WATERTOWN — The Cheesemakers went 0-4 at the Badger South tournament Oct. 12, two days after falling to Monona Grove in straight sets.
Monroe was seeded seventh in the conference tournament and took just one of seven sets in pool play. The Cheesemakers lost to Edgewood 13-25, 17-25, then fell to Fort Atkinson 16-25, 17-25 before taking Stoughton to three sets, 10-25, 25-22, 7-15.
In the second round, Monroe played Oregon, which was fourth in the opposing pool. Despite beating Oregon nine days prior, the Cheesemakers fell to the Panthers in a tight match 25-21, 11-25, 14-16.
“We were able to play all of our players throughout the day, which is always a great experience for them,” Monroe coach Heidi Witt. “We are winding down the season now so for our six senior players this is all getting a little real that they may be playing some of their last matches in the next few weeks. It was important to give them all playing time.”
Cassi Gersbach had 12 kills, five blocks and six aces on the day to lead the Cheesemakers. Katie Hayes had eight kills, while Lydia Butler and Makayla Harrow each had seven kills. Chloe Bunker finished with five blocks. Lily Frehner dished out 46 assists and had 22 digs. Alyse Maurer chipped in with 22 digs and Bri Seagreaves added another 13 digs.
The Cheesemakers host a Badger North crossover match Oct. 17, with the WIAA postseason beginning the following week.
“We are really hoping for a large crowd to cheer these players on as this may be the last time they play volleyball in this gym,” Witt said of the final home game, which is Senior Night and takes place during homecoming week.
The postseason seeding meeting is Oct. 16, and Monroe will find out if it is home or away in the opening round, which takes place Oct. 22.
Monona Grove 3, Monroe 0
MONONA — The host Silver Eagles swept the Cheesemakers 19-25, 16-25, 13-25 in their Badger South match Oct. 10.
“In the first set we played with MG pretty well. I thought this was going to be a good battle the rest of the night,” Witt said. “However, that is not how the story played out. Lack of energy and communication, as well as not being able to finish plays were our downfalls the rest of the night.”
Gersbach had six kills, while Bunker had five. Harrow had an ace and a block, and Taylor Jacobson added a block. Frehner finished with 21 assists and 11 digs, and Maurer added 24 digs.
“Alyse Maurer had an incredible night of passing the ball and her defense was on. She was giving the team every opportunity to score but we just couldn’t finish,” Witt said. “We did do some good things on the court tonight but this was not the team I thought was going to show up and play.”
East Troy 3, Brodhead 0
EAST TROY — The Cardinals were swept Oct. 10 by the Trojans in a Rock Valley match, 21-25, 19-25, 18-25.
Katie Goecks had six kills for Brodhead, while Sabrina Siegel, Alexis Kammerer and Abbie Dix each had five kills. Dix added two blocks and Siegel had three aces. Kammerer dished out 21 assists. Madisyn Kail chipped in with 19 digs, and Kiarra Moe had 12 digs.
Brodhead had five aces in the match, but also made five service errors.
New Glarus 3, Parkview 0
NEW GLARUS — The Glarner Knights swept the Vikings in a nonconference match Oct. 10, 25-15, 25-20, 25-20.
Lily Himmelman had eight kills and two blocks to led New Glarus. Lola Gillaspie finished with eight aces, seven kills and two blocks, Emma Marty had six kills, Alexah Mellenberger finished with three aces and five kills and Zoe Moen added a pair of aces. Grace Nommenson, a freshman setter, had 21 assists.
