SOUTH WAYNE – Black Hawk may not be able to keep Monticello from winning the Six Rivers East title this season, but at least they kept them from going undefeated in the process.
    The Warriors kicked off their homecoming celebration by stunning the previously unbeaten Ponies, 3-1, in a prep volleyball match at BHHS on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
    “We’ve had some downfalls this season and we’re not exactly in the position we want to be, so we had to reevaluate our goals a couple of weeks ago. This was one of the things we wanted to accomplish,” said Black Hawk head coach Rachel Wolff. “For the girls to come in here and do this on homecoming against a very good, undefeated Monticello team, it feels good.”
    Black Hawk (9-11 overall, 7-3 in SRE) started off the night by winning a marathon opening set by a score of 30-28. After missing out of three earlier chances at game-point and holding the Ponies off twice when they reached game-point, the Warriors notched the victory on a block kill by Kate Quinn and a hit into the net by Monticello’s Jordyn Kubly.
    “We came ready to play. It wasn’t just one of them, it was the whole team, and that’s what I’m very proud of,” noted Wolff.
    The Ponies (9-1) bounced back to knot the match at a game apiece with a 25-17 decision in set two.
    The Warriors regained the momentum by eking out a 25-21 win in set three. An ace by Abby Schiferl snapped a 21 all tie, then sophomore Jen Wellnitz hammered down a kill and senior Kayla Meier followed with a spike kill and a block kill to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage.
    Black Hawk continued to ride momentum in set four, but the Ponies refused to go down without a fight. Marissa Berg served the guests from a 21-16 deficit to a 22-21 lead.
    The Warriors regained the lead on a Quinn spike kill, and the senior added another kill moments later to give the hosts the game, 25-23, and the match.
    “We didn’t stop play. We kept running it down and kept the ball alive. Those are the types of things that win games,” said Wolff. “The momentum helped keep the crowd in it. Not only were the kids fired up, but the fans did a nice job of helping us out tonight as well.”
    Wellnitz recorded 17 kills and two blocks to lead the Warriors at the net, while Quinn added six kills and five blocks on the night.
    Schiferl served up 24 points and made nine digs in the victory, and setter Chaesta Shager distributed 15 assists along with four digs and 17 service points. Kelly Neuenschwander added nine assists and 15 service points for Black Hawk.
    At Blanchardville, on Thursday, Oct. 6, the Lady Warriors didn’t allow themselves to have a letdown after Tuesday’s huge victory as they came out and swept the Pecatonica Vikings, 25-16, 25-22 and 25-18, in a Six Rivers East match.
    Jen Wellnitz pounded down 11 kills and Chaesta Shager had 16 assists for the Warriors, while Tessa Cushman provided 10 digs and Abby Schiferl served up five aces.
    Black Hawk caps the SRE season by hosting Argyle on Thursday, Oct. 13. The WIAA tournament begins on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Black Hawk… 30   17   25   25
Monticello….. 28   25   21   23

Black Hawk... 25     25     25
Pecatonica… 16     22     18