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Manawa beats Brillion in early season play

The Manawa volleyball team won their first home game when they defeated the Lions of Brillion Thursday, Aug. 30.

On Tuesday, Aug. 21, the Manawa volleyball team traveled to New London to play in an invite where they faced off against Division 1 and 2 teams. On the following Friday they took 2nd place, out of 6, at the Marion Invite .

The New London Invite consisted of 5 teams. The Wolves played against Green Bay East first. The opposing team won in 2 with scores of 25-17 in both sets. Ansley Block led the Wolves with 4 points, followed closely by Breana Haines who had 3. Lexie Sell (8-8) and Wendy Kons (2-2) served 100% for the match.

In their 2nd match of the night, Manawa faced off against Central Wisconsin Christian. In the first set the Wolves looked sluggish and Central Wisconsin Christian won easily 25-10. The Wolves valiantly fought back in set 2 and almost pulled out their first win. The set went into extra points but ended in Central Wisconsin Christians favor, 28-26. Block once again led her team with 5 points, Kali Young, Sell, and Courtlynn Oltz all had 3. Sell also contributed with 10 assists and 7 digs. Katie Velie (2-2) and Haines (3-3) were 100% from the service line.

As the Lady Wolves continued to play together their intensity and team dynamic improved. Against Ashwaubenon they were able to put more points on the board. Though Ashwaubenon won both sets 25-21 it was obvious that Manawa was starting to feel comfortable on the court with one another. Young and Haines led their team with 3 points each. Sell, Baylee Gorges, and Block each had 2. The match against Ashwaubenon was definitely the team’s best serving game. Gorges served 10-10 and Sell (8-8), Velie (8-8), Nicki Cady (6-6), and Haines (4-4) were all 100% for the match. Cady, the team’s libero, also had 12 digs.

After playing their best match of the night the Wolves had to take a break. The break seemed to work against them as they entered into their first set against New London with slow feet and poor play. The Bulldogs won the first set 25-9. Manawa knew they could play better ball and came out swinging in the second set. They won easily 25-15. In the final set New London got an early lead and Manawa could not catch up. The match ended in New London’s favor, 15-7. Block had 4 points while Haines had 3. Velie led her team from the service line, serving 13-13 while Cady was 6-6.

In their second tournament of the week Manawa traveled to Marion where they finished in a very close second place behind the Tigers of Tigerton. They did bring medals home for their finish.

The first tournament match was against Wisconsin Valley Lutheran. The Wolves won the match, 26-24 and 25-16. Block had an amazing game, scoring 10 points. Six of which were kills and 2 solo blocks. Haines had the 2nd most points with 6. The team’s setter, Lexie Sell, had 10 assists for the match and Molly Loughrin led her team from the service line, serving 7-7. Haines, Block and Cady all served 5-5 also.

In the second match, Manawa faced off against Tigerton. They knew this would be the toughest match of the night. It did not disappoint. The match went to 3 sets, with each set being decided by only 2 points. Tigerton won the first set 25-23. The Wolves fought back in set two to win 26-24 and the third set finished 15-13, Tigers. Once again Block was amazing at the net. She had 14 points! Sell had 14 assists and 10 digs while Cady had 17 digs and Gorges contributed 11. Cady also was 100% serving (11-11), along with Loughrin who was 9-9.

The next two matches were easy wins for the Lady Wolves. They beat White Lake 25-14 and 25-12 and Menominee Indian 25-7 and 25-17. Baylee Gorges led her team with 10 points against White Lake, serving 9 aces! Sell was the only Wolf who went 100% from the service line in that match. She served 12 for 12. In the match against the Eagles of Menominee, Block had 7 kills while Sell and Loughrin each had 5 points. Loughrin’s points all came from aces, where she served 10-10. Kons (3-3), Haines (3-3), Cady (2-2) and Block (1-1) were all 100% also.

In the final match of the night the Mustangs of Marion took the Lady Wolves to 3 sets. The Wolves won the first set 25-20 and then dropped the second set 25-18. The final set was a nail biter with the Wolves fighting back to win 16-14. Block was a true team leader. She had 15 points! Cady played great defense, digging the ball up 16 times. Sell led her team with 11 assists and Loughrin was 10 for 10 from the service line. Velie also served 100% (3-3).

In their last competition before conference play started, the Wolves played a dual match against the Lions of Brillion. This was the first match of the season where all of the Varsity Lady Wolves were able to play. Implementing a new line up, the Wolves played their best volleyball of the season. They beat the Lions in four sets. They won the first two sets 25-23 and 25-16. With the Wolves letting down in the 3rd set, Brillion won 25-16. The Wolves rallied in set four to finish the match 25-12. Seniors Ansley Block and Megan O’Brien showed true team leadership by leading their team with 11.5 and 11 points respectively. O’Brien, who was playing in her first match of the season, also had 19 digs for the match. The team’s libero, Nicki Cady, also had 19 digs and Wendy Kons, defensive specialist, had 15. Setter, Lexie Sell, had 15 digs and 18 assists. Other team members who contributed points included: Young (5), Sell (3), Haines (2.5), Kons (2), Aubrie Millard (2), Oltz (1) and Cady (1). Kons was the only team member who was 100% from the service line, serving 7 for 7.

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