MONROE - If Monroe senior Alysha Witt and the Monroe volleyball team wanted to see how they stacked up against the top team in the Badger South Conference, they got a preview against Watertown Thursday.
Witt had two kills, five assists and two aces, but Watertown rolled to a sweep of the Cheesemakers, 25-15, 25-16, 25-14.
"I think we played really good," Witt said. "We knew going in they were really good team because they were undefeated in conference. Even though we didn't win, I think we played good."
Monroe senior Sydney Mathiason had a team-high five kills and two blocks. Senior Alexis Allen dished out six assists and sophomore Cassi Gersbach led the team with five blocks.
"They (Watertown) are a really solid team," Monroe coach Heidi Witt said. "I thought we played pretty well and kept the ball in play. They just have a lot of weapons and players they can go to. I felt like our team didn't back down."
The Goslings (6-0 Badger South) jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first set. Watertown senior Amanda Feder posted 10 kills and two blocks and senior Lauren Burd had nine kills and three blocks to lead the Goslings to the win. Feder and Burd set the tone at the net for Watertown, which kept its coverage and attack in constant motion. With the loss, Monroe drops to 7-12 overall and 1-5 in the Badger South.
"(We) knew coming in they didn't have a weak spot," Heidi Witt said of Watertown. "In their movement, they are a really a well-oiled machine. They pass really well, communicate and dig really well."
The Goslings jumped out to a 13-6 lead in the second set after Feder came through with two kills, then a block attempt went off Mathiason's hands. Moments later, Feder scored on a tip to give the Goslings a 15-6 lead they wouldn't relinquish. Monroe looked to mount a comeback with senior Payton Sigafus' kill, and a block by Gersbach later cut the Goslings' lead to 19-12. That's as close as the Cheesemakers would get.
Junior Hailey Betthauser, senior Meredith Hose and Mathiason each notched five digs, and Sigafus delivered two kills and an ace. The Cheesemakers had 11 service errors in the match.
"The big game-changer for us is we had too many missed serves," Heidi Witt said. "If we get all of our serves in, we maybe don't win, but it may have gone four (sets) and we are still playing."
Sigafus had an ace in the final set to give the Cheesemakers a short-lived 2-1 lead. The Goslings then went on a surge, scoring 10 of the next 12 points. Burd had two kills during the run and junior Payton Zubke had an ace to help the Goslings take an 11-4 lead.
After a Watertown player hit a ball out of bounds, the Cheesemakers got the sideout they needed. Sigafus delivered a kill to cut the Goslings' lead to 12-6. Watertown then went on a 5-1 run, getting kills from Burd, sophomore Samantha Gray and Feder, to take a commanding 17-7 lead.
"They (Watertown) had some really good blockers and our hitters were not getting it over," Alysha Witt said. "Our chances were there. It was just hard to deal with."
Monroe will play its final Badger South Conference regular season match at Oregon Tuesday. Alysha Witt is looking forward to the opportunity to pick up a second conference win.
Witt said it's been several years since the Cheesemakers have won two conference matches.
"I think we have a good chance of beating Oregon," she said. "I think it would be a real confidence boost."
Witt had two kills, five assists and two aces, but Watertown rolled to a sweep of the Cheesemakers, 25-15, 25-16, 25-14.
"I think we played really good," Witt said. "We knew going in they were really good team because they were undefeated in conference. Even though we didn't win, I think we played good."
Monroe senior Sydney Mathiason had a team-high five kills and two blocks. Senior Alexis Allen dished out six assists and sophomore Cassi Gersbach led the team with five blocks.
"They (Watertown) are a really solid team," Monroe coach Heidi Witt said. "I thought we played pretty well and kept the ball in play. They just have a lot of weapons and players they can go to. I felt like our team didn't back down."
The Goslings (6-0 Badger South) jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first set. Watertown senior Amanda Feder posted 10 kills and two blocks and senior Lauren Burd had nine kills and three blocks to lead the Goslings to the win. Feder and Burd set the tone at the net for Watertown, which kept its coverage and attack in constant motion. With the loss, Monroe drops to 7-12 overall and 1-5 in the Badger South.
"(We) knew coming in they didn't have a weak spot," Heidi Witt said of Watertown. "In their movement, they are a really a well-oiled machine. They pass really well, communicate and dig really well."
The Goslings jumped out to a 13-6 lead in the second set after Feder came through with two kills, then a block attempt went off Mathiason's hands. Moments later, Feder scored on a tip to give the Goslings a 15-6 lead they wouldn't relinquish. Monroe looked to mount a comeback with senior Payton Sigafus' kill, and a block by Gersbach later cut the Goslings' lead to 19-12. That's as close as the Cheesemakers would get.
Junior Hailey Betthauser, senior Meredith Hose and Mathiason each notched five digs, and Sigafus delivered two kills and an ace. The Cheesemakers had 11 service errors in the match.
"The big game-changer for us is we had too many missed serves," Heidi Witt said. "If we get all of our serves in, we maybe don't win, but it may have gone four (sets) and we are still playing."
Sigafus had an ace in the final set to give the Cheesemakers a short-lived 2-1 lead. The Goslings then went on a surge, scoring 10 of the next 12 points. Burd had two kills during the run and junior Payton Zubke had an ace to help the Goslings take an 11-4 lead.
After a Watertown player hit a ball out of bounds, the Cheesemakers got the sideout they needed. Sigafus delivered a kill to cut the Goslings' lead to 12-6. Watertown then went on a 5-1 run, getting kills from Burd, sophomore Samantha Gray and Feder, to take a commanding 17-7 lead.
"They (Watertown) had some really good blockers and our hitters were not getting it over," Alysha Witt said. "Our chances were there. It was just hard to deal with."
Monroe will play its final Badger South Conference regular season match at Oregon Tuesday. Alysha Witt is looking forward to the opportunity to pick up a second conference win.
Witt said it's been several years since the Cheesemakers have won two conference matches.
"I think we have a good chance of beating Oregon," she said. "I think it would be a real confidence boost."
