MONTICELLO - And just like that, the Ponies continue their magical season.
After dominating much of the Six Rivers East regular season, finishing 11-1 with an out-right conference championship by a 2-game margin, Monticello has spent the postseason doin' work.
"It's actually quite amazing," senior Desiree Marty said after the Ponies ousted Williams Bay Faith Christian in four sets, 25-12, 29-31, 25-22, 25-14. "We did so much since last summer to improve. Our goals this year were conference first, then regionals. We just want to keep going."
Outside of an ugly Game 2, in which Monticello routinely flailed the ball all over the court and never amounted much offense (yet had FC facing game-point three times), the Ponies were at or near the top of their game.
"It just feels great. I can't describe the feeling I get when I have an ace, or we go on a long streak or get that 25th point," Marty said.
Monticello bolted out to a quick lead in the first set, taking the first five points and later led 10-4. Faith Christian stayed within four points at 13-9, but then the Ponies went on a 9-1 run that all but sealed the Game 1 victory.
After again prancing out to a 6-1 advantage in the second game, Monticello let up, allowing Faith Christian to score 9 of 12 points to grab a 10-9 lead. Monticello then went up 11-10 thanks to back-to-back kills, but then reverted course and let FC go off on an 11-2 run to take the 21-14 lead.
Trailing 24-22, Monticello continued its late rally, taking three straight points to put FC on the brink of going down 2-0 in the match. But back-to-back points by the visiting team had the Ponies on the run. A kill by Marty briefly tied it at 26, then Marissa Berg had back-to-back blocks to bring her team to within game-point again at 28-27. Monticello also led at 29-28, but a deep spike by Berg, a kill that dropped deep in the zone and a stray ball that the Ponies went diving for moments later ended the disastrous set.
"It's kind of been our M.O. all year, having some breakdowns," Monticello coach Teresa Eliason said. "I think they know that everybody can do their job."
Game 3 was close throughout, but it was an 8-0 run after standing tied at 13 that let Monticello get comfortable once again.
In the final set, victory was never in doubt for the Ponies, as FC ran out of gas. Monticello went up 11-1, forcing a timeout, and never looked back.
"We realized that this could be our last game if we didn't pull it together," Berg said.
Berg led Monticello with 13 kills and seven blocks while C.J. Dilley dished out 25 assists. Marty had nine kills and three aces for Monticello, and Katie Gierhart added nine digs and three aces.
Now standing in the way of Monticello is last year's state runner-up and perennial powerhouse Burlington Catholic Central.
"We're going to have to play a lot better than we have in our first two regional games," Eliason said. "It's theirs (BCC) to lose. We are the underdogs."
The game is slated for Saturday in Burlington.
After dominating much of the Six Rivers East regular season, finishing 11-1 with an out-right conference championship by a 2-game margin, Monticello has spent the postseason doin' work.
"It's actually quite amazing," senior Desiree Marty said after the Ponies ousted Williams Bay Faith Christian in four sets, 25-12, 29-31, 25-22, 25-14. "We did so much since last summer to improve. Our goals this year were conference first, then regionals. We just want to keep going."
Outside of an ugly Game 2, in which Monticello routinely flailed the ball all over the court and never amounted much offense (yet had FC facing game-point three times), the Ponies were at or near the top of their game.
"It just feels great. I can't describe the feeling I get when I have an ace, or we go on a long streak or get that 25th point," Marty said.
Monticello bolted out to a quick lead in the first set, taking the first five points and later led 10-4. Faith Christian stayed within four points at 13-9, but then the Ponies went on a 9-1 run that all but sealed the Game 1 victory.
After again prancing out to a 6-1 advantage in the second game, Monticello let up, allowing Faith Christian to score 9 of 12 points to grab a 10-9 lead. Monticello then went up 11-10 thanks to back-to-back kills, but then reverted course and let FC go off on an 11-2 run to take the 21-14 lead.
Trailing 24-22, Monticello continued its late rally, taking three straight points to put FC on the brink of going down 2-0 in the match. But back-to-back points by the visiting team had the Ponies on the run. A kill by Marty briefly tied it at 26, then Marissa Berg had back-to-back blocks to bring her team to within game-point again at 28-27. Monticello also led at 29-28, but a deep spike by Berg, a kill that dropped deep in the zone and a stray ball that the Ponies went diving for moments later ended the disastrous set.
"It's kind of been our M.O. all year, having some breakdowns," Monticello coach Teresa Eliason said. "I think they know that everybody can do their job."
Game 3 was close throughout, but it was an 8-0 run after standing tied at 13 that let Monticello get comfortable once again.
In the final set, victory was never in doubt for the Ponies, as FC ran out of gas. Monticello went up 11-1, forcing a timeout, and never looked back.
"We realized that this could be our last game if we didn't pull it together," Berg said.
Berg led Monticello with 13 kills and seven blocks while C.J. Dilley dished out 25 assists. Marty had nine kills and three aces for Monticello, and Katie Gierhart added nine digs and three aces.
Now standing in the way of Monticello is last year's state runner-up and perennial powerhouse Burlington Catholic Central.
"We're going to have to play a lot better than we have in our first two regional games," Eliason said. "It's theirs (BCC) to lose. We are the underdogs."
The game is slated for Saturday in Burlington.
