MONROE — The Cheesemakers opened the Badger Conference slate with an intense 5-set match against Stoughton Aug. 29. Unfortunately for the home crowd on Parent’s Night, Monroe fell short 25-21, 20-25, 25-22, 15-25, 9-15.

“We had a few communication errors and maybe didn’t play the ball the way we should have every time, but in general I think we stuck with them pretty close, it just didn’t go our way,” Monroe coach Heidi Witt said. “The girls were pumped up and wished the outcome would have been a little bit different on Parent’s Night, or any night, really. But to come out and play Stoughton that way, I’m pretty proud of them.”

A program desperate to climb out of the cellar — the Cheesemakers have just four league wins in the past decade — the first set victory launched jubilation around the court. Twice in the set Monroe went on runs of four straight points, and saw its biggest lead reach eight at 22-14. The Cheesemakers got a side-out on a kill from Cassi Gersbach, then saw Makayla Harrow ace a serve. The next point came on a block at the net from Gersbach and Chloe Bunker.

“I was just ecstatic,” Gersbach said.

Gersbach and Bunker each finished the match with four blocks, while Harrow had five aces. 

Stoughton took the second set in another see-saw battle, but Monroe rebounded with a big third set. 

“We can definitely compete with our conference. It’s been a while since we’ve taken Stoughton to five, but I am really looking forward to the up and coming matches,” Gersbach said.

The Cheesemakers opened the third set on a 5-0 run, though Stoughton rallied to take a 10-9 lead. Another five-point run put Monroe on top 16-11, only for the Vikings to again go on a 9-3 run of their own to go ahead 20-19. 

Stoughton jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth set, but Monroe stayed in it at 17-14. That’s when the Vikings tore off an 8-1 stretch to send the match to a tie-breaking fifth set.

The initial advantage seemed to trend the Cheesemakers direction in the fifth set. The first team to 15, but also with a 2-point lead would win the tiebreaker, and Monroe jumped out to a 4-1 advantage thanks to another Harrow ace. But then the engine started to sputter and, eventually, the wheels fell off entirely.

“We had a few mistakes and they just started dwelling on them a little bit. I told them to bring up their energy and forget what just happened,” Witt said. “The girls are really working hard in practice. They are playing together. I think they just need to find that rhythm and stay in it the whole time.”

After back-and-forth points for a few serves, Stoughton would go on a 6-0 run to take a 10-6 lead. Monroe brought it back to 10-9 briefly before the Vikings closed on a 5-0 run.

“I was really excited going into it, because I was still coming off the high of winning our last game (at Evansville). I really thought we were going to have a good matchup. I was hoping we were going to pull through, but we took it to five and, sadly, we lost,” Gersbach said.

Gersbach finished the night with 14 kills, while Katie Hayes had eight and Alyse Maurer 13 digs. Lily Frehner had four aces, 19 assists and 18 digs. More than the stat line, Frehner noticeably picked up her team throughout the game with not just her enthusiasm, but hustle and heads up play. Throughout the match, Frehner would recognize an opening in the defense and instead of setting up for a kill, but quickly find the hole. On defense, she saved several balls with all-out digs, including the opening point of the fifth set when she sprawled out fully onto the ground and saved a spike with her fingertips, allowing the volley to progress.

“There were a couple of times where she touched the ball and it didn’t go her way, so those (big plays) are good confidence boosters for her to rally back with the team,” Witt said.

Monroe will need more hustle plays like Frehner’s in order to compete in the conference this fall. The Cheesemakers entered the season with a formative front line that included Gersbach, Harrow, Bunker, Hayes and junior Zoee Pond. Pond, however, will miss the entire season with a significant knee injury.

“Truly we miss her, but it’s great seeing her on the sidelines. She brings a lot to the team just with her knowledge of the game, but obviously she’d rather be on the court herself,” Witt said.

“I was trying to give my 110% to Zoee, because she’s sitting out,” Gersbach said.