MONROE - In a match that turned out to mean more than just a rearranging of the Badger South standings, Monona Grove (4-3 Badger South) won in a nail-biter Thursday against the Cheesemakers (3-4) in five games, 25-22, 25-19, 22-25, 22-25, 16-14.
In each of the first three games, Monroe jumped out to a lead of at least five points (6-0, 5-0, 8-0). However, in all three, the Cheesemakers gave up the leads moments later.
In the first game, Jamie Armstrong set the tone with a giant spike for the game's first point and added another for the sixth point.
"Jamie Armstrong is our Michael Jordan," Monroe head coach Dave Gersbach said. "In late-game situations when the game is on the line, we want the ball in her hands. We want her to be attacking."
Monona Grove came back to take five of the next six points. Minutes later, Monroe held a thin 13-12 lead.
That was when Monona Grove went on its first tear, pulling out nine straight points to put Monroe far behind and in need of a run of its own. Monroe did get a short run, winning eight of 10 points, but the visitors prevailed.
In Game 2, Kayla Streff, playing with a bad back, rang off four straight service points, the final being an ace to give the Cheese the five-point advantage.
"She's a warrior," Gersbach said of Streff. "She wants to be out there. That's great for her to want to dig deep like that. If we had a healthy Kayla tonight, there's no doubt in my mind we would have won. A lot of balls fell in places where she would have gotten to. It's got to kill her to not be able to get to those balls. But for her to stay in there and play strong, that was huge."
Monroe kept that advantage through 8-3, then imploded. Soon after, the Silver Eagles led 12-10. Gersbach called a timeout and Monroe took the next point. However, Monona Grove again went on a run and led 20-14 before cruising to victory.
In Game 3, the Cheesemakers finally bumped out to a lead they thought they could hold on to. Marissa Ubert served all nine points and Armstrong came up with a big block and a big kill as the crowd got loud and completely into the match. Monona Grove coach Deidre Bradford called a timeout and the Silver Eagles took three of the next four points. But Monroe ended up increasing its lead to a comfortable 13-3.
"We're always ready to play. (We've) got the heart, we've got the determination - they're ready to play the game. Sometimes, we just get complacent when things drag on a little bit," Gersbach said. "It's something we still need to work on."
Monroe pushed the lead to 16-5 before the Silver Eagles went on a 12-1 run, including 10 straight points, and tied the score at 17-17. The teams then swapped points before Monroe got a pair of kills from junior Chelsea Wyss and a return knocked out of bounds by Monona Grove to win the game.
"Chelsea's playing the game. She's doing good. She's stepping into her role nicely," Gersbach said.
Game 4 had just as much excitement. However, Monona Grove jumped out to the quick lead this time, taking the first four points. From a 7-3 deficit, Monroe spun off an 8-2 run to take an 11-9 lead. But the Silver Eagles took six of the next seven to lead 15-12.
Monroe continued the game of streaks, taking the next five. From there, both teams gave and took points before the Cheesemakers tied up the match score on a quick behind-the-back placement tip from Streff.
That set up a dramatic Game 5. Monroe again hopped out quick, snagging 3-0 lead that was pushed to 8-5. The Silver Eagles pushed back and took a 12-10 lead. Monroe tied it back up before a Monona Grove kill by Monica Anderson gave the Silver Eagles a 13-12 lead.
Wyss then tipped a kill into an open area and the Eagles failed to return a shot on the next volley. With a 14-13 lead, Monroe was just a point away from victory. However, the Cheese failed to return a volley, Armstrong misplayed a serve in the backcourt, and Kelci Viney slammed home the winner for Monona Grove.
"It's a call here, a call there. A play call here, a play call there. It's a matter of losing your hair in a five-game set like that. And it's fun. It grows old on a coach, but it was so much fun. It builds confidence in the girls," Gersbach said.
Monroe has come a long way this season, and Gersbach knows that while his team still needs to improve, it is setting itself up nicely for a postseason run.
"This is the kind of game that sets us up for regionals and state and that time of year," he said.
Armstrong had 26 kills for Monroe with Wyss adding 12. Jaclyn Ditter had four blocks, including three at crucial times in Game 3. Streff dished out 25 assists and, along with Ubert, added a pair of aces. Emily Rufenacht had 18 digs for the Cheesemakers.
Anderson had 26 kills for the Silver Eagles, Aly Bauman had eight aces, and setter Abbey Freund had 50 assists. Monroe had a tough time returning serves, as seen with Bauman's total - a total that could likely have been higher.
In each of the first three games, Monroe jumped out to a lead of at least five points (6-0, 5-0, 8-0). However, in all three, the Cheesemakers gave up the leads moments later.
In the first game, Jamie Armstrong set the tone with a giant spike for the game's first point and added another for the sixth point.
"Jamie Armstrong is our Michael Jordan," Monroe head coach Dave Gersbach said. "In late-game situations when the game is on the line, we want the ball in her hands. We want her to be attacking."
Monona Grove came back to take five of the next six points. Minutes later, Monroe held a thin 13-12 lead.
That was when Monona Grove went on its first tear, pulling out nine straight points to put Monroe far behind and in need of a run of its own. Monroe did get a short run, winning eight of 10 points, but the visitors prevailed.
In Game 2, Kayla Streff, playing with a bad back, rang off four straight service points, the final being an ace to give the Cheese the five-point advantage.
"She's a warrior," Gersbach said of Streff. "She wants to be out there. That's great for her to want to dig deep like that. If we had a healthy Kayla tonight, there's no doubt in my mind we would have won. A lot of balls fell in places where she would have gotten to. It's got to kill her to not be able to get to those balls. But for her to stay in there and play strong, that was huge."
Monroe kept that advantage through 8-3, then imploded. Soon after, the Silver Eagles led 12-10. Gersbach called a timeout and Monroe took the next point. However, Monona Grove again went on a run and led 20-14 before cruising to victory.
In Game 3, the Cheesemakers finally bumped out to a lead they thought they could hold on to. Marissa Ubert served all nine points and Armstrong came up with a big block and a big kill as the crowd got loud and completely into the match. Monona Grove coach Deidre Bradford called a timeout and the Silver Eagles took three of the next four points. But Monroe ended up increasing its lead to a comfortable 13-3.
"We're always ready to play. (We've) got the heart, we've got the determination - they're ready to play the game. Sometimes, we just get complacent when things drag on a little bit," Gersbach said. "It's something we still need to work on."
Monroe pushed the lead to 16-5 before the Silver Eagles went on a 12-1 run, including 10 straight points, and tied the score at 17-17. The teams then swapped points before Monroe got a pair of kills from junior Chelsea Wyss and a return knocked out of bounds by Monona Grove to win the game.
"Chelsea's playing the game. She's doing good. She's stepping into her role nicely," Gersbach said.
Game 4 had just as much excitement. However, Monona Grove jumped out to the quick lead this time, taking the first four points. From a 7-3 deficit, Monroe spun off an 8-2 run to take an 11-9 lead. But the Silver Eagles took six of the next seven to lead 15-12.
Monroe continued the game of streaks, taking the next five. From there, both teams gave and took points before the Cheesemakers tied up the match score on a quick behind-the-back placement tip from Streff.
That set up a dramatic Game 5. Monroe again hopped out quick, snagging 3-0 lead that was pushed to 8-5. The Silver Eagles pushed back and took a 12-10 lead. Monroe tied it back up before a Monona Grove kill by Monica Anderson gave the Silver Eagles a 13-12 lead.
Wyss then tipped a kill into an open area and the Eagles failed to return a shot on the next volley. With a 14-13 lead, Monroe was just a point away from victory. However, the Cheese failed to return a volley, Armstrong misplayed a serve in the backcourt, and Kelci Viney slammed home the winner for Monona Grove.
"It's a call here, a call there. A play call here, a play call there. It's a matter of losing your hair in a five-game set like that. And it's fun. It grows old on a coach, but it was so much fun. It builds confidence in the girls," Gersbach said.
Monroe has come a long way this season, and Gersbach knows that while his team still needs to improve, it is setting itself up nicely for a postseason run.
"This is the kind of game that sets us up for regionals and state and that time of year," he said.
Armstrong had 26 kills for Monroe with Wyss adding 12. Jaclyn Ditter had four blocks, including three at crucial times in Game 3. Streff dished out 25 assists and, along with Ubert, added a pair of aces. Emily Rufenacht had 18 digs for the Cheesemakers.
Anderson had 26 kills for the Silver Eagles, Aly Bauman had eight aces, and setter Abbey Freund had 50 assists. Monroe had a tough time returning serves, as seen with Bauman's total - a total that could likely have been higher.
