MONTICELLO — Following the pivotal Six Rivers East Conference match between Monticello and Albany on Tuesday, shouts erupted from the gym — but not for the home team. The underdog Comets came away with a 3-1 win over the Ponies, ending a 13-year losing streak. 

“It was a lot of being tired of losing, tired of thinking we can’t do it,” junior Anna Ellinger said. “We hyped each other up to get it done.”

Last year, Monticello ended Albany’s season with a 3-0 win in a WIAA regional final. The Ponies’ playoff run ended in the Division 4 state championship game with a silver ball in hand. The 2023 team looks much different, though, despite returning three starters. 

Junior Dalana Trumpy and senior Jaden Zuber remain as hitters, but they are relied upon heavily with the graduation of Six Rivers East POY Ellie Gustafson. Kennadee Johnson moved from the right side to setter, as Kelsy Grant transferred to Verona.

“My returning players are lower in confidence, even though they’ve gone to state the past couple of years. Their confidence is still building because they are looked at to do the work,” Monticello head coach Alison Zimmerman said. “They are my go-tos, my leaders, and they are still figuring out those roles.”

While Monticello is still figuring out their rotation and roles, Albany continues to build from last year. In 2022, the Comets won their first regional game in 12 years. With the entire roster back, Albany has gone on a four-game winning streak in the conference.

“Being able to work together all of last year and this year helps build chemistry, which helps our passing, hitting and setting,” senior Alana Durtschi said. “We know each other and are able to play our best volleyball.”

All of these factors came to play in Tuesday’s match, where the teams knotted up the first set six times with three lead changes. 

Ellinger tied the set at 11 with a push to the far corner and took the lead with an ace. Albany won the next two points for a four-point swing and 15-11 advantage. Monticello won points intermittently with kills from Dalana Trumpy, but the Comets ended the first set on a five-point run. Myah Johnson tallied an ace for the 23-17 lead, and Ellinger recorded back-to-back kills to take the first set.

The loss fired Monticello up, as the Ponies took an early 9-2 lead in the second set. Albany struggled on the second ball — getting called for doubles — made attacking errors and ran into the net, forcing a timeout to recollect. The pause helped, as the Comets won the next three points. A tip kill from Trumpy sparked another five-point rally for Monticello, though.

With a kill from Zuber, the Ponies took a 19-9 lead. Albany rallied to pull with six at 20-14 and 23-17, but a Comet service error and kill from Trumpy ended the set in favor of Monticello, 25-17.

In the third set, the two teams came out fighting, knowing whoever won had a huge advantage going into the fourth set.

Monticello took a 2-0 lead with an ace from Zuber and block from Trumpy. Albany tied the set at two and took the lead on a kill from Durtschi. The teams exchanged points before a tip kill from Durtschi gave Albany the lead for good. 

A kill from Myah Johnson put the Comets ahead 8-4, forcing a Pony timeout. Durtschi kept the rally alive after the break with two more kills. Although Trumpy attempted to lift her team with kills, Albany pulled away, 21-8, with two aces from Myah Johnson and a handful of Pony errors.

Unwilling to go down easily, Trumpy kept attacking. Her kill from the middle sparked a 5-1 run, but Albany closed out the set, 25-13, with three straight points.

“They [Monticello players] are very hot and cold still,” Zimmerman said. “Sometimes the hits are there and they come together, but when they get down, it really shows in the score.”

Headed into the fourth set with a 2-1 advantage, Albany was ready to put the match away.

“Whoever wins that set has the advantage going into the fourth set,” Albany head coach Scott Smice said. “I think they refocused themselves to finish and get through that third set. It’s crucial to have the upper hand.”

Down 5-2, Albany went on a five-point run. An attack error by Trumpy tied the set at five, and a Myah Jonson kill gave the Comets a 6-5 advantage. The two teams knotted the score another six times before a three-point swing gave Monticello a 17-14 lead.

After a timeout, Albany rallied for 7-1 run. Trumpy squashed the momentum with a kill down the line. With three Comet errors, the Ponies took a 22-21 lead. Out of Albany’s second timeout, Ellinger tied the game with a kill, and Avary Briggs regained the lead with her own attack. Sadie Wilkins’ tip tied the set — again — at 23, but Albany prevailed to take the set 25-23. The final point was a tip from Ellinger.

“There were a little nerves, but we believed in each other,” Durtschi said. “Ultimately, that’s what got us this ‘W’.”

Durtschi and Ellinger led the offensive attack with 16 kills each. Ellie Modaff and Myah Johnson shared the setting duties, with 16 assists each. Defensively, Durtschi and Ellinger led again, with 24 and 18 digs, respectively. Durtschi had a strong presence at the net with five blocks. At the service line, Myah Johnson and Briggs tallied three aces each.

With the win, Albany improves to 4-2 in conference, while Monticello drops to 2-4. Headed into the second round of conference play, the Comets are still in the hunt for a Six Rivers East title.

“It was very important for the conference because now we are 4-2 instead of 3-3. We are right behind Pecatonica,” Smice said. “If somebody can knock off Barneveld, we are right back in the conference chase.”

Monticello and Albany will meet again in the conference regular season finale on Thursday, Oct. 12 in Albany.

“It feels really good to get this win,” Ellinger said. “This is revenge. This our time, for us. Now, they are going to want come to our home court and win. That’s not happening. We are going to bring it.”