MONROE - Middle hitter Taylor Barrett isn't going to let the Cheesemakers' record or a 27-straight match Badger South losing streak deter her confidence.
"We definitely have the ability to play better," Barrett said after Stoughton defeated Monroe 25-13, 25-23, 25-12 Thursday night. "It's so frustrating for us to get down on ourselves. We are a better team than last year. It's really disappointing we haven't brought out our potential."
Stoughton senior Josie Logan reeled off five straight points and had one ace to spark the Vikings to a 6-0 lead in the first game. The Cheesemakers (9-21, 0-10 Badger South) battled back with senior Alexa Wyss coming through with an ace and senior Becca Armstrong scoring on a kill to cut the Vikings' lead to 9-6. The Vikings rolled from there using a tip to attack at the net.
Monroe coach Danya Ward took a timeout after the Cheesemakers trailed 6-0.
"I told them they could start playing," Ward said. "For some reason, I don't know if it's not riding the bus and getting pumped up, but we have got off to slow starts. We have played better on the road."
The Cheesemakers got off to an inauspicious start to start Game 2. Stoughton senior Lexi Potter had back-to-back aces to lead the Vikings before Barrett delivered a kill. The Cheesemakers stormed back from a 19-12 deficit. Barrett, who had six kills and four blocks, delivered a kill sparked the rally. Senior Heather Barta came through with a key ace, junior Savannah Koester delivered a kill and junior Whitney Disch had an ace to cut the Vikings' lead to 20-17. Barta finished with 14 assists, nine digs and three aces.
Koester later scored on a tip and senior Ashley Curtis had an ace to tie the game at 21. Junior Kirsten Vetterli had a block and Armstrong scored on a tip to give the Cheesemakers a 23-21 lead. Monroe was on the brink of pulling out the second game, but the Vikings came back with a block to tie it at 23 and had the Cheesemakers scrambling on defense.
"I asked them if they saw the chain reaction once we made a couple of good plays," Ward said. "When we get down, we get way down because they know they are a good team."
Stoughton senior Katlynn Wirag, who had 11 kills, had the hot hand in the final game scoring 10 straight service points including one ace to give the Vikings an insurmountable 20-7 lead. The Cheesemakers struggled with service receive in the third game and couldn't recover. Stoughton junior Carissa Klubertanz had two kills during the surge to propel the Vikings.
Curtis had a team-high 15 digs and Armstrong notched five kills, while Vetterli added four blocks.
"I don't think we were as scrappy tonight as we were on Tuesday," Ward said. "We knew it would be a tipping game because that is what they did last time against us."
Monroe has two conference matches left before the regional. The Cheesemakers play at Monona Grove Oct. 9 and host Edgewood on Oct. 11.
"I feel if we come out strong and play the way we are capable of we will get two wins next week and we can carry that into the regional and hopefully get on a run in the postseason."
"We definitely have the ability to play better," Barrett said after Stoughton defeated Monroe 25-13, 25-23, 25-12 Thursday night. "It's so frustrating for us to get down on ourselves. We are a better team than last year. It's really disappointing we haven't brought out our potential."
Stoughton senior Josie Logan reeled off five straight points and had one ace to spark the Vikings to a 6-0 lead in the first game. The Cheesemakers (9-21, 0-10 Badger South) battled back with senior Alexa Wyss coming through with an ace and senior Becca Armstrong scoring on a kill to cut the Vikings' lead to 9-6. The Vikings rolled from there using a tip to attack at the net.
Monroe coach Danya Ward took a timeout after the Cheesemakers trailed 6-0.
"I told them they could start playing," Ward said. "For some reason, I don't know if it's not riding the bus and getting pumped up, but we have got off to slow starts. We have played better on the road."
The Cheesemakers got off to an inauspicious start to start Game 2. Stoughton senior Lexi Potter had back-to-back aces to lead the Vikings before Barrett delivered a kill. The Cheesemakers stormed back from a 19-12 deficit. Barrett, who had six kills and four blocks, delivered a kill sparked the rally. Senior Heather Barta came through with a key ace, junior Savannah Koester delivered a kill and junior Whitney Disch had an ace to cut the Vikings' lead to 20-17. Barta finished with 14 assists, nine digs and three aces.
Koester later scored on a tip and senior Ashley Curtis had an ace to tie the game at 21. Junior Kirsten Vetterli had a block and Armstrong scored on a tip to give the Cheesemakers a 23-21 lead. Monroe was on the brink of pulling out the second game, but the Vikings came back with a block to tie it at 23 and had the Cheesemakers scrambling on defense.
"I asked them if they saw the chain reaction once we made a couple of good plays," Ward said. "When we get down, we get way down because they know they are a good team."
Stoughton senior Katlynn Wirag, who had 11 kills, had the hot hand in the final game scoring 10 straight service points including one ace to give the Vikings an insurmountable 20-7 lead. The Cheesemakers struggled with service receive in the third game and couldn't recover. Stoughton junior Carissa Klubertanz had two kills during the surge to propel the Vikings.
Curtis had a team-high 15 digs and Armstrong notched five kills, while Vetterli added four blocks.
"I don't think we were as scrappy tonight as we were on Tuesday," Ward said. "We knew it would be a tipping game because that is what they did last time against us."
Monroe has two conference matches left before the regional. The Cheesemakers play at Monona Grove Oct. 9 and host Edgewood on Oct. 11.
"I feel if we come out strong and play the way we are capable of we will get two wins next week and we can carry that into the regional and hopefully get on a run in the postseason."
