Stung in the first set, the Richland Center Hornets recovered to capture the championship of the Holmen Invitational volleyball tournament at Holmen Saturday.

The early defeat provided a wake-up call. They romped over Onalaska, Eau Claire Regis, and Onalaska Luther in pool play and ousted Westby in the semi-finals. The Hornets knocked off Cochrane-Fountain City, 25-9, 25-21, in the finals to secure the title.

Coach Laura Selgeby’s Hornets notched their first championship of the season after coming close in two previous tourneys. They were third in Monroe two weeks and second in their own RC Invitational a week ago.

“We played well,” said Selgeby. “Madison (Rizner) and Kathleen (Peckham) had good tournaments, and they had help. We had to make an adjustment since Julia (Jones) had another commitment so we used a 5-1 (one setter) and it looked pretty good.”

Onalaska stunned the Hornets in the opening set, 25-22, before the Hornets rallied to win their opening match, 25-15 and 15-11. Peckham had five kills and 12 digs, Rizner six kills and six digs, and Katie Dalberg 18 assists.

The Hornets stormed past Regis, 25-21, 25-10. Rizner totaled 14 kills, Dalberg 18 assists, and Paige Perkins 18 digs. The Hornets completed pool play with a 3-0 record by dominating Onalaska Luther, 25-15, 25-9. Rizner produced seven kills and McKenna Nigl five.

In the semifinals, the Hornets swept Westby, 25-18, 25-16. Peckham was credited with seven kills and 15 digs, and Rizner seven kills, nine digs and two block kills. Perkins came up with nine digs and Cassidy Whitney seven. Dalberg contributed 21 assists.

Peckham had six kills and seven digs in the title match with Cochrane-Fountain City. Nigl totaled five kills while Rizner had five kills and three aces. Dalberg added 16 assists.

The five wins improved the Hornets record to 13–3.