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Shorthanded Potosi wins Lancaster Tournament
potosi vb langkamp
Potosi sophomore Sophie Langkamp puts down a kill during the Chieftains sweep over Highland last Thursday night.

    LANCASTER — Potosi volleyball’s transition under first-year head coach Ric Walsh has been rather seamless thus far.

     Walsh’s Chieftains swept Highland last Thursday to improve to 2–1 in the Six Rivers West. Then on Saturday even without starting seniors Maddie Hawes, Calie Gibson and Emily Langmeier, Potosi won five straight matches to win the six-team Lancaster round robin tournament. Hawes, Gibson and Langmeier missed the tournament to take the ACT.

     The shorthanded Chieftains defeated Lancaster’s varsity reserve 25–18, 25–21, then held off Black Hawk 25–21, 25–27, 15–13 in a close match. Potosi then swept Kickapoo 26–24, 25–19 and the host Arrows’ varsity 25–23, 25–20, before closing out the day with a 25–20, 25–12 victory over Viroqua to claim the tournament title.

     “The team was lead by Taylor Bloyer, who led the team with energy and emotion, helping to keep the young squad to stay focused and to keep the upbeat tempo up,” said Walsh. “Abby Kaiser was solid all over the court keying some important kills.”

     Bloyer, Potosi’s lone senior in Saturday’s lineup, finished the tournament with 37 kills, 52 assists, nine blocks and eight aces. Kaiser, a sophomore outside hitter, led the Chieftains (9–3, 2–1 Six Rivers West) with 53 kills, 53 digs and 11 aces in five matches.

     Junior Brooke McKillip finished with 52 digs, and freshman Hannah Udelhoven passed out 33 assists.
Kaiser led the Chieftains with 14 kills, 22 digs and four aces in Thursday’s 25–18, 25–21, 25-22 sweep of visiting Highland.

     Senior outside hitter Maddie Hawes added nine kills, nine aces and 22 digs, and sophomore middle hitter Sophie Langkamp had four blocks.

     “Solid serves and aggressive back row play made a big difference in the offensive intensity,” said Walsh. “Highland’s defense brought many balls we thought to be down back into play. It was a well played match for both teams.”

     Last Tuesday, Potosi suffered a heart-breaking, five-set loss to league-leading Benton. The Chieftains took the first two sets 27–25, 25–22, but dropped three straight, 22–25, 15–25, 10–25 to lose the match.

     Potosi won the first two sets, but the Zephyrs (10–1–1, 4–0 SRW) turned it around to dominate the final three to stay unbeaten in league play.

     The Chieftains traveled to River Ridge on Tuesday and will now host Shullsburg on Thursday before hosting Belmont next Tuesday.

Benton 3, Potosi 2
(from Tuesday, Sept. 8 @ Potosi)

Benton    25    22    25    25     25
Potosi      27    25    22    15     10
Potosi stat leaders
Kills: Abby Kaiser 15. Blocks: Kaiser 4, Sophie Langkamp 4. Aces: Emily Langmeir 7. Assists: Taylor Bloyer 14. Digs: Kaiser 22, Maddie Hawes 22.

Potosi 3, Highland 0
(from Thursday, Sept. 10 @ Potosi)
Highland       18    21     22
Potosi            25    25     25
Potosi stat leaders
Kills: Abby Kaiser 14, Maddie Hawes 9. Blocks: Taylor Bloyer 2, Sophie Langkamp 2 Aces: Hawes 9. Assists: Calie Gibson 15, Bloyer 15. Digs: Kaiser 19, Hawes 17.

Lancaster Round Robin Tournament
(from Saturday, Sept. 12 @ Lancaster)

Team Standings — Potosi 5–0, Viroqua 4–1, Black Hawk 3–2, Lancaster 2–2, Kickapoo 1–4, Lancaster varsity reserve 0–4.
Potosi match scores
Potosi def. Lancaster VR 25–18, 25–21
Potosi def. Black Hawk 25–21, 25–27, 15–13
Potosi def. Kickapoo 26–24, 25–19
Potosi def. Lancaster 25–23, 25–20
Potosi def. Viroqua 25–20, 25–12
Potosi stat leaders
Kills: Abby Kaiser 53, Taylor Bloyer 37. Blocks: Bloyer 9. Aces: Kaiser 11, Bloyer 8. Assists: Bloyer 52, Hannah Udelhoven 33. Digs: Kaiser 53, Brooke McKillip 52.