MONROE — Monroe beat Whitewater in five sets on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Not only does the win mark the program’s first conference victory since March 26, 2021 in the alt-fall season, but the Cheesemakers also avenged their season-ending loss to the Whippets in a WIAA regional last year. In 2022, Whitewater was the regular-season Rock Valley co-conference champion with McFarland and Brodhead.
This time around, the Cheesemakers were competitive in every set, winning the first 25-19, second 27-25 and fifth 15-11. The Whippets took the third and fourth sets 25-15 and 25-18, respectively.
Courtney Hartwig led the offense with eight kills, followed by Chloe Fry with six. Sophie Golembiewski chipped in five. Defensively, Fry led with two blocks. At the service line, Hartwig tallied four aces. Brinley Roidt chipped in another two.
With the win, Monroe improves to 1-1 in the Rock Valley Small, while Whitewater drops to 0-1.
BRODHEAD 3, CLINTON 0
CLINTON — With a three-set victory over Clinton on Tuesday, Sept. 12, Brodhead improves to 2-0 in the Rock Valley Large and 12-8 overall. The Cardinals won by scores of 25-23, 25-15 and 25-13.
Brenley Jones led the attack with 10 kills, followed by Makenna Schooff with nine. Jaelyn Hilliard distributed the offense with 25 assists — she was the only person to record an assist. Brodhead served up 12 aces, led by Allie Dahl with four. Dahl also contributed defensively with a team-best 17 digs. Addie Leifker and Schooff also recorded double-digit digs with 15 and 10, respectively. Brynn Riesterer tallied the lone block.
PECATONICA 3, MONTICELLO 2
BLANCHARDVILLE — Down to their last hope, the Vikings rallied to win the last three sets in a five-set victory over the Ponies on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Monticello won the first two sets 25-19, 25-19. Pecatonica won the final three sets 25-21, 25-18, 15-7.
“As coaches we were disappointed at how long it took us to find our energy and show up,” Pecatonica head coach Liz McGowan said. “We finally settled in and started to do the little things and focus on our fundamentals midway through set two. Going forward we need to work on mixing it up at the net and getting back as hitters.”
Loretta Tisch led the team in aces (6) and digs (25). Offensively, the Vikings rotated between three hitters, who all recorded double-digit kills: Diana Hendrickson (11), Madelyn Cleary (10) and Loretta Tisch (10). Anna Tisch dished it to the hitters, tallying 30 assists.
ALBANY 3, JUDA 0
ALBANY — With a three-set victory over the Panthers on Tuesday, Sept. 14, the Comets solidify their spot in the middle of the Six Rivers East Conference. Albany won by scores of 25-10, 25-7, 25-4.
Alana Durtschi led the Comet offense with 14 kills, thanks to 13 assists from Ellie Modaff. At the service line, Avary Briggs tallied eight aces followed by Anna Ellinger with three. Defensively, Durtschi dug out nine balls. Briggs and Modaff contributed eight digs each.
ARGYLE 3, BLACK HAWK 0
SOUTH WAYNE — The Orioles enter a three-way tie for third in the Six Rivers East Conference following a sweep of the Warriors on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Argyle defeated Black Hawk by scores of 25-19, 25-21, 25-15.
Kylie Butler led the Oriole offense with 16 kills and three aces, while Ava Wiegel facilitated the offense with 25 assists. Defensively, three players recorded double-digit digs: Butler (12), Mya McNett (12) and Sadie Steiner (15).
For the Warriors, Veronica Cheatham knocked down six kills. Hailey Wellnitz contributed three blocks, while Mya Milz tallied two aces and seven assists.
In other local volleyball, Darlington bested Fennimore in three sets, 25-17, 25-11, 25-12.
