BRODHEAD - In a test of endurance, the Monroe volleyball team dug in to finish third at the Brodhead Invitational on Saturday.
Belleville beat Monroe in a three-game match, 19-25, 25-17, 15-13 to assure second place in the gold bracket. It marked the Cheesemakers' second straight three-game match and third tiebreaker of the day.
"Our girls were running on 'E'," Monroe coach Dave Gersbach said. "They have great hearts and really pushed themselves. It was a long day. We had the hardest bracket. We battled all day long."
Madison Memorial won the Brodhead Invitational gold bracket title for the second straight year. The Spartans pulled out an emotionally draining three-game match over the Cheesemakers, 25-21, 18-25, 15-13.
In the third game, the Spartans' first point was overturned and granted to the Cheesemakers due to an illegal substitution. With some strong serving by senior Kayla Streff and dominant net play by junior Jamie Armstrong, the Cheesemakers jumped out to a 9-3 lead. The Spartans' comeback was under way when Madison Memorial senior Carly Orwin delivered an ace to tie the third game at 11.
"We knew we wanted to get into the gold bracket," Armstrong said. "I know we all wanted to beat Memorial. There was so much enthusiasm in that game and it kind of wiped us out. We didn't bring that enthusiasm into the game with Belleville."
The Cheesemakers (7-6) surged to a 10-5 lead against the Spartans in their first game of the round-robin gold bracket play. The Spartans battled back to take a 15-14 lead and hung on to win the first game.
The Cheesemakers jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the second game and overcame four service errors to force a decisive third game.
"It's really tiring playing all those matches in a day," Monroe senior libero Emily Rufenacht said. "We can't use that as an excuse. We had to come out and play our hardest. I think we had a lot more enthusiasm in that game. We really brought it hard to them."
The Wildcats (12-4) went 4-1 at the invitational. Belleville coach John Pamperin knows every coach will use the invitational as a tool to improve certain aspects of their volleyball game.
"Good competition shows your weaknesses," Pamperin said. "If you don't get beat, you don't find anything to work on. That's why we want to play the Monroes, Memorials and Brodheads.
"Monroe might have been the best team there if you just play one match. They just expended so much energy."
The Cheesemakers went 3-0 in pool play, highlighted by a three-game match win over Brodhead, 25-8, 17-25, 15-13.
"After that first game, I think we woke a sleeping giant," Gersbach said. "Our big goal was to meet Brodhead in the finals of the gold bracket. We just got to meet up with them earlier."
Brodhead, who finished 4-1, defeated Albany, 25-6, 26-24 and Whitewater, 25-16, 15-25, 15-8 to win the silver bracket title.
"You have to give props to Monroe," Brodhead coach Eric Ebensperger said. "They came here with the mindset to beat Brodhead. I'm just glad to walk out of here with the silver championship."
Rufenacht shined, digging and saving to keep points alive. Monroe sophomore Jaclyn Ditter, junior Chelsea Wyss and Armstrong blocking at the net made Rufenacht's job easier. Gersbach sees blockers working in tandem with the back row.
"That front row sets the block up so she can get in position," he said. "Without that strong front row, we can't create those digging lanes for our diggers to get to."
Albany finished 3-2 and took second place in silver bracket play.
Albany coach Connie Wunschel said the Comets' goal was to at least get back to silver bracket play like last year.
"We knew what we would face against Brodhead," Wunschel said.
Belleville beat Monroe in a three-game match, 19-25, 25-17, 15-13 to assure second place in the gold bracket. It marked the Cheesemakers' second straight three-game match and third tiebreaker of the day.
"Our girls were running on 'E'," Monroe coach Dave Gersbach said. "They have great hearts and really pushed themselves. It was a long day. We had the hardest bracket. We battled all day long."
Madison Memorial won the Brodhead Invitational gold bracket title for the second straight year. The Spartans pulled out an emotionally draining three-game match over the Cheesemakers, 25-21, 18-25, 15-13.
In the third game, the Spartans' first point was overturned and granted to the Cheesemakers due to an illegal substitution. With some strong serving by senior Kayla Streff and dominant net play by junior Jamie Armstrong, the Cheesemakers jumped out to a 9-3 lead. The Spartans' comeback was under way when Madison Memorial senior Carly Orwin delivered an ace to tie the third game at 11.
"We knew we wanted to get into the gold bracket," Armstrong said. "I know we all wanted to beat Memorial. There was so much enthusiasm in that game and it kind of wiped us out. We didn't bring that enthusiasm into the game with Belleville."
The Cheesemakers (7-6) surged to a 10-5 lead against the Spartans in their first game of the round-robin gold bracket play. The Spartans battled back to take a 15-14 lead and hung on to win the first game.
The Cheesemakers jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the second game and overcame four service errors to force a decisive third game.
"It's really tiring playing all those matches in a day," Monroe senior libero Emily Rufenacht said. "We can't use that as an excuse. We had to come out and play our hardest. I think we had a lot more enthusiasm in that game. We really brought it hard to them."
The Wildcats (12-4) went 4-1 at the invitational. Belleville coach John Pamperin knows every coach will use the invitational as a tool to improve certain aspects of their volleyball game.
"Good competition shows your weaknesses," Pamperin said. "If you don't get beat, you don't find anything to work on. That's why we want to play the Monroes, Memorials and Brodheads.
"Monroe might have been the best team there if you just play one match. They just expended so much energy."
The Cheesemakers went 3-0 in pool play, highlighted by a three-game match win over Brodhead, 25-8, 17-25, 15-13.
"After that first game, I think we woke a sleeping giant," Gersbach said. "Our big goal was to meet Brodhead in the finals of the gold bracket. We just got to meet up with them earlier."
Brodhead, who finished 4-1, defeated Albany, 25-6, 26-24 and Whitewater, 25-16, 15-25, 15-8 to win the silver bracket title.
"You have to give props to Monroe," Brodhead coach Eric Ebensperger said. "They came here with the mindset to beat Brodhead. I'm just glad to walk out of here with the silver championship."
Rufenacht shined, digging and saving to keep points alive. Monroe sophomore Jaclyn Ditter, junior Chelsea Wyss and Armstrong blocking at the net made Rufenacht's job easier. Gersbach sees blockers working in tandem with the back row.
"That front row sets the block up so she can get in position," he said. "Without that strong front row, we can't create those digging lanes for our diggers to get to."
Albany finished 3-2 and took second place in silver bracket play.
Albany coach Connie Wunschel said the Comets' goal was to at least get back to silver bracket play like last year.
"We knew what we would face against Brodhead," Wunschel said.
