MONTICELLO - After dropping two of the first three sets, the Monticello volleyball team was on the brink of losing its first conference match to Barneveld Tuesday.
Monticello dug in and capped a thrilling comeback beating Barneveld in five sets 25-27, 25-10, 17-25, 25-12, 15-8.
"We had our backs against the wall," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "It seems like every time we play Barneveld or Argyle it goes five. I wouldn't want it any other way. It was good volleyball."
With the win, Monticello improves to 10-2, 6-0 Six Rivers East after playing each team in the conference once.
Monticello senior Alyssah Kubly had a match-high 16 kills along with senior Paige Dilley. Kubly added 20 digs and seven blocks. Senior Mackenzie Zanow had 10 kills and Dilley notched 15 digs. Monticello senior Jordan Garrison racked up 39 assists and the Ponies had eight aces as a team.
"It was the tale of two games for the first four games," Smice said.
Smice used sophomore Jessie Garrison in the back row to help with passing in the fourth and fifth sets.
"It seemed to right the ship a little bit," Smice said. "That helped our cause."
Barneveld's Rachel Slaney had 13 kills, nine blocks and seven digs. Kelsee Fargo had a team-high 12 assists and two aces for the Eagles.
Monticello will have a bye Thursday.
"The bye couldn't come at a better time," Smice said. "We have several girls banged up and with illness."
Juda 3, Pec 1
JUDA - When Juda freshman MacKenzie Byrne got a chance to start on the varsity she stepped up and helped the Panthers win to get back to .500 in the conference.
Byrne, who played most of the season on the junior varsity team, was moved into a starting role less than two weeks ago when setter Megan Powers tore ligaments in her thumb.
With the Panthers trailing the Vikings 21-12 in the fourth set, Byrne reeled off 12 straight points after a sideout to give the Panthers a comeback 25-21 win. After dropping the first set to the Vikings 25-20, the Panthers came back to win the next two sets 25-16, 25-11. That set the stage for Byrne's serving. After five service errors in the first set, Byrne delivered in the final set.
"She (Byrne) picked us up when we needed it," Juda coach Scott Anderson said. "She handled the pressure like a champion. Pec never gave up. They fought hard."
With the win, Juda improves to 7-6, 3-3 Six Rivers East.
Juda senior Morgan Adkins had eight kills and 14 digs. Sophomore teammate Sara Jordan racked up 10 digs and five kills. Byrne dished out 10 assists and had a team-high nine aces.
Pecatonica's Britt Miller had seven kills and teammate Elizabeth Tisch added seven assists.
Anderson expects Byrne to be a key part of the team even when Powers returns.
"We have been playing without a libero," he said. "There is a lot to learn as a freshman. She (Byrne) is coming on. She's picking it up as fast as she can."
Brodhead 3,
Beloit Turner 0
BELOIT - Brodhead stayed unbeaten in the Rock Valley South Conference sweeping Beloit Turner 25-16, 28-26, 25-16.
Brodhead junior Kylie Moe had a match-high 14 kills and senior Payton Wright racked up 36 assists. Junior teammate Amber Pickel had two aces.
The Cardinals improve to 5-0 in the Rock Valley South.
Wis. Heights 3,
New Glarus 0
NEW GLARUS - Wisconsin Heights' Brittany Zander had a match-high 14 kills to lead the Vanguards to a 25-18, 25-15, 25-7 win over New Glarus.
New Glarus (1-5 Capitol South) was led by Ashley Gould and Devon Boll, who each had three kills. Breanne Kreklow notched nine assists for the Glarner Knights and Bridget Craker had two aces.
Riverdale 3, Darlington 0
RIVERDALE - Darlington is still searching for its first win in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League after Riverdale rolled to a 25-16, 25-23, 25-15 win over the Redbirds.
Darlington's Allie Kissel had three kills and two blocks to lead the Redbirds. Megan Wiegel had five assists and Callie Norton added three aces. With the loss, Darlington drops to 0-5 in the SWAL.
Monticello dug in and capped a thrilling comeback beating Barneveld in five sets 25-27, 25-10, 17-25, 25-12, 15-8.
"We had our backs against the wall," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "It seems like every time we play Barneveld or Argyle it goes five. I wouldn't want it any other way. It was good volleyball."
With the win, Monticello improves to 10-2, 6-0 Six Rivers East after playing each team in the conference once.
Monticello senior Alyssah Kubly had a match-high 16 kills along with senior Paige Dilley. Kubly added 20 digs and seven blocks. Senior Mackenzie Zanow had 10 kills and Dilley notched 15 digs. Monticello senior Jordan Garrison racked up 39 assists and the Ponies had eight aces as a team.
"It was the tale of two games for the first four games," Smice said.
Smice used sophomore Jessie Garrison in the back row to help with passing in the fourth and fifth sets.
"It seemed to right the ship a little bit," Smice said. "That helped our cause."
Barneveld's Rachel Slaney had 13 kills, nine blocks and seven digs. Kelsee Fargo had a team-high 12 assists and two aces for the Eagles.
Monticello will have a bye Thursday.
"The bye couldn't come at a better time," Smice said. "We have several girls banged up and with illness."
Juda 3, Pec 1
JUDA - When Juda freshman MacKenzie Byrne got a chance to start on the varsity she stepped up and helped the Panthers win to get back to .500 in the conference.
Byrne, who played most of the season on the junior varsity team, was moved into a starting role less than two weeks ago when setter Megan Powers tore ligaments in her thumb.
With the Panthers trailing the Vikings 21-12 in the fourth set, Byrne reeled off 12 straight points after a sideout to give the Panthers a comeback 25-21 win. After dropping the first set to the Vikings 25-20, the Panthers came back to win the next two sets 25-16, 25-11. That set the stage for Byrne's serving. After five service errors in the first set, Byrne delivered in the final set.
"She (Byrne) picked us up when we needed it," Juda coach Scott Anderson said. "She handled the pressure like a champion. Pec never gave up. They fought hard."
With the win, Juda improves to 7-6, 3-3 Six Rivers East.
Juda senior Morgan Adkins had eight kills and 14 digs. Sophomore teammate Sara Jordan racked up 10 digs and five kills. Byrne dished out 10 assists and had a team-high nine aces.
Pecatonica's Britt Miller had seven kills and teammate Elizabeth Tisch added seven assists.
Anderson expects Byrne to be a key part of the team even when Powers returns.
"We have been playing without a libero," he said. "There is a lot to learn as a freshman. She (Byrne) is coming on. She's picking it up as fast as she can."
Brodhead 3,
Beloit Turner 0
BELOIT - Brodhead stayed unbeaten in the Rock Valley South Conference sweeping Beloit Turner 25-16, 28-26, 25-16.
Brodhead junior Kylie Moe had a match-high 14 kills and senior Payton Wright racked up 36 assists. Junior teammate Amber Pickel had two aces.
The Cardinals improve to 5-0 in the Rock Valley South.
Wis. Heights 3,
New Glarus 0
NEW GLARUS - Wisconsin Heights' Brittany Zander had a match-high 14 kills to lead the Vanguards to a 25-18, 25-15, 25-7 win over New Glarus.
New Glarus (1-5 Capitol South) was led by Ashley Gould and Devon Boll, who each had three kills. Breanne Kreklow notched nine assists for the Glarner Knights and Bridget Craker had two aces.
Riverdale 3, Darlington 0
RIVERDALE - Darlington is still searching for its first win in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League after Riverdale rolled to a 25-16, 25-23, 25-15 win over the Redbirds.
Darlington's Allie Kissel had three kills and two blocks to lead the Redbirds. Megan Wiegel had five assists and Callie Norton added three aces. With the loss, Darlington drops to 0-5 in the SWAL.
