MONTICELLO - Injuries hit the Monticello volleyball team hard before the season opener.
The Ponies were missing two starters at the Six Rivers Jamboree tournament Saturday, but were still able to finish in second place. Monticello senior outside hitter Brooke Bidlingmaier (sprained ankle) and senior middle hitter Brecklyn Klosterman (illness) missed the tournament, and senior outside hitter Mackenzie Zanow strained her knee in the championship match, forcing her to the bench. Without three starters, Southwestern knocked off the Ponies in the championship bracket 24-26, 25-5, 15-6. Juda beat Darlington in three sets to win the consolation bracket 19-25, 26-24, 15-9.
"We just fell apart in the second and third games," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "Southwestern had one really good player who took over in the second and third games. We just couldn't serve receive in the second and third games."
Monticello finished the tournament 3-2 and beat two of the three Division 3 teams they played. The Ponies beat Darlington 25-14, 25-18 and then lost to Southwestern in pool play 25-19, 25-12. Monticello finished 3-1 in pool play by knocking off Albany 25-22, 25-14. In the championship bracket, the Ponies beat Dodgeville in three sets 25-16, 12-25, 15-10.
"It was nice to beat two Division 3 teams," Smice said. "We had a lot of kids playing out of position. We had some sophomores and a freshman playing. I'm not making excuses. I was very happy with their effort. We were young and inexperienced. The girls all gave 100 percent."
Monticello senior Alyssah Kubly racked up 46 kills and 29 digs in the tournament. Senior Paige Dilley had 21 kills and 21 digs. Senior Jordan Garrison finished with 49 assists and served at 100 percent.
"She did a fantastic job," Smice said.
Monticello's Hallie Chicker added 18 digs.
Smice said Bidlingmaier may miss the entire season with an ankle injury.
"That will really hurt us," Smice said.
Juda opened pool play with a 25-11, 25-12 loss to Shullsburg and tied Pecatonica 25-14, 21-25. The Panthers then lost to Dodgeville 20-25, 19-25. In the consolation bracket, the Panthers beat Albany 25-15, 25-20 to earn a shot at the consolation championship they won against the Redbirds. Juda senior Morgan Adkins had six kills and 10 digs against the Comets. In the consolation title match, Adkins had seven kills and 16 digs. Juda's Megan Power had six assists.
"We are still a work in progress," Juda coach Scott Anderson said. "We are making better decisions at the net. This team knows no quit."
Juda (3-0) will host conference rival Barneveld tonight.
"Barneveld and Monticello are the favorites to win conference," Anderson said. "Rachel Slaney is a great player. We have to challenge her at the net. We can't let her get free swings. We are diggers. We live and die with our defense."
Pecatonica finished the tournament 0-4. The Vikings lost to Dodgeville in pool play 25-10, 25-10. After losing to the Panthers, Shullsburg beat Pecatonica 25-11, 27-25. In the consolation bracket, Darlington cruised past the Vikings 25-7, 25-14.
"We won one game so that is an improvement over last year," Pecatonica coach Tori Leonard said. "We did a lot of work over the summer. I feel like it comes back to the fundamentals of communication, serving and passing. We will keep building on those."
The Ponies were missing two starters at the Six Rivers Jamboree tournament Saturday, but were still able to finish in second place. Monticello senior outside hitter Brooke Bidlingmaier (sprained ankle) and senior middle hitter Brecklyn Klosterman (illness) missed the tournament, and senior outside hitter Mackenzie Zanow strained her knee in the championship match, forcing her to the bench. Without three starters, Southwestern knocked off the Ponies in the championship bracket 24-26, 25-5, 15-6. Juda beat Darlington in three sets to win the consolation bracket 19-25, 26-24, 15-9.
"We just fell apart in the second and third games," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "Southwestern had one really good player who took over in the second and third games. We just couldn't serve receive in the second and third games."
Monticello finished the tournament 3-2 and beat two of the three Division 3 teams they played. The Ponies beat Darlington 25-14, 25-18 and then lost to Southwestern in pool play 25-19, 25-12. Monticello finished 3-1 in pool play by knocking off Albany 25-22, 25-14. In the championship bracket, the Ponies beat Dodgeville in three sets 25-16, 12-25, 15-10.
"It was nice to beat two Division 3 teams," Smice said. "We had a lot of kids playing out of position. We had some sophomores and a freshman playing. I'm not making excuses. I was very happy with their effort. We were young and inexperienced. The girls all gave 100 percent."
Monticello senior Alyssah Kubly racked up 46 kills and 29 digs in the tournament. Senior Paige Dilley had 21 kills and 21 digs. Senior Jordan Garrison finished with 49 assists and served at 100 percent.
"She did a fantastic job," Smice said.
Monticello's Hallie Chicker added 18 digs.
Smice said Bidlingmaier may miss the entire season with an ankle injury.
"That will really hurt us," Smice said.
Juda opened pool play with a 25-11, 25-12 loss to Shullsburg and tied Pecatonica 25-14, 21-25. The Panthers then lost to Dodgeville 20-25, 19-25. In the consolation bracket, the Panthers beat Albany 25-15, 25-20 to earn a shot at the consolation championship they won against the Redbirds. Juda senior Morgan Adkins had six kills and 10 digs against the Comets. In the consolation title match, Adkins had seven kills and 16 digs. Juda's Megan Power had six assists.
"We are still a work in progress," Juda coach Scott Anderson said. "We are making better decisions at the net. This team knows no quit."
Juda (3-0) will host conference rival Barneveld tonight.
"Barneveld and Monticello are the favorites to win conference," Anderson said. "Rachel Slaney is a great player. We have to challenge her at the net. We can't let her get free swings. We are diggers. We live and die with our defense."
Pecatonica finished the tournament 0-4. The Vikings lost to Dodgeville in pool play 25-10, 25-10. After losing to the Panthers, Shullsburg beat Pecatonica 25-11, 27-25. In the consolation bracket, Darlington cruised past the Vikings 25-7, 25-14.
"We won one game so that is an improvement over last year," Pecatonica coach Tori Leonard said. "We did a lot of work over the summer. I feel like it comes back to the fundamentals of communication, serving and passing. We will keep building on those."
