Muskego nets return state journey

Muskego - Coming off back-to-back appearances in the WIAA Division 1 state title match and a slew of state appearances over the past decade, the sectional final must seem like old hat for the Muskego girls volleyball program.

The Warriors' celebration Saturday showed that clinching a trip to state was still meaningful, even if the performance looked like a team completely undaunted by the big stage. The Warriors dismissed West Allis Hale in the sectional final, 25-15, 25-19, 25-15.

"It never gets old," said Mary O'Connor, who played in last year's state championship match and finished with a team-high 10 kills against the Huskies. "We were together for five hours earlier today, and it was to mentally prepare for this big match. We knew it was going to be a tough match."

Once Muskego grabbed a hold with a 15-5 lead in the opening set, the top-seeded Warriors looked fully prepared. The Warriors will make the familiar voyage to the Resch Center in Green Bay with a Division 1 quarterfinal match at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, meeting Fond du Lac.

"We've had our struggles all year," Muskego coach Karen Anderson said. "We've been an up and down team and it was just getting to the point where I just don't know if I'll be able to pull them out of this. Two weeks ago, all of a sudden, things started to click. We're playing the best we've played all year right now, by a long shot. I didn't need to worry about peaking too soon."

A Southeast Conference tournament title represented a turning point for Muskego.

"We just couldn't finish," said libero Chelsea Lallemont, who racked up 18 digs in a standout performance at home Saturday. "We went to the Illinois tournament and did just awful, and we got back and said, 'OK, we were not doing this (falling apart). We want to go to state, this is our dream.' The conference tournament, we clicked, but we haven't peaked yet."

Hale was led by Erin Barbeau, who finished with nine kills. Hale, seeded third, outlasted both Greater Metro Conference foes that finished ahead of it in the regular season.

"We were really fortunate this year because we had a lot of seniors this year who gave good leadership," coach Angie Hardwick said. "Muskego is obviously a very good team. They've got size. They were able to contain us with the block and never let us get into an offense."

Laura Felker added seven kills and Kayla Bluemel had six for the Warriors.

"It's a team, for sure, that has to do it by committee," Anderson said. "We have a lot of girls who have really stepped up."

Sectional semifinal

The Warriors overcame some early struggles in their match against Greenfield on Oct. 27 but eventually prevailed, 20-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-18.

The Hustlin' Hawks, playing before their home fans, bolted to a 7-0 lead in the first game, forcing Anderson into an early timeout.

Muskego rallied and used an 8-1 run to gain a 16-14 advantage, but the Hawks answered with six straight points for a 20-16 edge and held on from there.

"We got in a big hole really early," Anderson said. "I think the kids were super-nervous, and their nerves got the best of them. Credit Greenfield, because (the Hawks) played very well. They took advantage of all the mistakes we made, which were many, and kept rolling with it."

Muskego took control of the second game, racing to a 19-5 lead as its front line of O'Connor, Kaitlyn Hein and Felker started to dominate proceedings.

The Warriors then seized a 9-1 lead in the third contest, but this time, Greenfield came back and closed within 23-20. Felker and Hein closed the game with kills.

The fourth game went back and forth until Muskego tallied eight straight points to go up 23-16 and finally clinch the match.

"They (the Hawks) really hung in there, even when we had big leads on them in the second and third games," Anderson said. "They never quit. The thing I'm really proud of is how our girls hung in there and played well after such a bad first game. They played even stronger, and that was great."

O'Connor, who finished with 15 kills, said, "We just really wanted it and fought hard so we could pull it off and get back to state."

Michelle Fugarino tallied 10 digs and four aces, while Bianca Borga had 27 assists and Jordan Wachowiak 1½ blocks.

STATE SCHEDULE

QUARTERFINALS

THURSDAY, NOV. 3

4:30 p.m.: Eau Claire North (34-2) vs. Burlington (35-9); De Pere (28-14) vs. Watertown (37-8)

7:30 p.m.: Verona (42-0) vs. DSHA (34-14); Fond du Lac (35-12) vs. Muskego (26-11)

FRIDAY, NOV. 4

7 p.m.: semifinals

SATURDAY, NOV. 5

5:30 p.m.: championship match