RICHLAND CENTER - The Monroe volleyball team went 1-3 in four matches at the Richland Center Invitational Saturday.
"We definitely did better than last year, moving up a bracket and just playing some better volleyball," Monroe coach Heidi Witt said. "Although no medals were received, Monroe left with their heads held high. There are always things we can get better at but the girls are responding with every practice and match. We see wins every day as small as they may be. They are a big deal to this team and a big deal to the coaches."
Monroe went 1-2 in pool play. The Cheesemakers (3-10, 0-2 Badger South) defeated Fennimore 25-22, 25-18. Lodi knocked off Monroe 25-17, 25-21 and the Cheesemakers dropped a match to the Wisconsin Dells in three sets. Monroe won the first set 25-20 and the Chiefs came back to win the final two sets 25-16, 15-8. The Cheesemakers were the only team in the pool with Wisconsin Dells to take them to three sets.
"This was a huge confidence builder for our team," Witt said. "We were scrappy, hitting and blocking. We played an all-around match with them. Overall, I was pleased with how they played. Their determination against the Dells was undeniable."
Monroe sophomore Sydney Mathiason had a team-high 16 kills in the tournament. Junior Alicia Kuester had 15 kills and senior Hannah Vetterli added 13 kills. Monroe senior Paige Murphy racked up 26 assists and notched a team-best six aces. Sophomore Alysha Witt piled up 23 assists and Vetterli had five aces. Monroe junior Lexi Hilliard and Vetterli each notched six digs. Mathiason had three blocks and Kuester added two blocks.
The Cheesemakers earned a No. 3 seed and moved on to play in the black bracket where they faced Mineral Point. The Pointers edged the Cheesemakers in three sets 24-26, 25-18, 15-8.
"We definitely could have taken the win from them," Witt said. "I just think we got too tired from the day and made some ball handling errors that we couldn't recover from. These girls are improving every match. We see it and I hope those watching see it too."
"We definitely did better than last year, moving up a bracket and just playing some better volleyball," Monroe coach Heidi Witt said. "Although no medals were received, Monroe left with their heads held high. There are always things we can get better at but the girls are responding with every practice and match. We see wins every day as small as they may be. They are a big deal to this team and a big deal to the coaches."
Monroe went 1-2 in pool play. The Cheesemakers (3-10, 0-2 Badger South) defeated Fennimore 25-22, 25-18. Lodi knocked off Monroe 25-17, 25-21 and the Cheesemakers dropped a match to the Wisconsin Dells in three sets. Monroe won the first set 25-20 and the Chiefs came back to win the final two sets 25-16, 15-8. The Cheesemakers were the only team in the pool with Wisconsin Dells to take them to three sets.
"This was a huge confidence builder for our team," Witt said. "We were scrappy, hitting and blocking. We played an all-around match with them. Overall, I was pleased with how they played. Their determination against the Dells was undeniable."
Monroe sophomore Sydney Mathiason had a team-high 16 kills in the tournament. Junior Alicia Kuester had 15 kills and senior Hannah Vetterli added 13 kills. Monroe senior Paige Murphy racked up 26 assists and notched a team-best six aces. Sophomore Alysha Witt piled up 23 assists and Vetterli had five aces. Monroe junior Lexi Hilliard and Vetterli each notched six digs. Mathiason had three blocks and Kuester added two blocks.
The Cheesemakers earned a No. 3 seed and moved on to play in the black bracket where they faced Mineral Point. The Pointers edged the Cheesemakers in three sets 24-26, 25-18, 15-8.
"We definitely could have taken the win from them," Witt said. "I just think we got too tired from the day and made some ball handling errors that we couldn't recover from. These girls are improving every match. We see it and I hope those watching see it too."
