RICHLAND CENTER - No one said the Southwest Wisconsin Conference opener against Richland Center was going to be an easy one for the Lancaster varsity volleyball team.
But the Flying Arrows took the host Hornets to five games last Thursday night, losing 3-2, and starting off league play with an 0-1 record.
After winning the first game over the Hornets by a score of 25-21, the Flying Arrows lost the next two by scores of 25-19 and 25-21.
Richland Center came storming back to win the fourth game, 25-14, sending the match into a deciding fifth.
By the narrowest of margins, Richland Center pulled out the victory, winning game five by a score of 15-13.
It was Senior Emily Martin leading the way with 16 kills, while fellow senior Bridgett Pross added 3.5 blocks. Andrea Duncan finished with a team-high eight digs, while Courtney Mumm had four ace serves and Kate Noble 42 assists.
“Richland Center was a good team. We need to do a better job of finishing our matches and putting teams away when we have the opportunity,” said Michalkiewicz. “We put ourselves in good position at the end of set five. The good news is we have another opportunity the second half of the season on September 22.”
On Friday, Aug. 26, coach Tiffany Michalkiewicz and her team competed at the Whitewater Tournament, where they went 6-3-3 against a number of schools much bigger than them.
By the time the tournament had ended, Kate Noble was selected to the Golden Bracket All-Tournament Team.
“Our team posted its strongest finish ever, competing in the gold bracket,” said coach Michalkiewicz. “This is a great tournament because we face larger schools and tough competition in order to prepare us for our conference schedule.”
This past Saturday, the Arrows participated in the La Crosse Tournament, where they went 5-1, tying for the best record with McDonell Central.
The Arrows swept through their first five opponents before losing 2-1 to McDonell Central, 25-18, 23-25, 15-8.
This Thursday night the Arrows will host Dodgeville, then will host their annual Lancaster Invite on Saturday.
The team’s annual fundraiser, called “Digging for Diabetes,” will be held on Thursday, Sept. 22, when the Arrows host Richland Center.
The match will begin at 5 p.m. that evening, in honor of so many people that battle diabetes, including Jena Hore, a sophomore on the Lancaster J.V. team.
All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
Whitewater Tournament
(from Friday, Aug. 26)
Lancaster scores
Lancaster 2, Cuba City 1 (19-25, 25-4, 25-4)
Deerfield 2, Lancaster 1 (20-25, 25-17, 15-17)
Lancaster 2, Tomah 0 (25-14, 25-15)
Lancaster 2, Sheboygan North 1 (17-25, 25-12, 15-11)
Edgerton 2, Lancaster 0 (19-25, 19-25)
Lancaster 2, Janesville Parker 0 (25-15, 25-15)
Lancaster 2, Sauk Prairie 0 (25-19, 15-15)
Lancaster 1, Deerfield 1 (25-22, 20-25)
Lancaster 1, Sheboygan North 1 (25-17, 17-25)
Lancaster 2, Beloit Turner 0 (25-4, 25-4)
Big Foot 2, Lancaster 0 (14-25, 13-25)
Lancaster 1, Janesville Craig 1 (25-10, 23-25)
Lancaster leaders
Kills - Courtney Mumm 47, Emily Martin 57. Digs - Andrea Duncan 123. Blocks - Bridgette Pross 13.5. Assists - Kate Noble 186.
Richland Center 3,
Lancaster 2
(from Thursday, Sept. 1)
Lancaster 25 19 21 25 13
Richland Center 21 25 25 14 15
Individual leaders
Kills - L: Emily Martin 16. Blocks - L: Bridgette Pross 3.5; RC: Nigl 3. Digs - L: Andrea Duncan 8; RC: Crary 11. Aces - L: Mumm 4; RC: Nigl 2. Assists - L: Kate Noble 42; RC: Collins 19.
La Crosse Tournament
(from Saturday, Sept. 3)
Lancaster scores
Lancaster 2, Luther 0 (25-20, 25-12)
Lancaster 2, Holmen (25-13, 25-8)
Lancaster 2, Brookwood 0 (25-14, 25-15)
Lancaster 2, McDonell 0 (25-19, 25-13)
Lancaster 2, Greenwood 0 (25-12, 25-23)
McDonell 2, Lancaster 1 (25-18, 23-25, 15-8)
