SPRING GREEN — The Cheesemakers saw their season end in the opening round of the WIAA Division 2 playoffs Oct. 22. River Valley, the 5-seed, defeated 12th-seeded Monroe 25-13, 25-18, 25-9.
“The second set we came out ahead and we started to play and compete with them,” Monroe coach Heidi Witt said. “The teams were very comparable; however, Monroe suffered from a lack of energy and our hits were not finding the court. Players who normally are solid behind the endline missed some key serves.”
Senior Cassi Gersbach led Monroe with six kills, three blocks and an ace. Senior Chloe Bunker and sophomore Lydia Butler each had four kills. Senior Lily Frehner dished out 16 assists in her last match as a Cheesemaker, and junior Alyse Maurer was credited with seven digs.
“We didn’t come out on the court and show River Valley who we are, who we can be. For our seniors, it is always hard to see the season come to an end. But with that all being said, it was fun to watch these girls play this season,” Witt said.
Division 3
New Glarus 3, Deerfield 2
DEERFIELD — No. 9 seed New Glarus pulled off a five-set upset against eighth-seeded Deerfield Oct. 22 in the first round of the WIAA playoffs. The Glarner Knights rallied to win 25-20, 19-25, 17-25, 25-21, 15-4.
Lily Himmelmann led New Glarus with 11 kills. Teammate Lola Gillaspie had nine kills and Alexah Mellenberger added seven more. Gillaspie had four blocks, while Grace Nommensen and Emma Marty each had three. Ellie Eichelkraut notched four aces, Brooke Watrud finished with eight digs and Nommensen dished out 28 assists.
New Glarus advanced to the regional semifinal to face top-seeded Brodhead Oct. 24. The Cardinals had a first-round bye. The winner advances to the regional final to be played at 7 p.m. Oct 26. If Brodhead wins, the Cardinals would host either Darlington or Cuba City. If New Glarus pulls off another upset, the Knights would be on the road. Darlington beat Fennimore in straight sets, 25-17, 27-25, 25-15, while Cuba City swept Williams Bay 25-8, 25-18, 25-15.
Division 4
Argyle 3, Barneveld 0
ARGYLE — The Orioles, seeded sixth, dispatched 11-seed Barneveld in Round One, 25-21, 25-19, 25-17.
Maddie Godfrey finished with 14 kills, eight digs and a block to lead Argyle. Teammate Megan Johnson added seven aces and 31 assists. Tori Lantz hammered home 10 kills and added eight digs and a block, while Addisyn Noble also finished with a block.
Argyle lost both matches against Black Hawk this season in straight sets. The winner will play either second-seeded Fall River or seventh-seeded Pecatonica in the regional final Oct. 26. Pecatonica edged 10th-seeded Cambria-Friesland in five sets, 25-21, 22-25, 25-16, 19-25, 15-13 in the first round. Fall River swept Madison Country Day 25-2, 25-7, 25-11.
Should Fall River defeat Pecatonica, either Argyle or Black Hawk would be on the road in the regional final. If the Vikings pull off the upset, the Argyle-Black Hawk winner would host the regional championship.
Black Hawk 3, Albany 0
SOUTH WAYNE — Third-seeded Black Hawk was hardly challenged in their opening round win over the 14th-seeded Comets. The Warriors defeated Albany 25-6, 25-10, 25-11 on Oct. 22.
Bailey Butler led Black Hawk with 13 kills, while sister Hannah Butler finished with six blocks. Maddy Huschitt added 18 assists and three aces, with Kaylee Marty also notching three aces.
Albany was led by Mady Conway, who had a pair of aces and eight digs. Brianna Dahl finished with four kills and Aayliah Landen added three.
The Warriors move on to the second round and were slated to host Argyle Oct. 24.
