MONTICELLO - It took a full game to get going, but the Ponies picked up their first win of the season Thursday, 3-1 over Juda.
"Once we started going we were fine," said Teresa Eliason, Monticello head coach, who won for the first time since 2007 after taking a two-year break. "The Black Hawk loss was tough, so this was a good one to get."
Monticello lost the first game 25-21, but went on to sweep the final three sets 25-18, 25-8, 25-19.
"A solid win, so I'm happy," Eliason said.
Juda (0-3) used a 6-0 run on the momentum of server Miranda Trotter in the game one to take its first lead of the night. The Panthers kept the momentum, closing out the set on a 6-2 run.
"Everybody just kept working hard. Nothing was touching the ground," Juda head coach Pam Green said. "Our hitters were hitting, our setters were passing the ball well. We kind of went flat after that. We just kind of died and the momentum was downsized."
After that, Monticello (1-1) found its groove behind the hard hitting of Taylor Pfeuti and Taylor Klitzke.
"They're senior captains - once they go everyone else gets excited. That's what their job is and they did it tonight," Eliason said.
Klitzke closed out the night with 14 kills and three aces while Pfeuti had seven kills and two aces.
The Ponies also got some scrappy play from nearly everyone on the court, with bodies seemingly flying from all over to keep the ball alive for every point.
"They've learned to go after everything. They know if that ball drops they're not going to be there anymore," Eliason said.
Eliason also said that the older players have had a positive influence on the relatively young Ponies squad.
"The seniors have been helping the younger girls, showing them leadership and telling them to not be over critical," Eliason said, who has just four seniors on her 15-member varsity roster. "Their experience will help us over the next couple of years too."
Juda found itself in the thick of things in Game 4, tying the score at 17 before the Ponies went on an 8-2 run to close out the match.
"They never gave up. They kept on fighting. When we played Barneveld and Argyle we lost the first two and then won the third one and like tonight we were right there in the fourth," Green said, whose team was without junior C.J. Dunwiddie.
"I really didn't have a deep bench. Megan Trotter got hurt in Game 3. With her and C.J. out, I really don't have any depth beyond that. It's nothing against those other girls, but they just haven't practiced with us."
Monticello travels to Albany Thursday while Juda hosts Black Hawk.
"Once we started going we were fine," said Teresa Eliason, Monticello head coach, who won for the first time since 2007 after taking a two-year break. "The Black Hawk loss was tough, so this was a good one to get."
Monticello lost the first game 25-21, but went on to sweep the final three sets 25-18, 25-8, 25-19.
"A solid win, so I'm happy," Eliason said.
Juda (0-3) used a 6-0 run on the momentum of server Miranda Trotter in the game one to take its first lead of the night. The Panthers kept the momentum, closing out the set on a 6-2 run.
"Everybody just kept working hard. Nothing was touching the ground," Juda head coach Pam Green said. "Our hitters were hitting, our setters were passing the ball well. We kind of went flat after that. We just kind of died and the momentum was downsized."
After that, Monticello (1-1) found its groove behind the hard hitting of Taylor Pfeuti and Taylor Klitzke.
"They're senior captains - once they go everyone else gets excited. That's what their job is and they did it tonight," Eliason said.
Klitzke closed out the night with 14 kills and three aces while Pfeuti had seven kills and two aces.
The Ponies also got some scrappy play from nearly everyone on the court, with bodies seemingly flying from all over to keep the ball alive for every point.
"They've learned to go after everything. They know if that ball drops they're not going to be there anymore," Eliason said.
Eliason also said that the older players have had a positive influence on the relatively young Ponies squad.
"The seniors have been helping the younger girls, showing them leadership and telling them to not be over critical," Eliason said, who has just four seniors on her 15-member varsity roster. "Their experience will help us over the next couple of years too."
Juda found itself in the thick of things in Game 4, tying the score at 17 before the Ponies went on an 8-2 run to close out the match.
"They never gave up. They kept on fighting. When we played Barneveld and Argyle we lost the first two and then won the third one and like tonight we were right there in the fourth," Green said, whose team was without junior C.J. Dunwiddie.
"I really didn't have a deep bench. Megan Trotter got hurt in Game 3. With her and C.J. out, I really don't have any depth beyond that. It's nothing against those other girls, but they just haven't practiced with us."
Monticello travels to Albany Thursday while Juda hosts Black Hawk.
