SOUTH WAYNE - Albany has been preparing for nearly the past month for its rematch with Black Hawk. However, for the Comets, there was just too much size and power from the Warriors to compete with.
"It was a bit of a disappointment," head coach Connie Wunschel said. "I know we did some stuff tonight that we wouldn't have done the first time around, but I also know that we played them much better this time. We hustled."
Black Hawk came in full force with its tall front line, as Kim Wellnitz and Paige Butler continually slammed the ball into the Comet backcourt in a three-game sweep, 25-11, 25-12, 26-24.
The Warriors jumped out to an 8-4 lead in the first game before Albany pried its way back to tie it at 8-8. Then, Black Hawk took off, out-scoring the Comets 16-3 to end game one.
In game two, it was Albany who jumped out to the early 3-0 lead. Black Hawk countered with four straight points before the Comets got a much-needed sideout. The two teams battled back and forth with the young Albany squad leading 8-6 at one point.
"That Albany team is a really tough team. They are just scrappy. It's nice to have competition like that," Warriors head coach Rachel Wolff said.
But then, Black Hawk picked up the momentum off of a trifecta of Butler kills, taking the lead at 9-8. A block by the Comets' Jillian McNeely and Kaitlyn Schultz tied the game, but then a bad serve gave the ball right back to the home team. The Warriors then rung off 13 of the next 14 points to lead 22-10 and cruised to the two-game lead.
In game three, Albany got the first point, and that was the last time they had a lead. Black Hawk scored the next seven points and bumped its lead to 19-5. From there, Wolff pulled her starters and inserted her reserves to gain experience and playing time.
That's when the Comets made their last-ditch run. Albany, having only a few bench players, kept its starters in and started to ring off point after point.
"I think they relaxed a little bit because the big guns weren't in there. It's tough coming against two of the hardest hitters that we have faced all year other than Kristen Ruchti (of Brodhead)," Wunschel said. "So that allowed us to step up. The height wasn't as much of a problem as it had been, and that made a big difference."
Soon, the score crept to 21-16 in favor of Black Hawk. Wolff started bringing some starters back into the game to control the scoring, but Albany was on a roll. Two illegal substitutions by Wellnitz late in the game continued Albany's run and before long the score was 22-18. However, a pair of Warrior points brought the match to game-point at 24-18.
Albany wasn't done. The Comets got help from failed returns and kills by Hillary Best and Schultz to even the score at 24. Just as everyone in the gymnasium thought the match was over, the thoughts turned to a potential fourth game. However, two straight failed returns by the Comets ended the game.
"It's tough to come back in after sitting on the bench for 10 points," Wunschel said of Black Hawk's starters. "But we just have to keep going and going."
Wellnitz finished the game with 14 kills and four blocks for Black Hawk. Butler had nine kills and four aces. Hailey Meier had five aces and Gabi Lehner had three
For Albany, Sydney Bump had two blocks and a handful of kills, Devan Brugger had 10 digs, Clare Koopmans had nine digs and sophomore Courtney Pfeuti had seven assists.
"I was happy with how we played, though I didn't like the score of the second game. But (we're) young. (Black Hawk) has juniors and seniors on there side and we have sophomores and seniors," Wunschel said.
Albany (5-4 Six Rivers East) has only three matches left before the start of the postseason, starting with hosting Argyle on Tuesday. Black Hawk (8-0 Six Rivers East) has four matches left. Its next test is Monticello, which lost to Barneveld.
"It was a bit of a disappointment," head coach Connie Wunschel said. "I know we did some stuff tonight that we wouldn't have done the first time around, but I also know that we played them much better this time. We hustled."
Black Hawk came in full force with its tall front line, as Kim Wellnitz and Paige Butler continually slammed the ball into the Comet backcourt in a three-game sweep, 25-11, 25-12, 26-24.
The Warriors jumped out to an 8-4 lead in the first game before Albany pried its way back to tie it at 8-8. Then, Black Hawk took off, out-scoring the Comets 16-3 to end game one.
In game two, it was Albany who jumped out to the early 3-0 lead. Black Hawk countered with four straight points before the Comets got a much-needed sideout. The two teams battled back and forth with the young Albany squad leading 8-6 at one point.
"That Albany team is a really tough team. They are just scrappy. It's nice to have competition like that," Warriors head coach Rachel Wolff said.
But then, Black Hawk picked up the momentum off of a trifecta of Butler kills, taking the lead at 9-8. A block by the Comets' Jillian McNeely and Kaitlyn Schultz tied the game, but then a bad serve gave the ball right back to the home team. The Warriors then rung off 13 of the next 14 points to lead 22-10 and cruised to the two-game lead.
In game three, Albany got the first point, and that was the last time they had a lead. Black Hawk scored the next seven points and bumped its lead to 19-5. From there, Wolff pulled her starters and inserted her reserves to gain experience and playing time.
That's when the Comets made their last-ditch run. Albany, having only a few bench players, kept its starters in and started to ring off point after point.
"I think they relaxed a little bit because the big guns weren't in there. It's tough coming against two of the hardest hitters that we have faced all year other than Kristen Ruchti (of Brodhead)," Wunschel said. "So that allowed us to step up. The height wasn't as much of a problem as it had been, and that made a big difference."
Soon, the score crept to 21-16 in favor of Black Hawk. Wolff started bringing some starters back into the game to control the scoring, but Albany was on a roll. Two illegal substitutions by Wellnitz late in the game continued Albany's run and before long the score was 22-18. However, a pair of Warrior points brought the match to game-point at 24-18.
Albany wasn't done. The Comets got help from failed returns and kills by Hillary Best and Schultz to even the score at 24. Just as everyone in the gymnasium thought the match was over, the thoughts turned to a potential fourth game. However, two straight failed returns by the Comets ended the game.
"It's tough to come back in after sitting on the bench for 10 points," Wunschel said of Black Hawk's starters. "But we just have to keep going and going."
Wellnitz finished the game with 14 kills and four blocks for Black Hawk. Butler had nine kills and four aces. Hailey Meier had five aces and Gabi Lehner had three
For Albany, Sydney Bump had two blocks and a handful of kills, Devan Brugger had 10 digs, Clare Koopmans had nine digs and sophomore Courtney Pfeuti had seven assists.
"I was happy with how we played, though I didn't like the score of the second game. But (we're) young. (Black Hawk) has juniors and seniors on there side and we have sophomores and seniors," Wunschel said.
Albany (5-4 Six Rivers East) has only three matches left before the start of the postseason, starting with hosting Argyle on Tuesday. Black Hawk (8-0 Six Rivers East) has four matches left. Its next test is Monticello, which lost to Barneveld.
