September 16, 2021 at 7:04 a.m.
Hodag volleyball swept by Northland Pines
Hodag volleyball swept by Northland Pines
Tied at 13 in the first set, the Hodags surrendered a 7-0 run and never seemed to recover as they fell in straight sets to the Eagles at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium.
Rhinelander tied it in the first after back-to-back Addi DeMeyer aces, but an attack into the net was the first of four straight point-losing errors for the Hodags as Pines pushed the lead to 20-13 and eventually took the first set 25-16.
The Eagles completed the sweep with wins of 25-12 and 25-13 in the second and third sets.
"We hung with them that first set and, I don't know, just couldn't come back from a tough service run," Rhinelander coach Dan Wolter said. "We started off the first set pretty well, getting the ball into system and playing well. The big question was our passing, if it would hold and it did not. I don't know what the ace totals were again on us, but we had way too many freeballs the whole game. Each set had way too many freeballs. When you're always playing defense and on your heels, it's going to be tough, especially with a good ball control team like Pines."
The funk carried over to the second set as Pines got the first six points of the set and was never challenged. Things were more competitive in the third set as Rhinelander took a brief 3-2 lead and was within three at 12-9 midway through the set. But Pines answered with a. 6-0 run on Sami Huelskamp's serve and never looked back. The Eagles got a pair of kills from Maleea Eggleston to go up 22-13 before Paris Croker served three straight aces to end the match.
The Hodags allowed seven aces in the match. After not allowing any in the first set, they gave up three second in the and four in the third.
"They had a good float serve on us and we just couldn't handle it," Wolter said. "It's something we work on every practice and every week we just start making it turn over into the games."
The Hodags were able to get to a handful of swings by Pines. Allie Dornfeld recorded three solo block kills along with one block assist while Ariel Pauer had a block solo and an assist. But Pines countered with the short game, getting six tip kills on Rhinelander in the match.
"We had a handful of blocks and I think that helps, if you're getting touches and a hand on their swing, they're going to do something different to score points. We just didn't read it properly and couldn't get it back up," Wolter said.
Pauer, who was second for Rhinelander in conference play in kills last season, was eligible and played for the first time this season on Tuesday. She did not record a kill on four attempts with three errors, but Wolter said she will help the team - especially up front - down the stretch.
"She can definitely hold down our middle for us and she is a big block in there," he said. "Hopefully we get used to playing around her and we can start putting pieces together and start getting more swings and opening up the outsides for everybody else."
Brynn Brzycki led Rhinelander with three kills on Tuesday. DeMeyer had four assists and three aces while Ava Lamers chipped in nine digs.
Rhinelander (3-10, 0-3 Great Northern) will face Antigo and Tomahawk Saturday in the first round of the Great Northern Conference tournament in Medford.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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