SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk may not be in the driver's seat for the Six Rivers East volleyball title, but that doesn't mean the Warriors forgot how to play.
"Once they realize they can play so well, they understand what they need to do and they do it," Black Hawk head coach Rachel Wolff said of her team. "Our passing wasn't as good as it could have been (early), and we tend to hurt ourselves with that. But they figured it out."
The Warriors (7-2) swept Pecatonica (2-6) Thursday, 25-20, 25-17, 25-11.
"It was a fun night to come out and get a win. With Homecoming this week and Parent's Night tonight, it feels good," Wolff said. "I was glad the kids were able to keep their focus this week and pick up two wins."
Although Albany (8-0) is just one match away from clinching at least a tie for the conference championship, the Warriors, sitting in second place, can still bump, set and spike.
"We made some adjustments in the last couple of weeks that seemed to work," Vikings head coach Cher Schliem said. "Black Hawk is a good team and they won't make mistakes. You can't wait for things to go your way."
Black Hawk used an 11-1 run in the first game to take a 12-7 lead and put Pecatonica on its heals.
"We played our game for about half of a game, and that was it," Schliem said.
Pecatonica continued to hold on throughout much of the opening set and through the first eight points of game two, but then the wheels came off.
"I don't want to say that we played to not lose, but it seemed like our girls were hoping they (Black Hawk) would make mistakes," Schliem said. "You can't play like that and expect to win. You have to be aggressive and not wait around."
Tied at 4-4, the Warriors went on a 14-4 run to put Game 2 in check. In the third game, Pecatonica again went toe-to-toe for the first bushel of points.
"It seemed like our chemistry fell apart," Schliem said.
A 15-3 Black Hawk run, highlighted by strong serving of Alyssa Piefer, Morgan Nelson and Abby Schiferl put the Vikings away.
"We have been serving quite well, and we had a good night with our bench," Wolff said. "Morgan Nelson and Abby Schiferl came off the bench and did a fantastic job for us and Piefer was great as always."
Rachel Rygh had eight kills and five digs for Black Hawk while teammate Melissa Wellnitz had five kills and 11 digs. Molly Bechtolt had a team-high eight digs and both Chaesta Shager and Piefer had 10 assists and two aces apiece. One player that continues to stand out for the Warriors is freshman Jen Wellnitz
"Not only is Jen a great athlete, but she is a quick learner," Wolff said. "To come in as green as she was and to see what kind of volleyball player she has become - she's going to be exciting to watch."
Ellie Gifford led the Vikings with eight kills and 10 assists. Teammate Lizzy Britt also had eight kills and Michala Boese added eight assists for Pecatonica.
Black Hawk next steps on the court Tuesday at home against Juda (1-8) while Pecatonica travels to Barneveld (5-4).
"I always tell them that we need to move on and learn from it," Schliem said of the loss. "They need to dig down and play with energy again."
"Once they realize they can play so well, they understand what they need to do and they do it," Black Hawk head coach Rachel Wolff said of her team. "Our passing wasn't as good as it could have been (early), and we tend to hurt ourselves with that. But they figured it out."
The Warriors (7-2) swept Pecatonica (2-6) Thursday, 25-20, 25-17, 25-11.
"It was a fun night to come out and get a win. With Homecoming this week and Parent's Night tonight, it feels good," Wolff said. "I was glad the kids were able to keep their focus this week and pick up two wins."
Although Albany (8-0) is just one match away from clinching at least a tie for the conference championship, the Warriors, sitting in second place, can still bump, set and spike.
"We made some adjustments in the last couple of weeks that seemed to work," Vikings head coach Cher Schliem said. "Black Hawk is a good team and they won't make mistakes. You can't wait for things to go your way."
Black Hawk used an 11-1 run in the first game to take a 12-7 lead and put Pecatonica on its heals.
"We played our game for about half of a game, and that was it," Schliem said.
Pecatonica continued to hold on throughout much of the opening set and through the first eight points of game two, but then the wheels came off.
"I don't want to say that we played to not lose, but it seemed like our girls were hoping they (Black Hawk) would make mistakes," Schliem said. "You can't play like that and expect to win. You have to be aggressive and not wait around."
Tied at 4-4, the Warriors went on a 14-4 run to put Game 2 in check. In the third game, Pecatonica again went toe-to-toe for the first bushel of points.
"It seemed like our chemistry fell apart," Schliem said.
A 15-3 Black Hawk run, highlighted by strong serving of Alyssa Piefer, Morgan Nelson and Abby Schiferl put the Vikings away.
"We have been serving quite well, and we had a good night with our bench," Wolff said. "Morgan Nelson and Abby Schiferl came off the bench and did a fantastic job for us and Piefer was great as always."
Rachel Rygh had eight kills and five digs for Black Hawk while teammate Melissa Wellnitz had five kills and 11 digs. Molly Bechtolt had a team-high eight digs and both Chaesta Shager and Piefer had 10 assists and two aces apiece. One player that continues to stand out for the Warriors is freshman Jen Wellnitz
"Not only is Jen a great athlete, but she is a quick learner," Wolff said. "To come in as green as she was and to see what kind of volleyball player she has become - she's going to be exciting to watch."
Ellie Gifford led the Vikings with eight kills and 10 assists. Teammate Lizzy Britt also had eight kills and Michala Boese added eight assists for Pecatonica.
Black Hawk next steps on the court Tuesday at home against Juda (1-8) while Pecatonica travels to Barneveld (5-4).
"I always tell them that we need to move on and learn from it," Schliem said of the loss. "They need to dig down and play with energy again."
