Defending champs hang on to title
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
One of the most highly anticipated matches of the year came to fruition Saturday on the biggest stage of them all.
And the East Troy volleyball team nearly staked its claim to its second Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division-2 state championship in three years.
But it just wasn’t meant to be.
Defending state champion Waukesha Catholic Memorial had a lot to say about that, as the Crusaders held off the Trojans for a tough 21-25, 25-17, 26-24, 25-18 win at the Resch Center, Green Bay.
The loss ended the Trojans’ season at 32-10 overall.
East Troy coach Jeremy Weis said he had a fairly simple – yet philosophical – message for his team after the match.
“I talked to them (afterward) about all of the life lessons that we have talked about all season long,” he said.
“I reminded them that they need to look at the big picture here and to be proud of what this group accomplished.”
In a tight match between the No. 1 and 2 ranked teams in the state, the difference between winning and losing was a small one, Weis said.
“I felt that it came down to which team could make more plays,” he said. “It was a hard-fought match with lots of great shots being made and great digs. They just had more players making plays at the right time.”
The match may have turned in Game 3.
East Troy was in position for a 2-1 lead when took a 24-21 lead on a kill by Natalee Bearce.
But with senior M.E. Dodge, who this week was named first team, all state, in the back row, the Crusaders took advantage.
Catholic Memorial reeled off five straight point to pull out the third game and flip the momentum in its favor.
“Looking back, that was a huge moment in the match,” Weis said. “We had them and just couldn’t put them away.
“If we could have finished that set the way we wanted, things would have been completely different.”
The Crusaders used the win in the third game to take control in the fourth and put its second straight state title and sixth overall in the bank.
Early on, the Trojans were the team in control, as they built an 11-4 lead in the opening set before the Crusaders responded.
Catholic Memorial eventually trimmed the deficit to 17-15 before back-to-back kills by Dodge and a solo block by Bearce. Another kill by Dodge, who had 16 in the match, that landed on the sideline and a diving save by Carly Atchison from the back row gave the Trojans the four-point win.
“We had a great game plan,” Weis said. “We knew what they were doing well and what they would do if it wasn’t working. Those things allowed us to get out to the quick start.”
But as great programs do, Catholic Memorial responded in the second game to tie the match at 1-1. The Crusaders iced the win on an East Troy serving error.
“Catholic Memorial went more to their middles (in the second game),” Weis said. “We knew they would that again this time, we just couldn’t find the right timing on the block to shut that down. Running their middles allowed them to do more things offensively.”
For the match, Dodge finished with 19 digs to go with her 16 ills, followed by Brianna Scuric with nine kills and seven digs; Katrina Santos with eight kills and seven assisted blocks; Bearce with five kills; and Chloe Jakscht with four kills, 31 assists and 15 digs.
Weis thanked his senior class, who put together four solid years – including one state title and now one runner up – on their resume.
“The seniors were a huge part of what this program was built on,” he said. “Those girls were there in the beginning when East Troy was first formed.
“They have been pouring their heart and souls into volleyball for a long time. They will all be truly missed. They are more than just volleyball players to me.”
And for the returning players and the new girls who will enter the program next fall, Weis said their task is clear.
They need to keep the tradition alive.
“The returning girls have the knowledge of what it takes to stay at this high a level,” Weis said. “Now they have to ask themselves if they are still willing to put in the time and effort needed for this program to be one of the best in the state.”
Results of All-Rock Valley Conference voting and a statistical wrap up of the season will run next week.
