MONROE — Volleyball season kicked off Saturday, Aug. 26 with tournaments in Monroe and Monticello. The Cheesemakers hosted a six-team tournament, where they dropped all five matches for sixth place. Their most competitive performance was a three-set loss to Wisconsin Heights 23-25, 25-19, 12-15. Mount Horeb won the Invite, while New Glarus took second. 

The Knights had two players make the all-tournament team: hitter Lindsey Schadewalt and libero-defensive specialist Carrah Bainbridge. Monroe’s Sophie Golembiewski was named to the all-tournament team as a hitter. The remaining selections came from Mount Horeb — hitter Jayse Holman, libero-defensive specialist Kennedy Myers and setter Laila Rasmussen.

Monticello hosted an eight-team tournament. Teams were split into two pools — Argyle, Shullsburg, River Ridge and Monticello in Pool A and Black Hawk, Juda, Highland and Marshall in Pool B. The top two teams in each pool advanced to the gold bracket, competing for first place. 

Shullsburg defeated Highland in a three-set semifinal, while Marshall beat Monticello in two sets. In the championship game, Marshall topped Shullsburg 25-22, 26-24.

Argyle, who went 0-3 in pool play, rebounded to win the silver bracket with a three-set victory over River Ridge 25-22, 23-25, 15-12. In pool play, the Timberwolves beat the Orioles 25-27, 25-23, 15-9. Kylie Butler led the team in kills (17), digs (45) and service aces (7). Brooke Wellnitz contributed 16 kills with a team-best five blocks. Ava Wiegel tallied 35 assists to lead the team with three aces. 

Monticello stat leaders include Jaden Zuber and Dalana Trumpy for kills, Jillian Ryan for blocks and Kennadee Johnson and Zuber for aces.