BRODHEAD - After splitting two matches with Orfordville Parkview this season, Brodhead sophomore Carly Mohns looked forward to having home court in a WIAA Division 3 regional.
However, Parkview won the rubber match in four sets on Tuesday, 26-24, 22-25, 25-19, 25-22.
"We knew Parkview wouldn't just come in and roll over," said Mohns, who had a match-high 17 kills. "We knew they would come in ready to go. I didn't think we were the ones who were the favorite. It was going to be a close game and we had to come out to play."
Brodhead (15-15) did come to play early on jumping out to a 7-2 lead in the first set. Brodhead sophomore Rachel Heller had two aces and Mohns was dominant hitting the ball racking up two kills in the run. The Cardinals maintained a lead throughout most of the set and led 20-18 after junior Brianna Hicks' kill. Parkview took its first lead when junior Lauren McIntyre slammed a kill to give the Vikings a 24-23 lead. The Cardinals hit a ball out of bounds and Mohns couldn't return a hit that ended the first game.
"We thought having the home court advantage would be to our advantage," Brodhead coach Erin Kammerer said. "We didn't play our game. We were not aggressive enough to make it hard for them."
The second set got off to a slow start after officials conferred for a few minutes on a hit down the line. The Cardinals were first awarded the point, but then it was taken off the scoreboard before being added back on. Brodhead rushed out to a 6-2 lead, which was similar to the first set.
The Cardinals trailed 19-15 late, but then mounted a comeback. Brodhead junior Amanda Pickel had seven straight service points and Mohns had a couple of kills to give the Cardinals a 23-19 lead that they wouldn't relinquish.
Parkview broke open a close third game when senior Sierra Hartman's kill gave the Vikings a 14-10 lead. The Vikings were able to build an insurmountable 23-15 lead.
"It was a lack of confidence," Mohns said. "Volleyball is the ultimate team sport. I think we got down on ourselves. We have to believe in ourselves."
The final set was a seesaw affair. Mohns had a kill midway through the match to tie it at 11. Parkview junior Lindsey Hobson had an ace that sparked the Vikings and gave them a 14-10 lead. Pickel came through with an ace late to cut the Vikings' lead to 19-18. The turning point of the final set came on Parkview senior Morgan Strzok's kill that gave the Vikings a 23-21 lead. Mohns followed with a kill for the Cardinals. However, the Cardinals hit a ball out of bounds and the Vikings had an ace to seal it.
"Our blocking was horrendous," Kammerer said. "We needed to be aggressive serving and blocking. We weren't in either spot."
Strzok had 17 kills and McIntyre had 14 kills and 23 digs for the Vikings. Brodhead freshman Payton Wright racked up 19 assists and Pickel had 20 digs.
Brodhead will return most of its team next year and will only lose three seniors.
Kammerer said she hopes losing a home regional match will be a motivate players for next year.
"I hope they never want this feeling again and they take it and work hard," she said.
However, Parkview won the rubber match in four sets on Tuesday, 26-24, 22-25, 25-19, 25-22.
"We knew Parkview wouldn't just come in and roll over," said Mohns, who had a match-high 17 kills. "We knew they would come in ready to go. I didn't think we were the ones who were the favorite. It was going to be a close game and we had to come out to play."
Brodhead (15-15) did come to play early on jumping out to a 7-2 lead in the first set. Brodhead sophomore Rachel Heller had two aces and Mohns was dominant hitting the ball racking up two kills in the run. The Cardinals maintained a lead throughout most of the set and led 20-18 after junior Brianna Hicks' kill. Parkview took its first lead when junior Lauren McIntyre slammed a kill to give the Vikings a 24-23 lead. The Cardinals hit a ball out of bounds and Mohns couldn't return a hit that ended the first game.
"We thought having the home court advantage would be to our advantage," Brodhead coach Erin Kammerer said. "We didn't play our game. We were not aggressive enough to make it hard for them."
The second set got off to a slow start after officials conferred for a few minutes on a hit down the line. The Cardinals were first awarded the point, but then it was taken off the scoreboard before being added back on. Brodhead rushed out to a 6-2 lead, which was similar to the first set.
The Cardinals trailed 19-15 late, but then mounted a comeback. Brodhead junior Amanda Pickel had seven straight service points and Mohns had a couple of kills to give the Cardinals a 23-19 lead that they wouldn't relinquish.
Parkview broke open a close third game when senior Sierra Hartman's kill gave the Vikings a 14-10 lead. The Vikings were able to build an insurmountable 23-15 lead.
"It was a lack of confidence," Mohns said. "Volleyball is the ultimate team sport. I think we got down on ourselves. We have to believe in ourselves."
The final set was a seesaw affair. Mohns had a kill midway through the match to tie it at 11. Parkview junior Lindsey Hobson had an ace that sparked the Vikings and gave them a 14-10 lead. Pickel came through with an ace late to cut the Vikings' lead to 19-18. The turning point of the final set came on Parkview senior Morgan Strzok's kill that gave the Vikings a 23-21 lead. Mohns followed with a kill for the Cardinals. However, the Cardinals hit a ball out of bounds and the Vikings had an ace to seal it.
"Our blocking was horrendous," Kammerer said. "We needed to be aggressive serving and blocking. We weren't in either spot."
Strzok had 17 kills and McIntyre had 14 kills and 23 digs for the Vikings. Brodhead freshman Payton Wright racked up 19 assists and Pickel had 20 digs.
Brodhead will return most of its team next year and will only lose three seniors.
Kammerer said she hopes losing a home regional match will be a motivate players for next year.
"I hope they never want this feeling again and they take it and work hard," she said.
