Rolling Merrill spikers slip in final moment
The Bluejays girls were rolling in Saturday’s five-team Merrill Invite, cruising to wins over any and all comers.
But Athens pulled off an upset during the battle of the unbeatens in the day’s title action, winning 18-25, 25-16, 15-11.
“It was a disappointing finish to the day, losing to Athens in our final match,” MHS coach Kris Krug said. “I don’t know how we can be a blocking powerhouse in the first game against Athens and not be able to stop Briana Lavicka in the second and third sets.
“We didn’t play all day with any intensity. We struggled with lack of leadership and communication.
“Hopefully, we learn from our mistakes and we can get hungry for our next competition. We have four conference matches this next week so we need to bring it all together if we want to keep our place in the conference.”
Merrill dominated Wittenberg (25-11, 25-12) and Edgar (25-10, 25-12) in the first two rounds, then knocked off Chippewa Falls 25-16, 25-20 to reach the last match in position to win it all.
Rylee Folz, Morgan Marnholtz, and Katie Zelinski were selected to the All-Tournament Team.
Contributions came from: Folz (21 kills, 7 blocks, 10 digs); Zelinski (25 k, 4.5 bl, 4 d); Anna Finnell (21 k, 3 aces, 2.5 bl, 17 d); Emily Page (5 k, 4 ac, 1.5 bl, 85 assists, 22 d); Marnholtz (4 ac, 36 d); Morgan Wardall (14 k, 3.5 bl, 10 d); Madddix Bonnell (32 d); Ali Zamzow 25 d); Chey Pyka (5 ac, 16 d); Hannah Marrier (12 k, 5 d); and Starr Krenzke (3 k).
Fronting East
The Bluejays improved to 2-0 in the Valley with Thursday’s 25-14, 25-14, 25-17 road win over Wausau East.
“It was a slow start for us with a couple of miscues which put us down 6-0 at the beginning of the match,” Krug said. “Once we were able to get our offense intact, we rallied back for the win.
“We are striving to keep our level of intensity high for a longer period of time. As the season rolls on, this needs to be second nature for us, being able to peak at the proper time.”
Offerings were turned in by: Folz (15 k, 2.5 bl); Page 3 ac, 39 as, 6 d); Bonnell (3 k, 5 ac, 11 d); Finnell (10 k, 4 d); Wardall (6 k, 4 d); Marnholtz (11 d); Zelinski (9 k); Zamzow (9 d); Pyka (4 d); Marrier (3 k).