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MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U CO-GAME OF THE WEEK (Prep Volleyball): Richland Center Invitational
Hornets overwhelm foes to win own invitational
Jaden Johnson
Richland Center's Jaden Johnson helped the Hornets go 5–0 to win last Saturday's Richland Center Invitational.

MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM CO-GAME OF THE WEEK (Sept. 21–28)
VOLLEYBALL: Richland Center Invitational

By Erik Olson, The Richland Observer

Hornets go a perfect 5–0 and win all 10 sets to win own six-team Richland Center Invitational.

RICHLAND CENTER — The Richland Center Hornets sailed through a six-team RC Invitational Saturday and improved their overall record to 21-7.

Coach Jamie Johnson won 10 straight sets in the tournament - none by fewer than seven points.

The coach agreed that his much taller team was a heavy favorite in the tournament. He pointed out that the tournament afforded him to give his entire roster to see some action. “We worked on some things and we used several different combinations,” he said

The Hornets swept two sets each from Seneca, Cochrane-Fountain City, Riverdale, Highland and Necedah. 

The Hornets overcame Seneca’s early lead and prevailed, 25-15 and 25-18. Aliyah Ruhland registered eight kills and Kenna Monson four. As a team, the Hornets hit .186. Ezra Cosgrove had seven digs and Ava Shannon and Kayla Gander each six. The Hornets had only one receiving error.

The Hornets topped Cochrane-Fountain City, 25-18, 25-13. Despite hitting .093, Monson had siven kills and Ruhland five. Jaden Johnson recorded 16 digs and Cosgrove eight. Gander dished out eight assists and Shannon six.

The Hornets topped Necedah, 25-18 and 25-14. Ruhland had six kills and Monson five. The Hornets hit .091, but had five aces with only one serving error. Cosgrove totaled 11 digs and Gander seven. Shannon produced six assists. 

The Hornets handed Riverdale 25-18 and 25-10 setbacks as Johnson and Monson each had six kills. Johnson had eight digs while Carley Mieden and Cosgrove each had six. Shannon handed out 14 assists and Gander seven.

The Hornets hit ..383 in win over Highland, 25-11 and 25-13. Kailey Hockerman tallied a set-hit seven kills while Monson had six. The Hornets did not have a service error. Johnson was credited with nine digs, Cosgrove eight, Ellie Rynes seven and Shannon seven. Shannon led the team with 14 assists.

The Hornets compete in an eight-team tournament at Lodi Saturday starting at 9 a.m.

Teams competing include Belleville, Catholic Central, Cuba City, Laona/Wabeno, Markesan, Wisconsin Heights, and host Lodi as well as the Hornets. 

On Tuesday, the Hornets will have a key rematch with Dodgeville here at the RCHS fieldhouse. The match figures to be a key match in the quest for the SWC title. The Hornets defeated the Dodgers earlier at Dodgeville.