MONROE - The Monroe volleyball team is still searching for its first win in the Badger South Conference after Milton rolled past Monroe 25-13, 25-19, 25-15 Thursday night.
"We are better than we played," Monroe coach Danya Ward said. "We have the potential. We could have put up a better fight. It's just the consistency. When you have confidence in what you are doing that leads to consistency."
The loss may have come at a cost as senior Kirsten Vetterli injured her ankle and was forced out of the match.
Ward said when Vetterli went down it was hard on the team.
"Jenna Crook came in and did a good job of filling Vet's shoes, but it's an adjustment," she said.
Milton jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the first set and cruised from there. The Cheesemakers (4-6, 0-3 Badger South) had several service errors that cost them points.
In the second set, the Red Hawks jumped out to a 12-5 lead. Monroe senior Taylor Barrett sparked the Cheesemakers' rally with a kill that sliced the Red Hawks' lead to 13-7. Monroe junior Kari Jordan sparked the Cheesemakers with seven straight service points. Barrett, who had five kills and two blocks, delivered another kill that cut the Red Hawks' lead to 14-8. Monroe senior Savannah Koester and Barrett each had blocks to cut the Red Hawks' lead to 14-10. The Cheesemakers took a 15-14 lead on Barrett's kill. Koester finished with eight kills and two blocks.
Milton answered with a sideout and the Cheesemakers were called for an illegal hit as the Red Hawks took an 18-16 lead. The Cheesemakers struggled with their passing and couldn't get the set they needed for the hitters late in the second set. Milton sophomore Kate Quade finished off the set with an ace.
"We have to seize the opportunity to put the ball down ourselves first," Ward said. "They (Milton) were not doing anything really special. We lost everything and lost our confidence."
Monroe senior Whitney Disch had a key block in the final set that trimmed the Red Hawks' lead to 9-5. The Cheesemakers battled some serve receive issues as the Red Hawks took a 13-6 lead. Koester came through with two kills to cut Milton's lead to 18-10, but the Red Hawks responded with a sideout.
Monroe senior Katie Holmes had an ace to cut the Red Hawks' lead to 20-14, but that is as close as the Cheesemakers would get. Monroe sophomore Paige Murphy had a team-high 12 assists and Holmes had seven digs. Milton sophomore Rachel Butterfield had nine kills and senior Samantha Scalissi had 16 digs. Milton senior Jennifer Krausse had a team-high 20 assists.
"We have to get better at serve receive," Ward said. "We have to be able to anticipate and move to where the ball was going. After they served it and it went over the net we stopped moving."
Vetterli is expected to miss the Brodhead Invitational Saturday.
"Even if she could play, I wouldn't let her," Ward said. "You can't sprain your ankle and two days later play in a tournament."
"We are better than we played," Monroe coach Danya Ward said. "We have the potential. We could have put up a better fight. It's just the consistency. When you have confidence in what you are doing that leads to consistency."
The loss may have come at a cost as senior Kirsten Vetterli injured her ankle and was forced out of the match.
Ward said when Vetterli went down it was hard on the team.
"Jenna Crook came in and did a good job of filling Vet's shoes, but it's an adjustment," she said.
Milton jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the first set and cruised from there. The Cheesemakers (4-6, 0-3 Badger South) had several service errors that cost them points.
In the second set, the Red Hawks jumped out to a 12-5 lead. Monroe senior Taylor Barrett sparked the Cheesemakers' rally with a kill that sliced the Red Hawks' lead to 13-7. Monroe junior Kari Jordan sparked the Cheesemakers with seven straight service points. Barrett, who had five kills and two blocks, delivered another kill that cut the Red Hawks' lead to 14-8. Monroe senior Savannah Koester and Barrett each had blocks to cut the Red Hawks' lead to 14-10. The Cheesemakers took a 15-14 lead on Barrett's kill. Koester finished with eight kills and two blocks.
Milton answered with a sideout and the Cheesemakers were called for an illegal hit as the Red Hawks took an 18-16 lead. The Cheesemakers struggled with their passing and couldn't get the set they needed for the hitters late in the second set. Milton sophomore Kate Quade finished off the set with an ace.
"We have to seize the opportunity to put the ball down ourselves first," Ward said. "They (Milton) were not doing anything really special. We lost everything and lost our confidence."
Monroe senior Whitney Disch had a key block in the final set that trimmed the Red Hawks' lead to 9-5. The Cheesemakers battled some serve receive issues as the Red Hawks took a 13-6 lead. Koester came through with two kills to cut Milton's lead to 18-10, but the Red Hawks responded with a sideout.
Monroe senior Katie Holmes had an ace to cut the Red Hawks' lead to 20-14, but that is as close as the Cheesemakers would get. Monroe sophomore Paige Murphy had a team-high 12 assists and Holmes had seven digs. Milton sophomore Rachel Butterfield had nine kills and senior Samantha Scalissi had 16 digs. Milton senior Jennifer Krausse had a team-high 20 assists.
"We have to get better at serve receive," Ward said. "We have to be able to anticipate and move to where the ball was going. After they served it and it went over the net we stopped moving."
Vetterli is expected to miss the Brodhead Invitational Saturday.
"Even if she could play, I wouldn't let her," Ward said. "You can't sprain your ankle and two days later play in a tournament."
