BELMONT — Potosi sophomore Maddie Hawes’ 18th and final kill lifted the Chieftains to a dramatic 25–14, 21–25, 25–19, 22–25, 18–16 victory over host Belmont in Saturday’s WIAA Division 4 regional final.
     Belmont tied the back-and-forth, nail-biting fifth set at 16–16 on senior Jordyn Kamps’ match-high 31 kill of the night, but a service point gave Potosi the serve and a chance to win.
     The Potosi defense battled to gain control and Hawes pounded a Haley Flesch set to win the regional title and set off a wild victory celebration.
     “Winning the regional title was awesome!” said Potosi head coach Mallory Mau. “My girls had the best energy we’ve had all season to come out with a win Saturday and they worked hard to get it. I don’t think a lot of people expected us to do it and that made this win even better for us.”
     “Our energy and teamwork was definitely the key to this win,” added Mau. “We’ve played Belmont twice this season and we knew what they had. We just had to do our thing on our side to get a victory.”
     Besides her team-high 18 kills, Hawes also made a match-high 16 digs to lead the Potosi defensive effort.
     Junior Taylor Kennedy contributed 16 kills, 14 digs and four of the Chieftains 13 aces. Flesch passed out 40 assists.
     Maddie Rand made 15 digs for Belmont. Katelyn Schobert passed out 51 assists and Kamps served up six aces.
     Potosi (17–13) advances to face North Crawford in a WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal at Prairie du Chien Thursday at 7 p.m.
     Belmont finished the season 18–8–1 overall.

WIAA Division 4 Regional Final
Potosi 3, Belmont 2
(from Saturday, Oct. 26 @ Belmont)
Potosi    25    21    25    22    18
Belmont    14    25    19    25    16
Potosi stat leaders
Kills: Maddie Hawes 18, Taylor Kennedy 16, Paige Brinkman 10. Blocks: Liz Reuter 4, Kennedy 4. Assists: Haley Flesch 40. Aces: Taryn Stappert 4, Brinkman 4, Kennedy 4. Digs: Hawes 16, Kennedy 14.
Belmont stat leaders
Kills: Jordyn Kamps 31. Blocks: Brianna Riechers 2. Assists: Katelyn Schobert 51. Aces: Kamps 6. Digs: Maddie Rand 15.

WIAA Division 4 Regional Quarterfinals
Potosi 3, Cassville 0
(from Tuesday, Oct. 22 @ Potosi)
Cassville       16      8    17
Potosi            25    25    25
Potosi stat leaders
Kills: Maddie Hawes 10, Paige Brinkman 9, Taylor Kennedy 7. Blocks: Liz Reuter 1, Taylor Kennedy 1. Assists: Haley Flesch 30. Aces: Kennedy 5. Digs: Flesch 12, Hawes 10, Brinkman 10.

WIAA Division 4 Regional Semifinals
Potosi 3, Seneca 1
(from Thursday, Oct. 24 @ Potosi)
Seneca       25    17    16    19
Potosi        22    25    25    25
Potosi stat leaders
Kills: Taylor Kennedy 16, Maddie Hawes 13, Paige Brinkman 11, Reuter 10. Blocks: Liz Reuter 4. Assists: Haley Flesch 41. Aces: Taryn Stappert 4, Kennedy 2. Digs: Hawes 17, T. Stappert 16.

WIAA Division 4 Regional Quarterfinals
Belmont 3, Kickapoo 0
(from Tuesday, Oct. 22 @ Belmont)
Kickapoo          16    12    12
Belmont            25    25    25
Belmont stat leaders
Kills: Jordyn Kamps 13. Blocks: Brianna Riechers 3. Assists: Katelyn Schobert 32. Aces: Kamps 3. Digs: Keegan Kamps 4, J. Kamps 4.

WIAA Division 4 Regional Semifinals
Belmont 3, Ithaca 0
(from Thursday, Oct. 24 @ Belmont)
Ithaca                14    21    16
Belmont            25    25    25
Belmont stat leaders
Kills: Jordyn Kamps 17. Blocks: Keegan Kamps 4. Assists: Katelyn Schobert 32. Aces: Brianna Riechers 2. Digs: K. Kamps 14.