The AGWSR volleyball team advanced in the Class 2A postseason with a 3-0 win over visiting North Butler in Monday’s Region 1 first round match, as aired on 104.9 KLMJ. The Cougars won 25-15, 25-11, 25-22.
In set 1, the Cougars raced out to a 9-1 lead to take firm control of the set. They scored the first six points of set 2, and picked up their most dominant win of the night. But the Bearcats didn’t go without a fight. North Butler battled to a 17-9 lead in set 3, but it was answered by a 13-1 run by AGWSR to take the lead for good.
Josie Kuper had eight kills to lead the Cougars , many of which came in clutch situations.
Head Coach Jill Smith says Kuper was a key reason for the win.
“I can’t say enough about what Josie did for the team tonight,” Smith says. “Hands down the best match I’ve ever seen her play. I thought she was confident. She got her feet to the ball. She took great swings. She was smart. When the ball wasn’t in a position where she could take a swing, she made a smart tip and found a way to score. So just really, really proud of the way that she competed tonight for sure.
The Cougars served aggressively, and helped make up for 11 service errors with eight aces, including three by Brylea Metzgar.
North Butler coach Sarah Goodrich says her team’s performance in set 3 is a testament to their work ethic.
“The third set showed a lot of grit and just showed who our team really is, that if we’re gonna go down we’re never gonna go down without a fight,” Goodrich says. “Thanks to my seven seniors, they truly made that possible, just bringing their teammates back together, and why not give it our all and why not reset, restart and take it one ball at a time. I think that’s really what that senior leadership showed in that third set, just coming back and playing fearless.”
Olivia Dralle and Addison Ulrich each had five kills to lead the Bearcats. North Butler’s season ends at 9-21.
AGWSR has advanced to Wednesday’s regional quarterfinal at #1 (2A) Denver. Metzgar says a key to competing is the team trusting its training.
“We’ve done this a thousand times practicing,” Metzgar says. “We’ve passed the ball a thousand times, set it, killed it in the court a thousand times. So just focusing in and working to do that on Wednesday.”
The Cougars are now 14-25. Wednesday’s match will air on 104.9 KLMJ.
Jill Smith interview:
Brylea Metzgar interview:
Sarah Goodrich interview:
