Lourdes Academy’s volleyball team found itself in an unfamiliar position.
After sweeping all of their opponents during the regular season and in the first two rounds of the WIAA state tournament, the Knights lost a game Oct. 25 to Weyauwega-Fremont in a Division 3 regional final in Oshkosh.
However, Lourdes regrouped and eliminated the Indians from the tournament by winning the next game.
W-F advanced to the final by defeating Menasha St. Mary Central and Amherst in the first two rounds.
Lourdes 3, W-F 1
OSHKOSH – The Knights opened the match with 25-22 and 25-16 wins and served for the win in the third game, but the Indians came up with a 26-24 win.
Lourdes then closed the match out with a 25-18 win.
“It was an exciting match all the way to the end,” coach Rena Tomaszewski said. “We unfortunately lost sophomore outside hitter Becky Schroeder the day before to a knee injury, so the fluidity of the team had a slight hitch. If we had a couple more days to practice without Becky, we definitely would have played them closer, since we were seeing at least four kills per set from her.
“Hailey Krause stepped up and took Becky’s spot and did a fine job considering what kind of blockers she was up against,” she added. “Hailey is always ready to give it her all, as she is a great competitor. The team really rallied together regardless and never gave up. They knew they were up against a good team and played well throughout the match.”
Team leaders included Jordan Krause (25 assists); Courtney Gorges (25 digs, one ace); Megan Young (10 kills, five solo blocks, two assisted blocks, one ace); Hailey Krause (11 service points, one ace); Rachel Knorr (eight kills); and Karissa Akey (10 kills.
“We were told that we were some of their best competition this season,” Tomaszewski said. “I see Lourdes as having a real good chance at making it to state. On any other day, we could probably reverse the outcome because we are both very good teams.
W-F 3, St. Mary Central 1
WEYAUWEGA – The Indians won the first game 25-20, the Zephyrs evened the score with a 25-18 win and W-F sealed the win with 25-18 and 25-16 wins Oct. 23 in a regional semifinal.
Team leaders included Gorges (20 digs); Jordan Krause (35 assists, two blocks); Schroeder (15 kills); Akey (13 kills and nine points); Miranda Potratz (nine points); and Young and Knorr (two blocks).
W-F 3, Amherst 0
WEYAUWEGA – The Indians swept the Falcons 25-11, 25-13, 25-13 Oct. 21 in the quarterfinal round.
“It was truly a pleasure coaching this team this season,” Tomaszewski said. “We saw some great improvement from everyone and their teamwork was second to none. They were really starting to gel at the right time and function like a well-oiled machine.
“You know as a coach that when you are comfortable watching your group play that no words are necessary and they know how to work with each other,” she said. “That is the stage that this team was at. We just ran into a road block and didn’t have sufficient time to find the detour. It is disappointing to be done, but we can all look back at this season as a great success.”