Craig volleyball survives Parker charge
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JANESVILLE — Coach Blake Budrow had a feeling his Janesville Craig girls volleyball team would have to withstand rallies by its cross-city rival in Thursday night's WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal match.
Janesville Parker made good on Budrow's prediction, but his Cougars dug in their claws to stave off two comebacks and earn a 21-25, 25-19, 25-10, 25-20 victory on their home court.
After earning a split of the first two games, the 10th-seeded Vikings turned a potential Game 3 laugher—they trailed 11-1 and 16-3—into a respectable loss.
"We had that big lead, but they battled to the end," Budrow said. "And I knew they would do it again—and they did. They made it very interesting at the end."
The seventh-seeded Cougars built a 7-0 lead in the finale behind superior service from senior setter Kelsey Kennedy and enjoyed a 15-3 advantage until the Vikings again battled back.
"We got behind early because Craig made some nice plays, and we let some balls hit the floor," Parker coach Dave Lehmann said. "All of a sudden, you're behind, but my kids never gave up."
Parker took 11 of the next 13 points and even got within two points twice at 21-19 and 22-20, putting immeasurable momentum in the game's balance. Craig junior middle hitter Michelle Straw watched the 11-2 run from the bench, waiting for one more rotation, but remained more anxious than nervous.
"I was excited to get back out there and help the team, but I knew we'd side out and get it back," Straw said.
Straw was a force at the middle of the net, as she, Cassie Marsh and Amber Bovenmyer led the Cougars with 11 kills apiece, but showed her softer side in the waning points. With her team up 22-20, Straw earned her final kill by weaving a tip kill between Paige Demos and Sami Shelton's double block along the right side of the net and into open space.
"They're expecting you to hit, so they're moving back," Straw said. "So tipping is crucial to throw them off their game and their balance."
Junior Emma Becher rifled an ace for the penultimate point before Bovenmyer closed the match by soaring to crush a spike kill from left to right.
The Cougars' service was outstanding in the last two games. As is often the case in heated rivalries, Craig came out wound a bit tight, sending six service errors deep in dropping the opener.
"We made a lot of unforced errors in the opening game, and it was a mixture of the tournament and playing such a good team for the fourth time," Budrow said.
But the Vikings, led by Katie Godding's 14 kills, refused to go away. Now, Budrow hopes his team can emulate its rival's resilience at 7 p.m. Saturday when Craig faces No. 2 seed Westosha Central in a regional final on the Falcons' court.
"They're a perennial powerhouse," Budrow said. "We're gonna need better serve percentage, but we played great defense tonight. If we do it again and play consistently on offense, we'll have a shot."
CRAIG 3, PARKER 1
Janesville Parker 25 19 10 20
Janesville Craig 21 25 25 25
Parker (aces, kills, digs, assists)—Paige Demos, 0-10-0-0; Jackie Ludois, 0-1-0-0; Danyel Uschan, 0-0-3-20; Amber Benedict, 0-0-4-0; Sarah Krauter, 0-10-0-0; Erika Whitson, 1-0-4-1; Sami Shelton, 1-6-3-2; Lindsey Hoff, 0-0-12-0; Anna Dubanowich, 0-0-0-0; Ashley Hartwig, 0-3-4-0; Nicole Popovich, 2-0-2-0; Katie Godding, 1-14-2-1; Ashley Ross, 0-0-0-1.
Craig (aces, kills, assists)—Cassie Marsh, 1-11-0; Ceila Hansen, 2-0-0; Kelsey Swales, 2-0-0; Kelsey Kennedy, 4-2-38; Erica Mortensen, 0-8-0; Chelsea Sheedy, 0-0-1; Amber Bovenmyer, 0-11-0; Michelle Straw, 0-11-0; Daisy Cedio, 1-0-0; Ashley Kamholz, 1-0-0; Emma Becher, 2-0-0; Emily Hinman, 0-5-0.
Division 1
-- Milton 3, Wilmot 0—Sloane Hecomovich led the way with 26 assists and 15 digs as Milton swept visiting Wilmot in a WIAA Division 1 regional opener.
Emily Walters and Erin Stalker each had 10 kills for the Red Hawks.
The Red Hawks (16-13) play at Mukwonago in a regional title match at 7 p.m. Saturday. The winner faces Elkhorn or Burlington in the semifinakls of the Lake Geneva Badger Sectional.
MILTON 3, WILMOT 0
Wilmot 20 11 23
Milton 25 25 25
Leaders: Aces—Madsen (W) 2, Katie Soddy (M) 2, Gretchen Natter (M) 2, Amber Davis (M) 2. Kills—Zenem (W) 11, Emily Walters (M) 10, Erin Stalker (M) 10. Digs—Schatzchan (W) 11, Sloane Hecomovich (M) 15. Assists—Folger (W) 21, Hecomovich (M) 26.
-- Elkhorn 3, Kettle Moraine 1—Elkhorn jumped off to a 2-0 lead with a pair of 25-18 victories and went on to a Division 1 regional semifinal triumph over the visiting Lasers.
Carly Larsen sparked the Elks with 27 assists and 13 digs. Kristy Oglesby added 15 kills to the Elkhorn totals, and Marley Zwiebel had 13 digs.
Elkhorn plays at top-seeded Burlington in Saturday's 7 p.m. regional finals. The winner advancesto the Lake Geneva Badger Sectional.
ELKHORN 3, KETTLE MORAINE 1
Kettle Moraine 18 18 25 17
Elkhorn 25 25 20 25
Leaders: Aces—Kristy Oglesby (E). Kills—Oglesby (E) 15. Digs—Carly Larsen (E) 13, Marley Zwiebel (E) 13. Assists—Larsen (E) 27.
-- Tremper 3, Badger 0—Carley Gross had eight kills and five blocks to lead Kenosha Tremper sweep of Lake Geneva Badger in the Division 1 semifinals.
Tremper (20-21) host crosstown rival Kenosha Bradford at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Trojans defeated Bradford in the only regular-season meeting between the two teams.
TREMPER 3, BADGER 0
Lake Geneva Badger 7 8 15
Kenosha Tremper 25 25 25
Leaders: Aces—Emily Kmic (KT) 6. Kills—Carley Gross (KT) 8. Digs—Leah Perri (KT) 11. Assists—Nicole Schultz13 KIT).
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