Benton volleyball team captures title at Seneca Invite

Goffinet records 1,000 career assists for Zephyrs

Benton senior setter Kelsie Goffinet (#9) sets up a teammate for a kill during Thursday's Six Rivers West match at Shullsburg. Goffinet surpassed the 1,000-assist mark for her career in the 30 sweep of the host Miners.

Goffinet set 2 — Benton senior setter Kelsie Goffinet (#9) sets up a teammate for a kill during Thursday's Six Rivers West match at Shullsburg. Goffinet surpassed the 1,000-assist mark for her career in the 30 sweep of the host Miners.

BENTON – Benton notched another hard-fought victory in their recent rivalry with Seneca after outlasting the host Indians, 18-16, in a decisive third set of the championship match to capture the team title at the 2017 Seneca Volleyball Invitational held at SHS on Saturday, Sept. 9.

The Lady Zephyrs improved to 12-0 on the season with their 4-0 finish at Seneca, defeating the Indians, 25-21, 13-25, 18-16, to win the title at the tournament for the second season in a row.

Seneca, which handed Zephyrs just their second set loss this season, downed Benton, 3-1, in a WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal match last season on the way to a state tournament berth.

Emma Lawrence registered 21 of her team-high 38 kills in the match with the Indians, and she added 31 digs, seven blocks and six aces on the day while leading the Zephyrs to the title.

Maggie Dougherty chipped in with 17 kills, a team-high 40 digs and two aces, and Sophie Dougherty tallied 17 kills, 21 digs and two blocks on the day. Lydia Jones added 16 kills, 21 digs, six aces and two blocks for the Zephyrs.

Senior setter Kelsie Goffinet, who recorded her 1,000 career assist during Thursday’s match with Shullsburg, distributed 82 assists on Saturday to go along with 21 digs, five aces and two blocks.

The Zephyrs advanced to the title match by sweeping their way through their pool, taking down Boscobel, 25-20 and 25-18, Cassville, 25-14 and 25-10, and De Soto, 25-12 and 25-7.

Benton rolled through their Six Rivers West competition last week, sweeping the Comets, 25-9, 25-11 and 25-21, at home on Tuesday, Sept. 5, and the Miners, 25-16, 25-11 and 25-15, at Shullsburg on Thursday, Sept. 7.

Lawrence had 13 kills, 20 digs, four aces and two blocks against Cassville on Tuesday. M. Dougherty provided eight kills and 12 digs, while S. Dougherty added six kills, four blocks and three aces.

Goffinet dished out 29 assists in Tuesday’s match to reach 998 for her career; and she went over the 1,000-career assist mark early in Thursday’s match at Shullsburg, finishing the night with 25 assists and 12 digs to lead the Zephyrs to the victory.

Lawrence tallied 15 kills, 15 digs, six aces and four blocks against the Miners, and S. Dougherty notched seven kills, 12 digs, three aces and a block in the win.

Benton has a key Six Rivers West contest at Potosi on Thursday, Sept. 14, and the Lady Zephyrs will host their annual Benton Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 16, starting at 9 a.m.

Cassville………… 9 11 21

Benton…………… 25 25 25

Benton Leaders– Kills: Emma Lawrence 13, Maggie Dougherty 8, Sophie Dougherty 6. Blocks: S. Dougherty 4, Lawrence 2, Savannah Hilby 2. Assists: Kelsie Goffinet 29. Aces: Lawrence 4, S. Dougherty 3. Digs: Lawrence 20, M. Dougherty 12.

At Benton on Tuesday, Aug. 29

Benton……………. 25 25 25

Shullsburg………. 16 11 15

Benton Leaders– Kills: Emma Lawrence 15, Sophie Dougherty 7. Blocks: Lawrence 4, S. Dougherty 1. Assists: Kelsie Goffinet 25. Aces: Lawrence 6, S. Dougherty 3. Digs: Lawrence 15, Goffinet 12, S. Dougherty 12.

At Shullsburg on Thursday, Sept. 7

SENECA INVITATIONAL

Championship: 1st– Benton def. Seneca, 25-21, 13-25, 18-16.

Benton Results– Pool Play: Benton def. Boscobel, 25-20, 25-18; Benton def. Cassville, 25-14, 25-10; Benton def. De Soto, 25-12, 25-7.

Benton Stat Leaders– Kills: Emma Lawrence 38, Maggie Dougherty 17, Sophie Dougherty 17, Lydia Jones 16.Blocks: Lawrence 7, Jones 2, S. Dougherty 2, Kelsie Goffinet 2, Savannah Hilby 2. Assists: Goffinet 82. Aces: Jones 6, Lawrence 6, Goffinet 5. Digs: Maggie Dougherty 40, Hilby 34, Lawrence 31.

Six Rivers Conference

Six Rivers Conference