File photo by Ali Servay Nicolet player Kayson Forbrook, 15, throws the ball over the net during a Tomahawk Valley Conference crossover volleyball game Oct. 11 at Cedar Mountain High School. Against Cedar Mountain.
Written by Jeff Mader
magazine sports writer
NICOLETTE – Despite three hard-fought sets, No. 18 Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey defeated Nicolet 25-20, 26-24, 25-18 in the Section 2A volleyball tournament opener Thursday.
Both teams had similar records heading into Thursday’s game, with Nicollet at 5-19 and MLA/C at 5-19-2. Despite the sweep, the play on the court proved that point.
In the first set, the Wolverines got some good blocks and returned the ball well. The Raiders were playing hard but made mistakes at key points.
“We started slow at first. I think the second set got a lot out of our sails.” Nicollet head coach Chris Hollisey said.
She credited MLA/C with being a rough team that didn’t drop the ball much.
Kamryn Trubenbach scored 20 goals, Mia Lambrecht added 15 goals and 12 set assists, and Leah Bode had four blocks and two ace serves for Nicolette.
MLA/C took an early lead, but Nicolette continued to rally until it tied or briefly took the lead during the set. MLA/C led by 6 points, but a service error tied the score at 14-14. Nicolette’s first lead was 15-14 when MLA/C’s return fell wide of the frame. MLA/C Regan Pedersen then set up Paige Wilson’s goal, tying the score at 18-18. Wilson and Eliza Buller teamed up with a double block to maintain the lead. Pedersen set up Ashlyn Pfeiffer for the kill on set point.
The Wolverines led for most of the second set. It was a heated battle with many good rallies and both teams exchanging blocks near the net.
Trubenbach’s ace serve added one point to Nicolette’s lead (24-22). Three consecutive unforced errors by Nicolette gave MLA/C the points it needed to win the set.
Both teams made adjustments in the third set. Nicolette took an early lead. In one rally, both teams got the ball back before MLA/C forced it out of point, giving Nicolette a four-point advantage. MLA/C’s Nadia Fomachan made an ace to cut the lead over Nicolette to 16-15. During the next rally, the Wolverines tied it up on a tip by Pedersen. Nicolette’s mistake gave MLA/C the lead. Fisada Phumivon hit the ball to Pongmachan and Ashlyn Pfeiffer scored for a two-goal lead (18-16). A double block from Pfeiffer and Pedersen at the net gave the Wolverines the victory.
MLA/C will play No. 1 seed Mayer Lutheran at Mayer Lutheran High School on Monday at 7 p.m.
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