MONROE - Passing breakdowns in the final game shouldn't taint the Monroe volleyball team's improvement after the Cheesemakers pushed Fort Atkinson, which is one of the top teams in the Badger South Conference, to a fourth game.
Monroe (15-6, 2-5 Badger South) fought Fort Atkinson, but the fourth game included some breakdowns as the Cheesemakers lost the match to the Blackhawks, 25-20, 22-25, 28-26, 25-11, Tuesday night.
"There was a call here or there," Monroe coach Dave Gersbach said. "It seems like a lot of things didn't fall our way tonight. There were a lot of back row attacks by their setter when she shouldn't be up there."
Fort Atkinson (5-2) stormed out to a 15-5 lead in the fourth game after Lauren Pfeifer's six straight service points including two aces.
The Cheesemakers struggled getting passes to the setter to set up hitters.
"We got back on our heels," Gersbach said. "We didn't stay aggressive passing the ball. It's tough to lose a match like that. We want to get back out their and pass."
The Blackhawks jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first game before the Cheesemakers answered. Monroe senior Chrissy Marti had a block that helped trim the deficit to 11-8. After a Monroe sideout, junior Jaclyn Ditter came up with a big block to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 13-12. That's as close as the Cheesemakers would get.
In the second game, Monroe senior Jamie Armstrong, who had a match-high 21 kills and two blocks, had two critical spikes and senior Jessica Wyssbrod had an ace to help the Cheesemakers take a 15-13 lead. Wyssbrod had a match-high 39 assists for the Cheesemakers.
"It was just disheartening to play that close for three games and to let up in the fourth game," Armstrong said. "We had our ups and downs, but we tried to work through it."
Armstrong said the Blackhawks built momentum play after play.
"We didn't see a lot go our way tonight," she said. "We just weren't able to put a stop to it."
Chelsea Wyss, who had 19 digs, came through with a kill late in the second game that gave the Cheesemakers a 19-15 lead they would never relinquish. Armstrong capped the game with a spike.
Monroe and Fort Atkinson hammered it out in a tight third game before the Blackhawks pulled out a 28-26 win. The Cheesemakers stormed out to a 12-7 lead after senior Abby Kennison delivered six straight service points.
Fort Atkinson responded when Courtney Haferman scored five consecutive points to give the Blackhawks a 13-12 lead. The lead changed hands four times over the final nine points and there were five ties. Ditter had a kill that gave the Cheesemakers a 19-18 lead and Wyss hammered an ace to tie the game at 19.
Ditter had an remarkable 50 percent hitting rate on spikes. Gersbach said the national average is about 30 percent.
"If you look at her hitting percentage, I think it was out of the park," he said. "She did a great job."
The Cheesemakers had a costly service error late that gave the Blackhawks a 27-26 lead. Fort Atkinson scored the final point when a volley trickled to the floor.
"It's tough to keep strong at the net when you get a couple of net calls that are undeserved," Gersbach said. "They (Monroe) remained strong."
Monroe (15-6, 2-5 Badger South) fought Fort Atkinson, but the fourth game included some breakdowns as the Cheesemakers lost the match to the Blackhawks, 25-20, 22-25, 28-26, 25-11, Tuesday night.
"There was a call here or there," Monroe coach Dave Gersbach said. "It seems like a lot of things didn't fall our way tonight. There were a lot of back row attacks by their setter when she shouldn't be up there."
Fort Atkinson (5-2) stormed out to a 15-5 lead in the fourth game after Lauren Pfeifer's six straight service points including two aces.
The Cheesemakers struggled getting passes to the setter to set up hitters.
"We got back on our heels," Gersbach said. "We didn't stay aggressive passing the ball. It's tough to lose a match like that. We want to get back out their and pass."
The Blackhawks jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first game before the Cheesemakers answered. Monroe senior Chrissy Marti had a block that helped trim the deficit to 11-8. After a Monroe sideout, junior Jaclyn Ditter came up with a big block to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 13-12. That's as close as the Cheesemakers would get.
In the second game, Monroe senior Jamie Armstrong, who had a match-high 21 kills and two blocks, had two critical spikes and senior Jessica Wyssbrod had an ace to help the Cheesemakers take a 15-13 lead. Wyssbrod had a match-high 39 assists for the Cheesemakers.
"It was just disheartening to play that close for three games and to let up in the fourth game," Armstrong said. "We had our ups and downs, but we tried to work through it."
Armstrong said the Blackhawks built momentum play after play.
"We didn't see a lot go our way tonight," she said. "We just weren't able to put a stop to it."
Chelsea Wyss, who had 19 digs, came through with a kill late in the second game that gave the Cheesemakers a 19-15 lead they would never relinquish. Armstrong capped the game with a spike.
Monroe and Fort Atkinson hammered it out in a tight third game before the Blackhawks pulled out a 28-26 win. The Cheesemakers stormed out to a 12-7 lead after senior Abby Kennison delivered six straight service points.
Fort Atkinson responded when Courtney Haferman scored five consecutive points to give the Blackhawks a 13-12 lead. The lead changed hands four times over the final nine points and there were five ties. Ditter had a kill that gave the Cheesemakers a 19-18 lead and Wyss hammered an ace to tie the game at 19.
Ditter had an remarkable 50 percent hitting rate on spikes. Gersbach said the national average is about 30 percent.
"If you look at her hitting percentage, I think it was out of the park," he said. "She did a great job."
The Cheesemakers had a costly service error late that gave the Blackhawks a 27-26 lead. Fort Atkinson scored the final point when a volley trickled to the floor.
"It's tough to keep strong at the net when you get a couple of net calls that are undeserved," Gersbach said. "They (Monroe) remained strong."
