MONROE - Senior Payton Sigafus put in extra time perfecting her jump serve during the Gold Medal Squared volleyball camp before the season.
Sigafus' work paid dividends as she scored six straight service points in the final set and had a match-high seven aces featuring a jump serve in a 25-23, 25-21, 25-20 win over Portage in a Badger Challenge match Thursday.
"We had a volleyball instructor at the GMS camp who was really strict about our tosses," Sigafus said of the camp before the season she attended. "I think that helped me with my jump and timing. It's all in the toss with the jump serve. I think it really pumped us up, especially when I get those aces. I didn't do it all. It was the whole team. They helped pull us through."
Several players shined for the Cheesemakers on Senior Night. Monroe (12-16, 1-6 Badger South) raced out to an 8-3 lead in the first set sparked by freshman Zoee Pond's kill. Sophomore Cassi Gersbach had a block and senior Sydney Mathiason had a kill to help the Cheesemakers build a 13-7 lead. Sigafus later had two aces and Mathiason had a kill to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 18-7. The Warriors stormed back and sliced Monroe's lead to two points after the Cheesemakers were called for an illegal hit and had a hit go into the net. Mathiason put the finishing touches on Portage powering a kill to close out the Warriors.
"I think it (Senior Night) was a motivation for them," Monroe coach Heidi Witt said. "They realized this was the last time they were playing on this court in their careers. I'm just proud of them. We had a few breakdowns and silly mistakes, but they were able to bounce back and finish."
Monroe will play a WIAA Division 2 regional match at third-seeded Richland Center Tuesday.
"It really will make our energy great going into the regional," Sigafus said.
Mathiason had a team-high 13 kills and senior Alsyha Witt had a team-best 17 assists. Senior Alexis Allen posted 14 assists and Gersbach notched two blocks. Senior Meredith Hose had a team-high four digs.
Portage raced out to a 7-3 lead in the second set. The Cheesemakers mounted a rally and took a 12-11 lead when a block attempt by the Warriors went out of bounds. Mathiason delivered a kill and Sigafus had another ace to give the Cheesemakers a 14-11 lead. Gersbach and Sigafus later each scored on tips to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 21-15.
Portage again battled back and got within three points late in the second set. However, the Warriors were haunted by three service errors.
Sigafus set the tone in the final set with six straight service points that included three aces to give the Cheesemakers a 6-0 lead. With the fast start, the Cheesemakers were never in danger of relinquishing the lead. Pond slammed a spike to win the final set.
"Payton did just great at the serving line," Witt said. "She had some purpose tonight for sure."
All six of the Cheesemakers' seniors played. Witt was excited to see the team head into the postseason with some momentum.
"I didn't have any reservations," she said about playing every player. "They were all going to play and they did their job. It's a really good confidence boost going into our regional next Tuesday at Richland Center."
Monroe will play a regional quarterfinal match at Richland Center (30-8), which is the third seed. Witt is confident the Cheesemakers can play the Hornets in a tight match despite the difference in records.
"I think we can play a tight match with them," Witt said. "We just need the right team to show up. We have a really good shot if Monroe is playing the way we know how to play."
Sigafus' work paid dividends as she scored six straight service points in the final set and had a match-high seven aces featuring a jump serve in a 25-23, 25-21, 25-20 win over Portage in a Badger Challenge match Thursday.
"We had a volleyball instructor at the GMS camp who was really strict about our tosses," Sigafus said of the camp before the season she attended. "I think that helped me with my jump and timing. It's all in the toss with the jump serve. I think it really pumped us up, especially when I get those aces. I didn't do it all. It was the whole team. They helped pull us through."
Several players shined for the Cheesemakers on Senior Night. Monroe (12-16, 1-6 Badger South) raced out to an 8-3 lead in the first set sparked by freshman Zoee Pond's kill. Sophomore Cassi Gersbach had a block and senior Sydney Mathiason had a kill to help the Cheesemakers build a 13-7 lead. Sigafus later had two aces and Mathiason had a kill to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 18-7. The Warriors stormed back and sliced Monroe's lead to two points after the Cheesemakers were called for an illegal hit and had a hit go into the net. Mathiason put the finishing touches on Portage powering a kill to close out the Warriors.
"I think it (Senior Night) was a motivation for them," Monroe coach Heidi Witt said. "They realized this was the last time they were playing on this court in their careers. I'm just proud of them. We had a few breakdowns and silly mistakes, but they were able to bounce back and finish."
Monroe will play a WIAA Division 2 regional match at third-seeded Richland Center Tuesday.
"It really will make our energy great going into the regional," Sigafus said.
Mathiason had a team-high 13 kills and senior Alsyha Witt had a team-best 17 assists. Senior Alexis Allen posted 14 assists and Gersbach notched two blocks. Senior Meredith Hose had a team-high four digs.
Portage raced out to a 7-3 lead in the second set. The Cheesemakers mounted a rally and took a 12-11 lead when a block attempt by the Warriors went out of bounds. Mathiason delivered a kill and Sigafus had another ace to give the Cheesemakers a 14-11 lead. Gersbach and Sigafus later each scored on tips to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 21-15.
Portage again battled back and got within three points late in the second set. However, the Warriors were haunted by three service errors.
Sigafus set the tone in the final set with six straight service points that included three aces to give the Cheesemakers a 6-0 lead. With the fast start, the Cheesemakers were never in danger of relinquishing the lead. Pond slammed a spike to win the final set.
"Payton did just great at the serving line," Witt said. "She had some purpose tonight for sure."
All six of the Cheesemakers' seniors played. Witt was excited to see the team head into the postseason with some momentum.
"I didn't have any reservations," she said about playing every player. "They were all going to play and they did their job. It's a really good confidence boost going into our regional next Tuesday at Richland Center."
Monroe will play a regional quarterfinal match at Richland Center (30-8), which is the third seed. Witt is confident the Cheesemakers can play the Hornets in a tight match despite the difference in records.
"I think we can play a tight match with them," Witt said. "We just need the right team to show up. We have a really good shot if Monroe is playing the way we know how to play."
