Panthers emerge with five-set win over Bellevue

     It was the kind of get-over-the-hump win the Monticello High School volleyball team was looking for.

     The Panthers have had many close matches this season, and have found themselves on the short end a few times.

     But on Sept. 25 at MHS, the Panthers found themselves in the closest of matches against Bellevue, and scored a 15-13 win in the fifth and deciding set to come away with the win. It was the first River Valley Conference win of the season for Monticello (1-6, 11-18).

     “I think the biggest difference is trusting one another and having confidence in themselves,” Monticello coach Stacie Breitbach said. “We increased our communication, which increases our energy and our level of play.”

     There was no shortage of energy in the MHS gym Tuesday, with the regular raucous student section chanting encouragement, the Panthers bounced back from a 20-25 first set loss to win 25-18, 25-20 and take a two sets to one lead.

     Monticello led the second set 19-16 and 22-18 before scoring the final three points – two of them on aces by Jaelynn Kraus.

     The Panthers led by as much as seven in the third set, 21-14, then fought off a Bellevue rally. The Comets pulled to within 23-20 before Monticello scored the last two points, a kill by Jordan Kuper – one of her 31 kills on the night – and a Bellevue error.

     Bellevue tied the match again by winning the fourth set, with Monticello losing 18-25, setting up the up-to-15 deciding set.

     The Panthers led for most of that one, but never by more than four. A kill by Kuper put the Panthers ahead 14-10. Bellevue scored the next three points, but Kuper put the match away with a tip that the Comets couldn’t reach.

     “We controlled the ball on our side and were able to run our offense,” Breitbach said. “Our serve receive was good. Also, our blockers did a nice job of getting touches on the ball or channeling the ball to our defenders.”

     Monticello had 16 blocks in the match, including seven by Kuper. Four players posted double-digit digs: Kraus with 13, Tori McDonald with 12, Mallory Steiner and Kuper with 11 apiece.

     McDonald posted 21 sets, and Steiner had 17. McDonald served 19-for-19, and Leah Holub served 17-for-17 with two aces.

     Monticello’s fortunes weren’t as good on a road trip to Camanche Sept. 27. The Indians came into the match ranked seventh in the state in Class 3A, and the Panthers lost in four sets, 15-25, 17-25, 25-22, 11-25.

     Madi Parsons had 25 kills for the 20-3 Indians in the match.

     “She is a very strong player for them, and she elevates their team,” Breitbach said. “They are a solid team.”

     Kuper had 15 kills of her own for the Panthers. Beka Prull and Kraus each had five kills. Steiner had 15 assists, and McDonald added 10.

     “We played strong both nights,” Breitbach said. “We are working on controlling what we can – ball control, serving, defending the net, and offensive decision-making – to be more successful.”

     The Panthers have just one regular season match left, Oct. 4 at Iowa City Regina. The conference tournament will be Oct. 9 and 11 at various sites, to be determined.

Sept. 25

Monticello 3, Bellevue 2

MONTICELLO                            Kl    Bl  Dg    Ac

Jaelynn Kraus                              4      1   13      1

Jordan Kuper                              31     7   11      1

Tori McDonald                              2      3   12      0

Carly Hayen                                 3      3      0      0

Sophie Hodge                              0      0      8      0

Beka Prull                                     3      1      3      0

Marissa McNally                           3      1      1      0

Mallory Steiner                              1      0    11     0

Lainey Fellinger                            0      0      1      0

Clara Finger                                  0      0      4      0

Leah Holub                                    0      0      2      2

Megan James                                0      0      0      0

Jordan Lorenzen                           0      0      0      0

Kenna Melchert                             0      0      0      0

Totals                                           47    16    66     4

Assists – McDonald 21, Steiner 17, Hodge

3, Kuper 2, Kraus 1, McNally 1.

Serving leaders – McDonald 19-19, Holub

17-17, Steiner 15-16.

Set scores

Bellevue                       25   18   20   25   13

Monticello                     20   25   25   18   15

Sept. 27

Camanche 3, Monticello 1

MONTICELLO                            Kl    Bl    Dg   Ac

Jaelynn Kraus                              5      1      6      0

Jordan Kuper                              15     1      8      3

Tori McDonald                              1      0      2      1

Carly Hayen                                 4      0      1      0

Sophie Hodge                              0      0      3      1

Beka Prull                                     5      3      3      2

Mallory Steiner                              1      0      3      0

Clara Finger                                  0      0      4      0

Marissa McNally                            0      0      2      0

Jordan Lorenzen                           0      1      0      0

Lainey Fellinger                            0      0      0      0

Totals                                          31     6     32     7

Assists – Steiner 15, McDonald 10, Kuper 2,

Finger 1, Kraus 1, Prull 1.

Serving leaders – McDonald 14-15, Kraus

10-11, Kuper 10-11, Hodge 8-9.

Set scores

Monticello                     15   17   25   11

Camanche                    25   25   22   25