BRODHEAD - Darlington senior Kennedy Rankin won't have to worry about breaking in her new basketball shoes just yet.
That's because Rankin slammed 18 kills and helped Darlington win a thrilling five-set WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal match over Brodhead, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 17-25, 15-13 Thursday night.
"We are all looking forward to basketball, but it's volleyball season right now," Rankin said. "They (Brodhead) are a scrappy team. Tonight, in the end we never gave up. It's an amazing feeling. We lost in the second-round last year. We wanted it really bad. We wanted to be playing Saturday. We want another shot at Cuba City."
With the win, Darlington (16-6) advances and will play at SWAL rival Cuba City in a regional championship match at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Brodhead led 13-9 in the final set but couldn't slam the door on the Redbirds. The Cardinals had four service errors and that left the door open for Darlington. The Cardinals had a hit sail out of bounds and were called for a net violation that helped the Redbirds cut the lead to 13-12. Brodhead then had a hit go into the net to tie the set at 13. Darlington senior Gabrielle Steiner had a key block to give the Redbirds a 14-13 lead. When the Cardinals over-hit a shot out of bounds, the Redbirds celebrated the victory over Brodhead.
Brodhead junior Abbey Johnson had 17 kills, racked up 27 assists, two aces and 14 digs. With the loss, the Cardinals finish the season 22-17.
"I thought we started out serving great," Johnson said. "We just needed to continue serving tough. We kind of backed off a little bit. It's like a loss that bites because we were so close. We just have to play to the end a little more."
Darlington coach Jen Schwartz was excited to see her team rally in the decisive fifth set. Playing five-set matches has been a calling card of the Redbirds this season.
"My kids have fought hard all year long," Schwartz said. "I think they are trying to prove something to themselves. We just wanted to never give up. That's all I could have asked from them. I told them don't give up and play until 15 and we will see what happens. They played their hearts out. I'm really proud of them."
Early on, the match had the makings of one that could go down to the wire. The first set was a see-saw affair with the largest lead being three points for most of the set. That's until Johnson delivered an ace and a block attempt by Rankin went out of bounds to give Brodhead a 19-14 lead. The Redbirds were then called for an illegal hit. Brodhead sophomore Katie Goecks powered a kill to give the Cardinals a 22-16 advantage. Darlington battled back and on senior Chelsie Golackson's kill late took a short-lived 22-21 lead. The Cardinals had a hit into the net to tie the set at 22. The Redbirds made a couple of unforced errors down the stretch and Brodhead pulled it out.
Darlington's Roxi Reuter dished out 28 assists. Steiner had five kills and 20 assists.
"I think they came out a little nervous," Schwartz said of her Redbird team. "They didn't want their volleyball season to end. Once they settled in and knew they could play with Brodhead's big hitters they won the second and third sets and gained some confidence."
Darlington racked out to a 6-0 lead in the second set. Brodhead senior Erin Nyhus had two straight aces to spark the Cardinals. Moments later, Johnson had a kill and Goecks powered a kill to give the Cardinals a 16-15 lead. Brodhead had a couple of unforced errors and were called for a net violation as the Redbirds opened up an 18-10 lead they wouldn't relinquish. Brodhead senior Chandra Clark, who had a team-high 18 kills, had a kill to pull the Cardinals within four points, 19-15. The Cardinals rallied to take a one-point lead late. However, that didn't last long with Golackson scoring on a kill to tie the second set at 22. Golackson closed out the second set with two straight aces to give the Redbirds the win.
Darlington again rolled to start the third set jumping out to an 18-7 lead sparked by Rankin and their strong front court play, blocking and passing. Brodhead looked to mount a comeback, but the closest it got was a seven-point deficit.
With their back against the wall, the Cardinals responded in the fourth set. Johnson spearheaded the surge with a kill and ace to help Brodhead take a 14-9 lead. The Redbirds looked to make a comeback and got within six points on Rankin's kill. That's as close as Darlington would get late in the fourth set, and it set the stage for a nail-biting fifth set.
"Kennedy has been a four-year starter," Schwartz said of Rankin. "She puts her heart and soul into everything. When teams have keyed on her this season we have had other players step up. She is our go-to player, and she came up big for us tonight."
The loss doesn't take away from Brodhead's accomplishments this year in Johnson's eyes.
"I'm really proud of our team," she said. "I think we played consistent throughout the season. We really improved throughout the season."
Brodhead senior Brooke Bescup posted a team-best 21 digs, and Clark added 19 assists. Nyhus notched two aces and Goecks posted four blocks.
The Redbirds lost a five-set match to Cuba City in Darlington earlier this season and lost on the road. Schwartz is hoping the third matchup against the Cubans is the charm.
"We lost to them in five sets in Darlington, and we didn't play them well in Cuba City," she said. "We are hoping to kind of redeem ourselves."
Rankin knows what Darlington is up against Saturday against top-seeded Cuba City.
"They are a very good team," she said. "They have everything you need for a good team. If we come out and play like we have been playing, I think we will have a chance."
That's because Rankin slammed 18 kills and helped Darlington win a thrilling five-set WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal match over Brodhead, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 17-25, 15-13 Thursday night.
"We are all looking forward to basketball, but it's volleyball season right now," Rankin said. "They (Brodhead) are a scrappy team. Tonight, in the end we never gave up. It's an amazing feeling. We lost in the second-round last year. We wanted it really bad. We wanted to be playing Saturday. We want another shot at Cuba City."
With the win, Darlington (16-6) advances and will play at SWAL rival Cuba City in a regional championship match at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Brodhead led 13-9 in the final set but couldn't slam the door on the Redbirds. The Cardinals had four service errors and that left the door open for Darlington. The Cardinals had a hit sail out of bounds and were called for a net violation that helped the Redbirds cut the lead to 13-12. Brodhead then had a hit go into the net to tie the set at 13. Darlington senior Gabrielle Steiner had a key block to give the Redbirds a 14-13 lead. When the Cardinals over-hit a shot out of bounds, the Redbirds celebrated the victory over Brodhead.
Brodhead junior Abbey Johnson had 17 kills, racked up 27 assists, two aces and 14 digs. With the loss, the Cardinals finish the season 22-17.
"I thought we started out serving great," Johnson said. "We just needed to continue serving tough. We kind of backed off a little bit. It's like a loss that bites because we were so close. We just have to play to the end a little more."
Darlington coach Jen Schwartz was excited to see her team rally in the decisive fifth set. Playing five-set matches has been a calling card of the Redbirds this season.
"My kids have fought hard all year long," Schwartz said. "I think they are trying to prove something to themselves. We just wanted to never give up. That's all I could have asked from them. I told them don't give up and play until 15 and we will see what happens. They played their hearts out. I'm really proud of them."
Early on, the match had the makings of one that could go down to the wire. The first set was a see-saw affair with the largest lead being three points for most of the set. That's until Johnson delivered an ace and a block attempt by Rankin went out of bounds to give Brodhead a 19-14 lead. The Redbirds were then called for an illegal hit. Brodhead sophomore Katie Goecks powered a kill to give the Cardinals a 22-16 advantage. Darlington battled back and on senior Chelsie Golackson's kill late took a short-lived 22-21 lead. The Cardinals had a hit into the net to tie the set at 22. The Redbirds made a couple of unforced errors down the stretch and Brodhead pulled it out.
Darlington's Roxi Reuter dished out 28 assists. Steiner had five kills and 20 assists.
"I think they came out a little nervous," Schwartz said of her Redbird team. "They didn't want their volleyball season to end. Once they settled in and knew they could play with Brodhead's big hitters they won the second and third sets and gained some confidence."
Darlington racked out to a 6-0 lead in the second set. Brodhead senior Erin Nyhus had two straight aces to spark the Cardinals. Moments later, Johnson had a kill and Goecks powered a kill to give the Cardinals a 16-15 lead. Brodhead had a couple of unforced errors and were called for a net violation as the Redbirds opened up an 18-10 lead they wouldn't relinquish. Brodhead senior Chandra Clark, who had a team-high 18 kills, had a kill to pull the Cardinals within four points, 19-15. The Cardinals rallied to take a one-point lead late. However, that didn't last long with Golackson scoring on a kill to tie the second set at 22. Golackson closed out the second set with two straight aces to give the Redbirds the win.
Darlington again rolled to start the third set jumping out to an 18-7 lead sparked by Rankin and their strong front court play, blocking and passing. Brodhead looked to mount a comeback, but the closest it got was a seven-point deficit.
With their back against the wall, the Cardinals responded in the fourth set. Johnson spearheaded the surge with a kill and ace to help Brodhead take a 14-9 lead. The Redbirds looked to make a comeback and got within six points on Rankin's kill. That's as close as Darlington would get late in the fourth set, and it set the stage for a nail-biting fifth set.
"Kennedy has been a four-year starter," Schwartz said of Rankin. "She puts her heart and soul into everything. When teams have keyed on her this season we have had other players step up. She is our go-to player, and she came up big for us tonight."
The loss doesn't take away from Brodhead's accomplishments this year in Johnson's eyes.
"I'm really proud of our team," she said. "I think we played consistent throughout the season. We really improved throughout the season."
Brodhead senior Brooke Bescup posted a team-best 21 digs, and Clark added 19 assists. Nyhus notched two aces and Goecks posted four blocks.
The Redbirds lost a five-set match to Cuba City in Darlington earlier this season and lost on the road. Schwartz is hoping the third matchup against the Cubans is the charm.
"We lost to them in five sets in Darlington, and we didn't play them well in Cuba City," she said. "We are hoping to kind of redeem ourselves."
Rankin knows what Darlington is up against Saturday against top-seeded Cuba City.
"They are a very good team," she said. "They have everything you need for a good team. If we come out and play like we have been playing, I think we will have a chance."
