MONTICELLO — For six months, Mackie Errthum had to wait to don a blue and white Ponies jersey again. The senior has been a fixture for Monticello on the volleyball and basketball court, as well as on the track.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Wisconsin in March, the Ponies’ basketball season was already over, but track practice had just begun. The WIAA postponed and ultimately canceled the spring season. In July, the WIAA pushed back the start of the fall sports season, with volleyball’s start date getting pushed back by five weeks. Although there is an option for schools to play a fall schedule during an alternate window in early 2021, the Six Rivers Conference voted to play a league-only schedule in 2020.

On Sept. 15, the Ponies were finally back in action, hosting Pecatonica.

“It’s nice to just get out there and play with my team,” Errthum said. “It’s been a change having to wear a mask and a whole bunch of other rules, but it’s definitely fun to get back out there again.”

Monticello, along with Black Hawk, was at the top of every coach’s preseason list of top title-contending teams in the Six Rivers. Young but talented Pecatonica had its eyes set on a major early-season upset. 

“I talked to (Pecatonica coach Liz McGowan) on the phone last night, and I said that I was worried, ‘I feel like you guys will give us a run for our money and knock us out in our first game,’” Monticello coach Rebecca Gustafson said. “They have a lot of returners from last year. I know I didn’t pick them to be at the top, like Black Hawk, but I certainly think they can be.”

In the end, the Ponies walked away with a hard fought four set victory, 21-25, 25-8, 25-16, 26-24.

“We worked hard and played with a good team — Monticello is looking really good,” McGowan said.

Both teams went back and forth in the first set, with the Ponies gaining momentum on a 7-2 early run to take a 10-5 advantage. Pecatonica had a rally of its own and took a 13-12 lead, only to drop four straight points to Monticello. A late 8-point run fueled by sophomore Chloe Schraepfer forced Monticello coach Rebecca Gustafson to call a timeout while trailing 23-17. Schraepfer fueled the run with a sideout on a kill and then added three aces at the service line.

“She did an awesome job tonight. They were hard, consistent serves. That was awesome to see,” McGowan said of Schraepfer, who led the Vikings with a perfect 19-for-19 mark from the service line.

Perhaps awakening a sleeping giant, the second set did not go in Pecatonica’s favor. The Ponies bookended the set with 12-1 runs, include strong service line play from Errthum and sophomore Ellie Gustafson.

“I couldn’t have asked to rebound any better than we did,” Errthum said. “We rose as a whole team — it wasn’t just one of us. That first set was the first of doing anything in over six months. It was nice to just bounce back and see that we do have the potential to bounce back if we play hard.”

The third set was less lopsided, with the teams knotted at 10 mid-way through. However, Monticello closed on a 15-6 charge to take the 2-1 set lead.

For much of the fourth set, neither team could gain much footing. Early on, the Vikings were able to take a two-point advantage, but each time the Ponies either tied or re-took the lead on a short run of their own. After being even again at 10, Monticello rattled off a 7-1 run, capped by an Errthum ace, which seemed to position the Ponies for a shift into cruise control. However, the 17-11 advantage didn’t last long as the Vikings used on a 10-1 run of their own to go ahead 21-18, causing the Ponies to call another timeout.

“Pecatonica played really well. I think she (McGowan) should be proud of her team. They were ready to play,” coach Gustafson said.

In the game of teeter-totter swings of momentum, the Ponies regained possession on a missed serve and then rattled off six straight points with Ellie Gustafson back at the service line. The first-team all-conference all-around hitter notched two aces in the stretch, and McGowan called a timeout of her own with the set at match-point, 24-21. 

“I think we saw the same groove in the fourth game that we saw spurts of it throughout games two and three,” McGowan said. “I think the girls are excited to be back. That passion and drive comes out and we do good things.”

The Vikings scored three points of their own to knot the score at 24 after a pair of long rallies and a kill by senior Lily Busser. 

Monticello broke the tie thanks to a one-handed diving dig by Ellie Gustafson and a tip kill by Hannah Clark. A block at the net by Errthum sealed the match for the Ponies.

“It was hard to keep everyone pumped up — especially when they made that huge return. I’m glad we could overcome it,” Errthum said.

Ellie Gustafson finished the night with 16 kills and five aces. Clark had 12 kills and three blocks, while Errthum finished with four blocks. Alexa Siegenthaler added five aces. Siegenthaler and sophomore Delenn Gillaspie shared setter duties, combining for 26 assists.

“We’re adjusting to a new setter. When it clicks, it’s beautiful,” coach Gustafson said. 

The Monticello coaches have switched positions for some players and asked others to take on added responsibilities — including on short notice, like the day before the match when the team had a player quarantined. Other changes include Clark moving to the middle and playing all six rotation positions, and Errthum going from the front row to the back for the first time. 

“I felt like Mackie surprised me with her defense. Hannah surprised me — she’s playing all the way around. She played middle for club and worked with a really good coach. She really grew over the summer,” coach Gustafson said.

Monticello is blessed with young talent, though with a shortened season, finding that chemistry on the court could prove to be frustrating at times, as the opener showed. Along with Ellie Gustafson and Gillaspie, the Ponies also have freshman Jaden Zuber and sophomore Macey Grant joining the ranks.

“They are girls that play club, so they know the game well, they just aren’t used to playing next to each other,” coach Gustafson said. “They have solid skills and I know we have kids who can bury the ball, we just needed to get comfortable and get the nerves out.”

Pecatonica, meanwhile, has three sophomores on the varsity roster, as well as seven juniors and three seniors. All-conference returners Sydney Eaton and Tessa Green showed their leadership all around the court in the opener, while others stepped into the spotlight when needed, including juniors Lexi Peterson and Niveah Gross, and seniors Lily Busser and Lexi McSherry.

“Lily and Lexi (Peterson) in our middle — when they got behind the ball and attacked you could really see the difference,” McGowan said. “We had a solid night in the back row. Monticello was really aggressive with their hitting. We got a lot of their balls up and we were very pleased with what we saw defensively.”

Up next on the schedule for the Vikings is a road match at Black Hawk Sept. 21. Monticello was set to travel to Argyle Sept. 17 before a road match at Barneveld Sept. 21.