere in tight sets.
The two-set advantage gave the Orioles a push in the third set, as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Rosenstiel and Wellnitz recorded kills, while McNett served up two aces.
The quick start was enough to keep Monticello at bay the rest of the way. The Ponies had a couple three-point rallies, but the Orioles’ lead was too great. Argyle won 25-19, as Monticello was unable to return the final ball.
Butler led the Oriole offense with 15 kills, while McNett and Wellnitz chipped in nine and six, respectively. Avari Steiner distributed to the hitters with 29 assists. Defensively, four players recorded double-digit digs — Butler (14), McNett (11), Avari Steiner (10) and Sadie Steiner (10). McNett served up four aces, while Wellnitz tallied four blocks.
“It’s a team sport and having everyone being able to contribute is how we stay strong,” Green said. “When we win, it’s because everyone contributes.”
