MONROE — After exactly 72 weeks (504 days), the Cheesemakers stepped onto the volleyball court with an opposing team on the other side of the net. To say the squad was excited to be there would be an understatement.
“They’ve been excited — everyday they are saying how excited they are (to be back),” said Heidi Witt, Monroe’s head coach. “This is what they love to do. It’s definitely nice to see some ‘normal’ again — and they actually get a crowd to watch.”
Monroe’s opponent March 9 was conference rival Oregon (1-1). While the Panthers also had a long break between the October end of the 2019 season and the beginning of this year’s Alternative Fall schedule, the Cheesemakers no more than began practice when it had to go on a two-week pause because of COVID-19. That meant Monroe had even less time to practice together and work on things such as spacing, passing and communication, which showed not just throughout the night, but in the first set.
“We just got back off of being in quarantine and we haven’t really had a whole lot of time to be in practice together. We really only had one practice with everybody there — and that was yesterday,” Witt said after her team dropped the drama-filled match in five sets, 12-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 10-15. “How do you work next to each other and how do you communicate and things like that. It’s just getting used to play next to your teammates.”
The first-game jitters were apparent as the opening set launched. Oregon scored an ace on the first serve without a Monroe player attempting to dig the ball. On the next volley, a miscommunication error led to another point. A deep serve gave the Cheesemakers a sideout for the first point of the season, and Monroe then went on a brief 5-1 run. The Panthers followed with a 6-0 run of their own, followed by a 5-1 Monroe run to tie it at 10, then a 15-2 Oregon series to close the frame.
We just got back off of being in quarantine and we haven’t really had a whole lot of time to be in practice together. We really only had one practice with everybody there — and that was yesterday.Heidi Witt, Monroe coach
The rollercoaster ride of the first period was a foreshadowing of what was to come. Oregon had six aces in the opening set, a theme that would continue much of the match, with the exception of the second set. In that frame, the Cheesemakers jumped out to a 13-4 lead thanks to a trio of aces from Taylor Jacobson. Monroe’s advantage was 10 points as late as 23-13, but then the Panthers came clawing back, only for an out-of-bounds serve to even up the match at 1-1.
In the third set, Monroe led 8-5 early on, but Oregon’s Rachel Trochlell served a trio of aces to give the Panthers a brief lead. The two teams jostled back and forth, with the score knotted up at 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19 before Oregon’s serving closed the door. Sydney Charles served four aces in a six-point stretch to put the Cheesemakers on their heels. In the frame, the Panthers collected nine aces, with five more points coming from Monroe violations.
The fourth set was similar in that there were nine ties and neither team led by more than three points. A late 5-point run put Monroe ahead 24-21, though a short serve and an Oregon kill had the score again back to within a point before Charles served short, forcing the teams into the first-to-15/win-by-two fifth set.
Oregon again took the early advantage, going up 5-3, only for the Cheesemakers to take four of the next five points. A quick 4-0 run by the Panthers made it 10-7, with Lizzie Konop capping the streak with an ace. Witt called a timeout to try and regroup her players. Monroe took three of the next four points to get to 11-10, but that was as close as the home team would get. Charles had a pair of aces, and Monroe was unable to return a volley at match-point.
“I thought we did alright to go to five (sets) the very first night of coming back; on only five days of practice,” Witt said. “Our few downfalls were really a few too many missed serves and miscommunication — and again, that’s just getting used to how everybody operates on the court. They know they have to work on it.”
Monroe senior Zoe Pond finished the night with 9 kills, a block and 3 aces.
Pond injured her knee at the very beginning of the 2019 season, though she recovered in time to play some club ball during the extended offseason. Pond will play at Waldorf College in Iowa in the fall.
“It’s just great to see her on the court and instead of in a manager’s position. Zoee is a great leader,” Witt said.
Lydia Butler had 9 kills and two blocks, while Jacobson finished the night with 7 kills, 4 aces and a block. Katie Hayes, who made the switch to setter from right-side hitter, tallied 25 assists, and Alyse Maurer finished the night with 10 digs.
“Katie Hayes has really stepped up — she stepped into that role of setter and I thought she did a really great job,” Witt said. “(Butler’s) confidence level has definitely amped up a lot. Her serving was phenomenal tonight, and she’s just getting more aggressive at the net and she’s more confident with her position as an outside hitter. Hat’s off to Taylor Jacobson, too. She was just crushing it tonight and it was just so fun to see that.”
Charles had 8 aces, with Konop tallying 6. Makayla Vondra led Oregon with 8 kills and 3 blocks.
Monroe was back in action with another home match March 11 against DeForest.
“We’ve got a short time — a short season — but I think it will come together for them,” Witt said.
