By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
The preliminaries are in the books, and now it’s time for the East Troy High School girls volleyball team to participate in the main event.
And it’s clear the Trojans are more than ready.
East Troy, last year’s Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 2 state champions, closed out a perfect Rock Valley Conference schedule last week with two more three-set victories.
The Trojans rolled past visiting Edgerton 25-12, 25-14, 25-12 last Thursday, which came on the heels of a 25-10, 25-8, 25-13 victory over visiting Whitewater two nights earlier.
With the two wins, the Trojans closed out the RVC season at 10-0 and improved to 27-7 overall. East Troy entered play this week second in Division 2, according to the latest Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association poll.
“Our play during conference has been pretty good,” East Troy coach Jeremy Weis said. “We know that we will have to step up our play when it comes playoff time.”
Leading the way against Edgerton were M.E. Dodge with 15 kills, 10 digs, four blocks and two aces; Chloe Jakscht with 16 assists; and Jenna Hodges and Clare Glutan with two aces.
Statistical leaders from the Whitewater match were unavailable this week.
Weis said it hasn’t been too difficult to keep his team focused on what’s at stake as the end of the year approached.
“The girls know what is important to us this year,” he said. “We have some pretty big competitors on the team. They make sure that the girls stay focused during practice.”
With the regular-season title now in hand, the Trojans next look to bring home the conference tournament title when they travel to Edgerton Saturday morning.
Jefferson finished second in the North behind the Trojans, followed by McFarland, Edgerton, Evansville and Whitewater.
In the South, Big Foot claimed the regular-season title, followed by Brodhead, Parkview, Clinton, Beloit Turner and Palmyra-Eagle.
Weis knows nothing will be given to his team this weekend – and beyond for that matter.
“The keys to success will be if we can stay focused throughout the day,” he said. “We need to make sure that we are not taking any points off. If we can do that, then it will be a successful day.”
