By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Dodgers down Arrows, 3-1
Lan Volleyball
Lancaster junior Cassie Nemitz comes up with the dig during last Thursday night’s SWC volleyball opener against visiting Dodgeville.
AJ Gates
Grant County Herald Independent
Published: Sep 19, 2023, 1:00 PM

LANCASTER 8/31– Coach Carla Hentrich and her Lancaster varsity volleyball team kicked off play in the Southwest Wisconsin Conference last Thursday night, where visiting Dodgeville escaped with a 3-1 victory over the Arrows.

After losing the first two sets by scores of 25-8 and 25-16, the Flying Arrows regrouped to take the third set by a score of 25-16. The Dodgers closed out the match with a convincing 25-4 victory in the fourth and final set.

“I felt like the girls did a nice job with staying aggressive and making plays happen when they got out of system,” said coach Hentrich. “We definitely struggle with serve receive, but Dodgeville is a very good team for finding those seams and changing up their serves.”

“We are putting up great blocks, we just have to stay disciplined and stay with the hitters,” Hentrich added. “We have a lot of talented girls this year and I am looking forward to them getting better and better as the season progresses.”

Leading Lancaster with six kills was Jessica Morgan, while Emma Jensen dished out a team-high seven assists, followed closely by Lily Weber with six.

Jensen and Asiah McDonald came away with a team-high 11 digs each, while Abby Esser and Cassie Nemitz each had 10. Ella Gruetzmacher had a team-high five blocks, followed by Sophia Gruetzmacher with three.

On the following Saturday, Lancaster competed at the Richland Center Invite, where they went 1-3 on the day.

In pool play the Arrows lost to Reedsburg and Hillsboro in two sets each, then in the bronze division lost to Platteville in two sets before closing out the day with a two-set sweep of Black Hawk.

Jessica Morgan put down a team-high 17 kills on the day to go along with a team-best five service aces, while Nicole Kelley had 10 kills and Megan Kreul and Ava Hermsen nine each.

Lily Weber distributed a team-high 34 assists, followed by Jensen with 33, while Abby Esser had a team-high 11 digs followed by Lauren Reukauf with five.

This Thursday night the Arrows will travel to Platteville, then will host their invite on Saturday with Black Hawk, Fennimore, Kickapoo, Potosi, River Ridge, Shullsburg and Viroqua.
Richland Center girls snap 45-game losing streak
Burns makes three free throws with 3.2 seconds left to lift Hornets to 1-point win over Viroqua
Kylie Burns
Richland Center sophomore Kylie Burns made three free throws with 3.2 seconds left to lift the Hornets to a 55–54 non-conference victory over Viroqua Tuesday night. The win snapped Richland Center's 45-game losing streak. - photo by Erik Olson
Erik Olson
Published: Feb 14, 2025, 5:44 PM

RICHLAND CENTER — Sophomore Kylie Burns converted three straight free throws with 3.2 seconds left in overtime to give the Richland Center Hornets a 55-54 non-conference win here Tuesday night. 

The win was the Hornets’ first of the season and ended a 45-game losing streak dating back to the end of the 2022–23 campaign.

“They never gave up,” said coach Jeremy Kooi of his team which fought back from an early 12-point deficit 

The Hornets rallied to pull within 27–21 at the half and finally tied the game midway through the second half. The lead changed hands several times down the stretch before Regan Schoepp scored from close range to put the Hornets ahead 47–45. Viroqua freshman Allyah Schwenn quickly penetrated and scored to tie the game, 47–47, and force overtime.

In the extra period, Burns accounted for all eight of the Hornets’ points with a three-pointer and five of five from the free throw line. 

Ella Weiss led the Hornets in scoring with 22 points while Burns finished with 16. Jaycee Gander netted six, Carley Mieden five, Schoepp four and Jasmine Hazlerig two.

Schwenn topped all scorers with 24 points for Viroqua. Emily Hubatch scored 14 and Emma Moilien had 10. 

The Hornets were 19 of 30 from the free throw line while Viroqua converted 15 of 29 but only three of six in overtime.