October 9, 2019 at 1:32 p.m.
Hodag volleyball fades against Lakeland, falls in four sets
Hodag volleyball fades against Lakeland, falls in four sets
The first set brought promise but the Hodags could not maintain the momentum and fell to the T-Birds in four sets at the LUHS fieldhouse.
Rhinelander took the first set 25-21, but Lakeland won the last three 25-16, 25-19, 25-13.
"This is one of those teams we can definitely compete with," coach Brianna Scheuermann said. "The last conference tournament we took them to five (sets) and only lost (the fifth set) by two. It was definitely frustrating that we didn't take them to five to just repay that beat that they gave us."
Rhinelander's inability to maintain momentum and string together long runs was the difference in the final three sets, according to Scheuermann. Rhinelander never had a run of more than four points in the match.
"I think, at certain times, our passing fell apart, or we'd just make a mental error and hit it into the net," she said. "I think, later on in the match, our serve percentage got a little bad. We'd get down two, three, four points and we just couldn't get back up."
The Hodags capitalized on some Lakeland tentativeness late in the first set. Trailing 20-19, the Hodags won five of the final six points - all five were a result of Lakeland errors.
"Our passing was spot on. We were able to get good sets up and we were able to hit the ball," Scheuermann said of the first set. "They were really communicating really well. They were just moving and passing the ball. You can't ask for much more than that. When they're doing that, everything is flowing a lot better."
A six-point run for Lakeland in the middle of the second set, including a pair of service aces by Abby Parris, proved to be the difference. That took a one-point game and made it 18-11 Lakeland. The teams traded sideouts the rest of the way as Lakeland squared the match at a game apiece.
Rhinelander played from behind the majority of the third set, but back-to-back kills by Ariel Pauer brought the Hodags within one at 20-19. Parris answered with an attack and kill from the back row, and the Hodags did not score a point the remainder of the set.
Rhinelander jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth set, but Lakeland answered with a six-point run and did not trail after that. The Hodags got to within 18-13 before surrendering the final seven points of the match.
"Once we started making those errors everyone, in their mental state, got a little iffy," Scheuermann said. "It would be one shanked pass, or a set that wasn't close to the net and we'd just hit it into the block or not hit it over the net at all. I think when we started not working together as a whole team, things started not clicking and things started falling apart a little bit."
Cynthia Beavers had seven kills, nine digs and two blocks to lead Rhinelander. Kahlie Arneson chipped in five kills and Ava Lamers added four. Olivia TerBeest had 17 assists. Hannah Worachek added eight digs and a pair of service aces.
Ashley Marquardt had eight kills, 16 assists and three aces for Lakeland. Camille Quade added seven kills and eight digs while Parris had nine digs and three aces.
Rhinelander (1-23, 0-8 Great Northern) returns to Lakeland Saturday for the second leg of the GNC tournament. The Hodags will face Medford, Antigo and Mosinee.
"We have three practice to get ready to play three tough teams - Antigo, Medford and Mosinee - on Saturday. If we clean up our defense, get our passing, everything will flow good from there," Scheuermann said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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