The #6 (2A) Dike-New Hartford volleyball team went 2-0, #14 (2A) Grundy Center went 1-1 and #9 (2A) Sumner-Fredericksburg went 0-2 at a marquee triangular hosted by the Wolverines Thursday, as aired on 99 The Wave.
In the opener, the Spartans defeated the Cougars 2-0, with set scores of 26-24, 25-20. Sumner-Fredericksburg fought back to force bonus points in the first set after trailing 13-7. In the second set, the Spartans led 11-4 before the Cougars raced back to tie the set at 15. But the Spartans pulled away late. Ryanne Brubaker had eight kills and Paige Venenga had five.
In the second match, the Wolverines earned the night’s most lopsided win, 25-16, 25-11. In the first set, DNH led 13-2, but the Cougars answered with seven straight points to make it 13-9. The Wolverines followed shortly after with an eight-point run to help put the set away. The second set was the quickest of the night as the Wolverines ran away for the win. Izzy Norton led with five kills.
In the finale, the Wolverines won 25-17, 25-20. In the first set, Grundy Center led 9-7, but the Wolverines responded with a 9-1 run to make it 16-10. In set 2, the Spartans fought back as the Wolverines neared match point but couldn’t get any closer. Brubaker had five kills to lead the Spartans.
“It became really predictable on where we were going, which allowed their block to get set up really nice, which allows their defense to set up around the block,” Grundy Center coach Lori Willis says. “So they were able to make more defensive plays because we were very readable. Both teams, I thought, served really aggressive from the line, so we were battling that way. And their hitters were hitting closer to the net, so they were able to do a little bit more and we were struggling putting up a hittable ball because of our ball control.”
DNH Coach Diane Harms says it was a great way to come back from nine off days.
“We’ve had actually nine days off, the longest stretch we’ve ever had,” Harms says. “So you’re never really sure how you’re going to come out and how you’re going to respond after being off that long. But our girls put some runs together, some really nice plays and rallies and we put good sequences together. We also struggled and we found a way to push through that and regroup, so saw a lot of positive things tonight from our girls.”
Madde Buskohl and Shannon Moorman each led the Wolverines with six kills.
DNH (7-8) will return to action Saturday at a home tournament. Grundy Center (8-7) will be at a tournament at #5 (1A) Janesville Saturday.
Dike-New Hartford coach Diane Harms:
Grundy Center coach Lori Willis:
Dike-New Hartford senior Madde Buskohl:
Dike-New Hartford senior Izzy Norton:
