MAZOMANIE - The Cheesemakers finished second place at the Wisconsin Heights Invitational Saturday.
"If the Monroe volleyball team learned one thing about themselves, as a team, today, it is that they can overcome," Monroe coach Heidi Witt said. "Proud is not a big enough word to describe the feelings I have as a coach. No excuse was big enough because these girls believed in themselves and this team."
Monroe went 3-2 in the invitational and reached the championship match where Wisconsin Heights topped the Cheesemakers 25-21, 25-21. Monroe senior Sydney Mathiason piled up 47 kills, 11 blocks and 12 digs in the invite.
Monroe went 2-1 in pool play, edging Dodgeville 25-23, 25-22. The Cheesemakers then fell to Cambridge 23-25, 21-25.
"This was a team we should have beat," Witt said of Cambridge. "Although the scores were close, we played really flat and we beat ourselves. After the Cambridge loss we sat down with the girls and just had a heart-to-heart talk about believing in themselves and their abilities. As coaches we know the skills of these players - they can play better. I don't think our expectations of them are inflated. They are a good team. Something changed after that and we never looked back."
Monroe then closed out pool play with a 18-25, 25-19, 15-12 win over Iowa-Grant. The victory gave the Cheesemakers the top seed in pool B going into the playoff round. Monroe knocked off Potosi in the gold division semifinals 20-25, 25-21, 16-14 to get to the title match.
"Their outside hitter (Abby Kaiser) was pretty amazing and has some incredible hops," Witt said of Potosi. "We made adjustments to try and shut her down and then took advantage when she was in the back row. We played our best volleyball. Our passers were starting to handle digs and that can get a hitter frustrated. It was incredible watching the girls persevere through this match.
The Cheesemakers trailed 12-7 in the final set against the Chieftains before storming back.
"The game-changer in that set was Alexis Allen at the serving line and Sydney Mathiason in the front row," Witt said. "Potosi's best player was in the back row during that surge. We played incredible defense and our hits were finding open court. That match was not only a big win on paper, it was a big win in the confidence column."
Monroe freshman Zoee Pond racked up 17 kills and two blocks on the day. Sophomore Cassi Gersbach had 13 kills and two blocks.
Senior Alexis Allen dished out a team-high 41 assists and had a team-best seven aces on the day. Senior Alysha Witt also had a strong tournament, piling up 34 assists and six aces. Senior Meredith Hose had 17 digs and junior Lexi Davis added 14 digs.
"If the Monroe volleyball team learned one thing about themselves, as a team, today, it is that they can overcome," Monroe coach Heidi Witt said. "Proud is not a big enough word to describe the feelings I have as a coach. No excuse was big enough because these girls believed in themselves and this team."
Monroe went 3-2 in the invitational and reached the championship match where Wisconsin Heights topped the Cheesemakers 25-21, 25-21. Monroe senior Sydney Mathiason piled up 47 kills, 11 blocks and 12 digs in the invite.
Monroe went 2-1 in pool play, edging Dodgeville 25-23, 25-22. The Cheesemakers then fell to Cambridge 23-25, 21-25.
"This was a team we should have beat," Witt said of Cambridge. "Although the scores were close, we played really flat and we beat ourselves. After the Cambridge loss we sat down with the girls and just had a heart-to-heart talk about believing in themselves and their abilities. As coaches we know the skills of these players - they can play better. I don't think our expectations of them are inflated. They are a good team. Something changed after that and we never looked back."
Monroe then closed out pool play with a 18-25, 25-19, 15-12 win over Iowa-Grant. The victory gave the Cheesemakers the top seed in pool B going into the playoff round. Monroe knocked off Potosi in the gold division semifinals 20-25, 25-21, 16-14 to get to the title match.
"Their outside hitter (Abby Kaiser) was pretty amazing and has some incredible hops," Witt said of Potosi. "We made adjustments to try and shut her down and then took advantage when she was in the back row. We played our best volleyball. Our passers were starting to handle digs and that can get a hitter frustrated. It was incredible watching the girls persevere through this match.
The Cheesemakers trailed 12-7 in the final set against the Chieftains before storming back.
"The game-changer in that set was Alexis Allen at the serving line and Sydney Mathiason in the front row," Witt said. "Potosi's best player was in the back row during that surge. We played incredible defense and our hits were finding open court. That match was not only a big win on paper, it was a big win in the confidence column."
Monroe freshman Zoee Pond racked up 17 kills and two blocks on the day. Sophomore Cassi Gersbach had 13 kills and two blocks.
Senior Alexis Allen dished out a team-high 41 assists and had a team-best seven aces on the day. Senior Alysha Witt also had a strong tournament, piling up 34 assists and six aces. Senior Meredith Hose had 17 digs and junior Lexi Davis added 14 digs.
