LANCASTER - With a 3-1 victory over visiting Richland Center last Thursday evening, the Lancaster varsity volleyball team took back a share of the Southwest Wisconsin Conference’s top spot.
The Flying Arrows improved their league record to 5-1 with Thursday’s win, while handing the Hornets (5-1) their first conference loss of the season.
The first time these two teams met on Sept. 1, the host Hornets knocked off the Arrows, three games to two, in a league opener for both teams.
Last Thursday night in front of their home crowd, the Arrows needed just four games to dispose of the Hornets, 3-1.
It was Richland Center setting the tempo of the match with a 25-16 victory in game one, but Lancaster came back with three straight wins of 25-22, 25-20 and 25-21.
Senior Emily Martin led the team with 18 kills, while Bridgette Pross and Katrina Polkinghorn each had three blocks.
Coming away with a team-high 16 digs was Andrea Duncan, as Courtney Mumm and Haley Hentrich each served up three aces.
A total of 48 assists were dished out by senior setter Kate Noble.
“Richland Center is a great team,” said Lancaster coach Tiffany Michalkiewicz. “We held fast to our principles and system and knew that the score would take care of itself because of our preparation.”
“There were definitely a lot of pressure situations. We lost the first set and were down 11-3 in the fourth. A lot of teams would have folded, but we were persistent. We did not allow the pressure to turn into stress and were able to stay focused and finish.”
Last Thursday’s match was also dedicated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and given the title “Digging for Diabetes.”
The team raised nearly $2,000 for the JDRF and also created an awareness about diabetes.
“I was very proud of the girls, both on and off the court,” said coach Michalkiewicz. “The girls played well on the court, and more importantly they represented themselves in a positive manner off the court with all the care that they put into our “Digging for Diabetes” match.
Two night’s earlier, the Arrows swept visiting Platteville by scores of 25-22, 25-20 and 25-18.
Courtney Mumm led the team with 12 kills, while Noble, Emily Koeller, Pross and Polkinghorn each had two blocks.
Duncan accounted for 19 digs, Hentrich three ace serves and Noble 38 assists.
This past Saturday the Arrows participated in the Dubuque Invite at Dubuque Hempstead, where they went 0-3 in pool play against the likes of Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Davenport Central.
Lancaster won their consolation quarterfinal contest over ADM Adel, but then ended the day with a loss to Cedar Rapids Xavier in the consolation semifinals.
Following this past Tuesday night’s match at Dodgeville, the Flying Arrows will travel to River Valley (Spring Green) on Thursday night.
Lancaster 3, Platteville 0
(from Tuesday, Sept. 20)
Platteville 22 20 18
Lancaster 25 25 25
Individual leaders
Kills - P: Lawinger 9; L: Courtney Mumm 12. Blocks - P: Lawinger 2; L: Kate Noble 2, Emily Koeller 2, Katrina Polkinghorn 2, Bridgette Pross 2. Digs - P: Updike 9; L: Andrea Duncan 19. Aces - P: Stecklein 2; L: Haley Hentrich 3. Assists - P: Lucas 20; L: Kate Noble 38.
Lancaster 3,
Richland Center 1
(from Thursday, Sept. 22)
Richland Center 25 22 20 21
Lancaster 16 25 25 25
Individual leaders
Kills - RC: Kelly Lynch 16; L: Emily Martin 18. Blocks - RC: Nigl 5; L: Bridgette Pross 3, Katrina Polkinghorn 3. Digs - RC: Gaffney 13; L: Andrea Duncan 16. Aces - RC: Collins 2; L: Courtney Mumm 3, Haley Hentrich 3. Assists - RC: Collins 23; L: Kate Noble 48.
Dubuque Invite
(from Saturday, Sept. 24, at Dubuque Hempstead)
Lancaster pool play
Bettendorf 2, Lancaster 0 (21-16, 21-18)
Cedar Rapids Kennedy 2, Lancaster 0 (21-14, 21-10)
Davenport Central 2, Lancsater 1 (19-21, 21-12, 15-11)
Consolation quarterfinals
Lancaster 2, ADM Adel 1 (17-25, 25-20, 15-9)
Consolation semifinals
Cedar Rapids Xavier 2, Lancaster 0 (25-21, 25-15)
