Wolves also drop road match
By Corrie Ziemer
Homecoming week saw the Manawa volleyball win a match against Gresham and take their first Central Wisconsin Conference North Division loss to Northland Lutheran.
Manawa 3, Gresham 0
The Wolves celebrated Parents’ Night Sept. 25 playing in honor of their dads. Not only did the team sweep the defending conference champions 25-13, 25-15, 25-19, the Wolves also served 95.9 percent from the line and had 38 kills and five blocks.
Setter Katie Buschke set her teammates up for kills a season-high 25 times, connected on all eight of her serves and added 15 digs.
Meanwhile, outside hitter Laynie Bessette led the team with 15 points, all on kills, added 12 digs and hit on all 13 serves. Kirstin Schernecker chipped in with 12 points, on nine kills, two aces and a solo block. She also had 13 digs on defense and served 12-for-12. Middle hitter Kellynn Kaczorowski also had 12 points, including three solo blocks.
N. Lutheran 3, Manawa 2
A long bus trip and weariness from Homecoming festivities seemed to get the better of the Wolves Sept. 27 against Northland Lutheran.
Manawa opened the match with 25-21 and 25-19 wins, but the Wildcats forced a fifth set with 25-19 and 25-15 wins. Northland Lutheran then wrapped up the match with a 15-13 victory. With Manawa trailing 14-10, Mikayla Wegener served three points to cut the lead to 14-13 before the Wildcats scored the winning point.
Wegener served 13-for-13 and had four points, while Bessette connected on all 16 of her serves and led the team with 14 points. Schernecker had 28 and scored 10 points, including three aces, while Chloe Johnson and Buschke chipped in with 23 and 19 digs, respectively. Buschke had 13 assists and four kills.
The Wolves hosted Wisconsin Valley Lutheran Oct. 2 and will join Bowler, Gresham, Marion, Northland Lutheran, Tigerton and Wisconsin Valley Lutheran Saturday, Oct. 6, at the CWC North Division meet, which gets underway at 9 a.m. in Marion.
• Corrie Ziemer is the varsity volleyball coach at Little Wolf High School in Manawa.