12:54 AM Friday 13 September 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Volleyball – High School – Girls – Valparaiso @ LaPorte Unlimited Permission to Reprint in whole on in part Coach Michael G. Mathis “Valpo’s Team Green makes the Scene with a Win at LaPorte” LaPorte, Indiana – Valpo’s Team Green won over the hometown Slicers in a tough conference battle 25-11, 15-25, 25-20, 25-15 Thursday night… Valpo’s awesome 6’1” left handed setter Monroe Olsen was the big difference for the Vikings…. This freshman jump setting phenom is one of the best at her position in the United States and appears destined to play for one of the top Universities in the United States when her high school days are done… Tonight at the Slicer gym, Olsen started the match by running a 5-1 attack, setting both in front row and in the back row. With the Vikes struggling In the 2nd game, 6’1” exciting sophomore setter Dani Suiter took over, as former setter and Head Coach Katie Lenard made the call… LaPorte countered with twin setters in a 6-2 attack, powered by senior Clair Marshall and junior McKenzie Haite… The 6-2 means the setter comes out of the back row, giving her 3 front row hitting options at all times… Normally, the right back player makes a lot of defensive plays, meaning the setter must be a strong defender… LaPorte’s back row setters playing defense were outstanding… Dunes Volleyball Club Founder Rick Ashmore has to be ecstatic as these four outstanding setters, along with most of the other prime timers prep for his club in the off season… ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It took Team Green just 1 minute to announce their presence with a 5-0 lead, the last being a straight down LA lineshot by senior Noelle Eveland and force a LaPorte TO… MA Santana announced her presence with 3 of the next 5 points for LaPorte… But 6’1” junior Timi Stiscak picked up one as did the other MA 6’2” junior Annie Clark, with 6 foot junior 3 year starter Kate Bontrager getting another… Score: Valpo 8-5. Another 6 footer, OPP Morgan Mikenas, scored with a tip to middle 10 foot line, while Stiscak used the one foot takeoff (slide) behind the setter for another K, and K Bontrager picked up a solo block. Valpo 11-5… LaPorte goes on a run of 4 as V opens the door with a HE, LP MA Michie tips to 2 zone or right front, V tip error, LP Haite ace… Valpo 11-9… Valpo stomps on the gas with 8 in a row: Setter/hitter Marshall appears to rescue the Slicers after 3 in a row, but the touch is not picked up… LP gives away 7 more on serving, hitting and passing errors… Valpo 19-9. Hopelessly behind, the home team picks up a pair while the visitors score 6: Game over. Valpo 25-9 in 15 minutes… --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Challenged by Coach Erin Parker to play with “mental toughness”, the Slicers respond but so does Valpo. Kill for kill, now we’re talking… LP’s Santana picks up 2 in the first 5 but so does Valpo’s K. Bontrager… Tie score 5… Valpo is not invincible as Vikes account for 5 errors while LP Santana picks up a K; Bayli Lebo ace; high flying junior Shaina Perry picks up 3 Ks… LP 12-12… LP SE; LP HE; Now 3 in a row for the Slicers (Marshall SB; Santana SB; V SE) before the turning point as LB junior defender Kaylene Norris digs 2 rockets before a LP K… LP 22-13 LP needs 3 and gets them on a Santana MA K; Valpo HE; scramble… LP 25-15 in 21 minutes… --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pivotal game 3 starts with 5 ties in the first 6 points… Now, it’s V for 3 in a row with freshman R Bontrager picking up a solo, while LP struggles on the other side of the net… V 9-6… LP picks up a pair on V errors; V tip K. V 10-8… Valpo picks up 1 on a tip K, but thanks LP for 3 more on Slicer errors… V 14-8… LP Santana again with a MA K and a SB, while Haite and Lebo both score Ks… V 15-12… LP SE followed by 2 LP points (Lebo K; Lebo tip K; V HE)… V 16-15… SHOWTIME LP SE; LP scramble error; L SE… V 19-15… Michie LP K; back to backers for R Bontrager… V 21-16… 2 LP points (Michie tip K; Perry BL) bring the Slicers within 3… V 21-18… Valpo answers (R Bontrager RS K; LP HE; 2 LS Ks by Eveland)… V 25-20 IN 22 minutes… ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LP needs the 4th game to extend the match, and is poised to take the lead at tie score 6… V K (Clark); LP K (Lebo)… LP 8-7… Not for long… LP miscommunication leads to tie score 8… LP Perry picks up a K, but V answers with 2 points (Stiscak; R Bontrager)… LP edges up 11-10 on 2 V errors… Lookout: LP commits 4 errors in a row followed by a V ace… V 15-11… If you are LP, this is not the place to trade points…but it happens… V 18-14… LP running out of room: LP SE; LP HE… V 20-14… 2 V errors give the Slicers hope… V 20-16… Valpo surges (R. Bontrager K; R. Bontrager K; Sticsak tip K; LP HE; Clark ace)… V 25-17 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Courtside Analysis suggested both teams struggled with their blocking plan. At the collegiate level, the coach’s give thumb up to release the middle blocker to assist on who they think will be the main attacker, leaving the 2nd attacker with a one on one blocking assignment… Thumb down to the MB means stay with the middle until you know the ball is going elsewhere… Collegiate teams have the advantage of watching reams of video in order to determine which attacker will get the majority of sets…. High school players don’t have the luxury of such regular video sessions, so they are forced to “react block” or “commit block”. Fans always track who spikes the ball, but coaches track who can serve, pass play team defense and block… Valpo won that battle tonight… ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rumor mill: One wag at courtside indicated that exciting freshman setter Monroe Olsen had already made a college commitment… The family denied the rumor but there will be many more before this freshman is done… She attended the prestigious Sports Performance Club’s setter’s camp this past summer, and has been actively recruited to change volleyball clubs in the January through June season… Difference Maker: 6’1” Valpo Freshman Rachel Bontrager (7) trailed her junior 6’0” sister Kate (10) in the kills department, Bontrager the younger seemed to come up with a slam when it most counted… Freshman Power: LaPorte has started 3 freshman the whole season, with left sider Bayli Lebo and middles, Brandi Michie and Natalie Santana… MA Santana was credited with just 12 kills on 36 hitting attempts with just 2 errors in a phenomenal display of big time talent... The Slicers went to unflappable Santana over and over again, sometime during the same rally… One courtside observer was heard to say: “Set her till her arm falls off.” Comings and goings: LaPorte and Eastern Michigan grad Ashley Cudney Rinker showed up for the match to watch her cousin Natalie Santana… Rinker, a star in her time, teaches 4th grade at South Central School, and serves as the Satellite Head Coach… ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Valpo Head Coach Katie Lenard who graduated from LPHS and lives in LaPorte commented after the game: “Everyone added something…this is a game I always look forward to…LaPorte is super scrappy.” LaPorte Head Coach Erin Parker was originally into basketball, but working in the LaPorte coaching system, Coach Lenard encouraged Parker to stay with the white ball sport…. Parker is super enthusiastic about her school and her job… She was all positives after the well contested match… “Our tallest player is 5’9” so we have to play smart…Santana was unbelievable tonight…: Asked who else impressed her, Coach Parker replied: “My two setters…Plank and Norris were great on defense…We need to make sure that one point doesn’t turn into 4.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stats Valpo (8-5; 5-0) LaPorte (8-3; 4-1) Kills Eveland 11 Santana 12 Stiscak 10 Lebo 8 K Bontrager 10 Perry 5 R Bontrager 7 Michie 5 Hitting Percentage Stiscak 550% Assists Olsen 25 Haite 19 Marshall 14 Digs Walls (Lib) 16 Plank (Lib) 26 Eveland 13 Marshall 19 K Bontrager 9 Lebo 16 Mack 10 Chuck Norris 15 Blocks Perry 4 Santana 3 + 1 assist
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 06:08:15 +0000
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