MONROE — Just as the Cheesemakers thought it was turning the corner on its volleyball season, a lack of conviction led to a 3-0 loss to Fort Atkinson March 18, 18-25, 22-25, 15-25.
“We just weren’t … I don’t know where we were, to be honest with you,” Monroe coach Heidi Witt said, befuddled. “We just had no fire. I’m not really sure what was going on.”
The timing was odd for a letdown, Witt said. The Cheesemakers had stuck with a talented Mount Horeb in a four-set loss just two days prior.
“Mount Horeb is a really solid team. We had energy; we had fire. We played the best we could have played against them,” Witt said. “Then we play Fort Atkinson — and I’m not saying anything bad about Fort Atkinson — and we could have taken them. It was a team we could have possibly taken the match. I just had different expectations tonight and we just didn’t have the energy to back it up.”
In the first set, Monroe fell behind 15-7 early on, then after Witt called a timeout, the Cheesemakers outscored the Blackhawks 10-5 to get back to within three points at 20-17. Fort Atkinson then rebounded and scored five of the last six points to go up in games, 1-0.
In the second set, both teams were squared away at 4-4, then the Blackhawks rattled off a 16-6 stretch that looked to have Monroe on its heels. However, the Cheesemakers made things interesting with a 12-4 run to bring it to 24-22, but a short serve ended the period.
“We missed 11 serves tonight, and that makes a big difference when you have a 22-25 game and an 18-25 game,” Witt said.
In the final set, Monroe took the first point on a kill by Zoee Pond, then Fort ran off a 9-1 run. The Cheesemakers were able to bring the score back to within three at 10-7, but another 6-1 stretch by the Black Hawks put Monroe down 16-8. The score never got closer than five the rest of the way.
“It’s unfortunate, and they understand that they didn’t play with the energy they needed to tonight,” Witt said. “We need to just play. We’re on our home court almost all the time — let’s play with that home court advantage. We have to play like we own it. We just have to come into practice tomorrow with a little bit more pride and passion.”
Pond, Kyla Ziolkowski and Taylor Jacobson each had 5 kills for Monroe, while Taylor Broge added 4. Elly Wild, Broge and Ziolkowski each had a block. Alyse Maurer finished the night with 8 digs, Broge added 3 aces and Katie Hayes dished out 16 assists.
Monroe has a busy week before Spring Break, with games slated for March 23, 25 and 26.
It’s unfortunate, and they understand that they didn’t play with the energy they needed to tonight. We need to just play. We’re on our home court almost all the time — let’s play with that home court advantage. We have to play like we own it. We just have to come into practice tomorrow with a little bit more pride and passion.Heidi Witt, Monroe coach
“We have Tuesday, Thursday, Friday next week — there’s no slowing down,” Witt said.
WIAA postseason finalized
The WIAA announced its postseason for the spring alternate season. With the vast majority of teams playing at least a partial season in the fall, the WIAA only has two divisions for the spring tournament. Monroe is in Division 1, while New Glarus and Brodhead are in Division 2.
The regional round will take place in one day, April 10, with the highest seed in groups hosting. Sectionals will be three days later on April 13, also at the highest seed’s home court. State semifinals will take place April 15 at locations yet to be determined, with the championships April 17 at Kaukauna.
Monroe will be paired with Mount Horeb, Oregon and Verona in the regional. So far this season, the Cheesemakers lost to Mount Horeb 3-1 and Oregon 3-2. Monroe and Verona have not played each other this season.
In Division 2, New Glarus is paired with Belleville, Cuba City and Southwestern. Brodhead is in a 3-team pod with Clinton and Parkview.
