Heights spikers shine at Lodi Invite

This is how championship matches should be. Tight. Loud. Dramatic. The battle between Wisconsin Heights’ girls volleyball team and McFarland for the title at the Lodi Invite Saturday had all of the above. And even though the Spartans prevailed, 28-26, 25-27, 17-15, the Vanguards knew there was no shame in second on this day. “Everyone was on their game and doing a great job of picking each other up if they made an error,” Heights coach Kala O’Connell said. “The noise level in the gym during the match against McFarland was so loud and the energy was great. Although it didn’t end in our favor, it’s how a championship game should be played.” Heights rolled through its first four matches of the day and stormed into the title game. In the first set, Heights built leads of 20-18, 22-20 and 24-21. But a series of unforced errors helped McFarland reclaim a 25-24 advantage. Heights tied things at both 25-25 and 26-all, before McFarland rolled off the next two points and took the first set, 28-26. Heights answered back in the second set. McFarland built a 20-14 lead when Ashlee Adler served five straight points to pull the Vanguards within 20-19. Kylee Doherty’s serving helped Heights pull even, 23-23. Then with the set tied, 25-25, Jada Wood ripped off two straight service points to help Heights even the match. In the third set, McFarland took an early 5-1 lead and still held a 10-6 advantage. But the Vanguards battled back to tie the set, 10-10. Heights took a 12-11 lead and still held a 15-14 advantage. But the Spartans scored the next three points to pull out a dramatic win. “It was a tough loss, but a good game,” O’Connell said. “The girls played so well and didn’t give up. Even when we were pretty far behind in the third set they kept fighting. “It might have had something to do with the deal I made with them that would give them a day off of practice if they won the tournament, but they also knew the win would be good for our record with the seeding meeting coming up. We did have quite a few service errors throughout the day, but we also had a ton of aces.” Adler finished the match with 10 kills, 10 digs and five aces, while Wood had 18 assists, 10 digs, five kills and three aces, Kelsi Handel had nine digs, three kills, three assists and two blocks, Raegan Doherty had six kills, three digs and two blocks, Kylee Doherty had 11 digs, four kills, two aces and two assists, Riley Lynch had two blocks and Emily VanRiper had four digs. Heights began the Lodi Invite with a 25-21, 25-23 win over Richland Center. Adler led the Vanguards with 11 digs and eight kills, while Wood had 17 assists and seven digs. Handel had eight digs, three kills, three blocks and two aces, Raegan Doherty had nine digs, four kills and two blocks, Kylee Doherty had four aces, six kills, two blocks and four digs, and VanRiper had seven digs. The Vanguards then rolled past Markesan, 25-19, 25-11. Adler had eight kills and five digs, while Handel had eight kills and four digs. Wood had 18 assists, five aces, two kills and two digs, Raegan Doherty had five kills and three digs, and Kylee Doherty had two aces, three kills and 11 digs. Heights then toppled Lodi, 25-17, 25-16. Adler had 11 aces, five kills and two digs, while Handel had eight kills, two blocks and three digs. Wood had 15 assists and eight digs, Raegan Doherty had three kills, Kylee Doherty had five digs and Van Riper added four digs. Heights then defeated rival Cuba City, 25-17, 25-21. Adler led the way with 14 digs, 13 kills and two aces and Wood had 22 assists and five digs. Handel had 12 digs and four blocks, Raegan Doherty had five kills and four digs, Kylee Doherty had seven digs and five kills, Lynch had two kills and Van Riper had five digs. “We were happy to have gone undefeated so far in the day when we got to McFarland in the championships,” O’Connell said. “We knew they would be tough, but we were playing really well the whole day.” Heights also defeated New Glarus, 25-12, 25-12, 26-28, 25-17, last Tuesday. Adler led the way with 12 kills, nine digs and six aces, while Handel had six kills, six digs and two blocks. Wood had 33 assists, nine aces and seven digs, with Raegan Doherty had 13 digs, 12 kills, three assists and three aces. Kylee Doherty had 13 kills, 13 digs and three aces, Lynch had two kills, Van Riper had two aces and six digs, and Daryn Schaefer had two assists. “It was encouraging to see them bounce back and take care of business,” O’Connell said.