The Manawa Wolves volleyball program celebrated their Senior Night Tuesday, Sept. 28.
Being the last home match of the season, the underclassmen on the varsity team honored their senior teammates with short speeches and presents to thank them for their dedication to the volleyball program. Senior Lady Wolves include: Makayla Johnson, Alycia Christensen, Ali Dean, MaryKay Heinz, Kayla Johnson, Ashley Remington and manager Lukiesha Benhamadi.
For the final home match of the season, Manawa played host to a very impressive Wittenberg-Birnamwood team. Though the Chargers beat Manawa in three sets, the Wolves had moments where they displayed some very high level volleyball, digging up hard hits and strong blocking at the net.
The first set started out close, with Ali Dean serving a rally of four points for the Wolves. Then Wittenberg-Birnamwood put together a four-point rally of their own, putting them up 14 to 6, Manawa was unable to come back. The Chargers finished the first set 25 to 14.
In the second set, Manawa was only able to score one offensive point the entire game. At the beginning of the set this was okay because they limited the Chargers to very few offensive points too. Unfortunately, when the Chargers earned a side out for their 11th point, they rallied all the way to 17. On their next server they also put together an impressive run, finishing the set 25 to 8.
The third and final set was the best for the Wolves. They took an early 4 to 1 lead and then faltered, allowing Wittenberg-Birnamwood to take control until the score was 8 to 17. Makayla Johnson stepped up to serve and, with two aces, put six points on the board, bringing the Wolves within three. This would be the closest they would get for the rest of the match. The Chargers finished the match, 25 to 17.
Though no Wolves’ player greatly outscored the others, it is impressive that seven team members earned points. Ali Dean and MaryKay Heinz tied for point leader, each scoring five points. Krista Braun, Aimee Drath and Kayla Johnson each contributed three and Makayla Johnson had two, while Kali Draeger had one. As the team’s main setter, Braun led her team with eight assists and Drath had 11 digs.
Dean was the service leader, serving 11-of-11, but four other team members were also 100 percent from the line including: M. Johnson 9-of-9, Ashley Remington 3-of-3, Drath 2-of-2, and Alycia Christensen 1-of-1.