MONROE - Monona Grove and Monroe both came into a Badger South Conference match Thursday night winless and with something to prove.
Monona Grove was able to hang on to knock off the Cheesemakers 25-19, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22.
"I don't think the team that played at Stoughton on Tuesday showed up," Monroe coach Danya Ward said. "We were having problems setting. We didn't have any energy. We weren't there mentally in the first game."
Monroe (4-11, 0-5 Badger South) has now lost 22 straight conference matches. The Cheesemakers struggled down the stretch in the first game. They hit several balls into the net and the Silver Eagles closed out a tight first set.
Monona Grove sophomore Samantha Kinsler scored four straight service points to help the Silver Eagles jump out to a 4-0 lead. Monroe senior Becca Armstrong powered a kill to force a much needed sideout. Senior Heather Barta then reeled off six straight service points to give the Cheesemakers a 7-4 lead. The run featured a block by junior Taylor Barrett and a kill by Armstrong. Barrett finished with eight kills and three blocks. Armstrong had seven kills and three aces.
The Silver Eagles also started making some hitting mistakes and the Cheesemakers capitalized. Monona Grove's Kathryn Walters went on a serving hot streak and the Cheesemakers struggled receiving as the Silver Eagles closed out the game. Monroe committed three service errors in the second game.
The Cheesemakers rebounded to win the third set and then lost on a free ball in the final game.
Monroe senior Ashley Curtis had 16 digs and teammate Heather Barta added 13 assists.
"We were off digging for a while," Ward said. "We were not doing enough offensively for a while to make up for our mistakes serving."
Monona Grove was able to hang on to knock off the Cheesemakers 25-19, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22.
"I don't think the team that played at Stoughton on Tuesday showed up," Monroe coach Danya Ward said. "We were having problems setting. We didn't have any energy. We weren't there mentally in the first game."
Monroe (4-11, 0-5 Badger South) has now lost 22 straight conference matches. The Cheesemakers struggled down the stretch in the first game. They hit several balls into the net and the Silver Eagles closed out a tight first set.
Monona Grove sophomore Samantha Kinsler scored four straight service points to help the Silver Eagles jump out to a 4-0 lead. Monroe senior Becca Armstrong powered a kill to force a much needed sideout. Senior Heather Barta then reeled off six straight service points to give the Cheesemakers a 7-4 lead. The run featured a block by junior Taylor Barrett and a kill by Armstrong. Barrett finished with eight kills and three blocks. Armstrong had seven kills and three aces.
The Silver Eagles also started making some hitting mistakes and the Cheesemakers capitalized. Monona Grove's Kathryn Walters went on a serving hot streak and the Cheesemakers struggled receiving as the Silver Eagles closed out the game. Monroe committed three service errors in the second game.
The Cheesemakers rebounded to win the third set and then lost on a free ball in the final game.
Monroe senior Ashley Curtis had 16 digs and teammate Heather Barta added 13 assists.
"We were off digging for a while," Ward said. "We were not doing enough offensively for a while to make up for our mistakes serving."
