By Kevin Cunningham
Sports Correspondent
On Sept. 8, the Whitewater High School volleyball team competed against Edgerton at home, but despite the home court advantage, the team lost in three straight sets. Following the Edgerton match, the Whippets competed in the Brodhead Tournament which led to five matches being played on Sept. 10.
The team started off the tournament by facing Albany and ended up winning despite tying the two sets, 1-1 due to having a better combined score. After its first victory, Whitewater then faced Lake Mills and lost both sets.
The Whippets ended up taking second-place in its pool due to the loss, and from there, had an uphill battle in the tournament according to head coach Kathleen Bullis. The team’s next match came against the No. 1 team from the other pool in Brodhead but came out with a victory in three sets, 22-25, 27-25, 15-8.
After defeating the No. 1 seed and host school for the tournament, the Whippets then found themselves in the semifinal match against Belleville. Its first set woes continued, dropping that first set, but then the team fought its way back in the second and third sets, fighting back to compete against Lake Mills again – the team they lost to initially – in the championship.
Against Lake Mills this time around, the Whippets came up short again in two sets, ending the tournament in second-place. Despite not winning the entire tournament, Bullis was optimistic about the entire experience.
“In the championship match Whitewater lost their mental focus and were not able to put the finishing touches on volleys and lost in two sets,” Bullis said. “It is unfortunate the young Whitewater team couldn’t maintain their mental toughness and aggressive play but there was much growth over the course of the tournament. The players learned they need to enter the gym with confidence; they are a strong team and have the ability to finish in the top tier in the conference.
“Whitewater was the only Rock Valley team to make it to the gold bracket. Evansville and Brodhead played in the silver bracket while Turner ended in the bronze bracket.”
Statistically, Anna Riemer and Jen Douglas went back-and-forth leading the team in assists throughout the tournament, and at times, tied in total assists. In the five matches, Riemer totaled 32 assists, while Douglas recorded 23.
In regard to digs, Catherine Yang led the way in every match for Whitewater, totaling 78 in the five matches. Against Belleville, Yang recorded 28 digs alone.
