By Daniel Schoettler
Sports Correspondent
The Whitewater High School volleyball team saw its season end in the second round of WIAA playoff actions last week.
After a win over Columbus, the Whippets’ season ended in straight sets against perennial power East Troy (25-19, 25-21, 25-16) to finish 16-24 overall.
Palmyra-Eagle and Columbus were tied five times in the first set. The last occurred at 19-all, but the Whippets scored six of the last seven points, including two Kiyla Kopecky aces, to win 25-20.
The second set proved just as competitive as the foes battled to 12 ties. The Whippets forced extra time after being down 23-20 to win the set, 27-25. Emme Bullis turned in a big set with six kills.
“I am so proud that in the first two sets that they finished,” head coach Kathy Bullis said. “Before they just would have caved, but they stayed strong and played another point, set or match and finished.”
In the third set, Cora Linos, Kacie Carollo and Bullis contributed kills despite falling 25-23. In the fourth set, the Whippets raced to a 15-6 lead and held on to win 25-22.
“It was disappointing that we didn’t maintain and we didn’t keep pushing as our serve receive fell apart a little bit,” Bullis said. “They held their composure and were able to win the fourth one.”
Sophomores Emme Bullis and Carollo led the way in kills with 16 and 12, respectively. Senior Anna Riemer led the way in digs with 25, while Bullis added 19 and senior Jocelin Beecroft chipped in 14.
In the first set against East Troy, Riemer, Bullis, Carollo and senior Maddie Brown contributed kills early before the Trojans pulled out to a 16-9 lead before winning the set 25-19.
In the second set, Riemer, Brown and Kopecky registered aces in the 25-21 defeat before Whitewater dropped the finale, 25-16.
“I was impressed with our resiliency because the girls really worked hard and battled as we switched lineups,” Bullis said.
Riemer led the way against East Troy with four kills and 18 service receptions, while Catherine Yang had 20 digs.
“I thought it was really a good season and that we worked really good together as a team,” senior Anna Riemer said. “It definitely had ups and downs, but it is good to come together.”
Carollo led the team in kills this season with 167, while Riemer topped the team in attacks with 608. Yang led the way in service aces with 66, while Brown followed with 59.
“We had a lot of versatile players on our team as we were always switching up lineups,” senior Yang said. “Everybody gave their 110 percent even if they weren’t in the right position. We still played together as a team.”
Carollo also led the team in total blocks with 39, while Kopecky had 35 and Linos 33.
Whitewater ended 4-6 in the Rock Valley Conference.
