MONTICELLO - After Monticello senior Jordyn Kubly powered down a kill to put the finishing touches on a three-game sweep of Central Wisconsin Christian, it dawned on her that the Ponies would get the chance to play for a regional championship.
"When I did it I was just like, 'please score,'" said Kubly, whose kill gave the Ponies a 25-10, 25-23, 25-18 win over the Crusaders in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal. "It was a relief."
Monticello (19-4) advances to the regional championship match where the Ponies will play at No. 1 seed and volleyball powerhouse Catholic Central. Catholic Central, the defending Division 4 state champions, have been to state five of the last six years, and have won four state titles including three straight from 2006-08.
"I'm nervous, but I can't wait," Kubly said of the matchup. "They are intimidating, but so are we. I can't wait."
Kubly had six kills, five aces and three blocks. The Ponies stormed out to a 9-2 lead in the first game. Monticello senior Amy Silver had a kill, and Kubly had a block to spark the Ponies. Monticello junior Marissa Berg had a kill and after a Crusader sideout, Central Wisconsin Christian was called for an illegal hit that gave the Ponies a 11-3 lead. Kubly delivered seven straight service points including three straight aces to give the Ponies an insurmountable 17-3 lead.
"It was great to come out strong that first game," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "It's key when you get to this point to start out fast."
Silver continued the hot serving for the Ponies in the second game. She came through with eight straight service points including two aces to give the Ponies a commanding 11-2 lead.
It started to unravel a little for the Ponies from there. Central Wisconsin Christian sophomore Katrina Regnerus took over at the net and helped the Crusaders rally. Regnerus had a kill and two blocks to ignite the surge. She had a block to give the Crusaders a 20-19 lead and then scored on a tip. The Ponies were called for an illegal hit and the Crusaders took a 22-19 lead. The Ponies dug in on defense and took a 24-23 lead on Kubly's hit that went off a Crusader blocker.
"The big confidence booster was in the second game when they came back to win it," Smice said. "I don't want to say we relaxed. Central Wisconsin Christian has a couple of tall girls at the net and they are tough. We were covering in the back standing upright and not in good defensive posture. They held their composure and did the job. I guess it worked out."
Silver finished with four kills and a team-high five blocks. Berg had six kills and two blocks. Junior Claire Bruns racked up 18 assists, and sophomore Alyssah Kubly added four kills.
"We want to come out strong every game," Silver said. "When we come out strong we have to keep going strong every game. We had to know each other, work hard and trust each other."
In the final game, the Crusaders jumped out to a 13-9 lead before the Ponies stormed back, and Jordyn Kubly's four consecutive service points tied it 13. Berg scored on a tip and kill to tie the game. Monticello was able to extend the lead as the Crusaders were sent scrambling on service receive. Monticello sophomore Paige Dilley had a kill to help the Ponies take a 22-17 lead, and Kubly had the final kill to send the Ponies to the regional title match.
"It's pretty exciting," Silver said. "We are all really pumped to go to Catholic Central."
"When I did it I was just like, 'please score,'" said Kubly, whose kill gave the Ponies a 25-10, 25-23, 25-18 win over the Crusaders in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal. "It was a relief."
Monticello (19-4) advances to the regional championship match where the Ponies will play at No. 1 seed and volleyball powerhouse Catholic Central. Catholic Central, the defending Division 4 state champions, have been to state five of the last six years, and have won four state titles including three straight from 2006-08.
"I'm nervous, but I can't wait," Kubly said of the matchup. "They are intimidating, but so are we. I can't wait."
Kubly had six kills, five aces and three blocks. The Ponies stormed out to a 9-2 lead in the first game. Monticello senior Amy Silver had a kill, and Kubly had a block to spark the Ponies. Monticello junior Marissa Berg had a kill and after a Crusader sideout, Central Wisconsin Christian was called for an illegal hit that gave the Ponies a 11-3 lead. Kubly delivered seven straight service points including three straight aces to give the Ponies an insurmountable 17-3 lead.
"It was great to come out strong that first game," Monticello coach Scott Smice said. "It's key when you get to this point to start out fast."
Silver continued the hot serving for the Ponies in the second game. She came through with eight straight service points including two aces to give the Ponies a commanding 11-2 lead.
It started to unravel a little for the Ponies from there. Central Wisconsin Christian sophomore Katrina Regnerus took over at the net and helped the Crusaders rally. Regnerus had a kill and two blocks to ignite the surge. She had a block to give the Crusaders a 20-19 lead and then scored on a tip. The Ponies were called for an illegal hit and the Crusaders took a 22-19 lead. The Ponies dug in on defense and took a 24-23 lead on Kubly's hit that went off a Crusader blocker.
"The big confidence booster was in the second game when they came back to win it," Smice said. "I don't want to say we relaxed. Central Wisconsin Christian has a couple of tall girls at the net and they are tough. We were covering in the back standing upright and not in good defensive posture. They held their composure and did the job. I guess it worked out."
Silver finished with four kills and a team-high five blocks. Berg had six kills and two blocks. Junior Claire Bruns racked up 18 assists, and sophomore Alyssah Kubly added four kills.
"We want to come out strong every game," Silver said. "When we come out strong we have to keep going strong every game. We had to know each other, work hard and trust each other."
In the final game, the Crusaders jumped out to a 13-9 lead before the Ponies stormed back, and Jordyn Kubly's four consecutive service points tied it 13. Berg scored on a tip and kill to tie the game. Monticello was able to extend the lead as the Crusaders were sent scrambling on service receive. Monticello sophomore Paige Dilley had a kill to help the Ponies take a 22-17 lead, and Kubly had the final kill to send the Ponies to the regional title match.
"It's pretty exciting," Silver said. "We are all really pumped to go to Catholic Central."
