Pioneers sweep Warriors
VOLLEYBALL
Brainerd volleyball coach Jared Diem thought the Warriors' program might have turned the corner by finishing third in the Pierz tournament last weekend.
The Warriors won three matches to reach eight wins, four more than all of last year, and played in the gold division with the top teams.
But Diem thought the Warriors took a step back in Monday's 3-0 loss to the Pierz Pioneers. Brainerd had 12 service errors and many unforced errors and watched Pierz pound eight ace serves.
"Tonight it looked just like selfish volleyball," Diem said. "The girls were kind of looking at the other girls, looking for who to step up. The bench was silent, the girls weren't getting low on their passing, the girls weren't moving their feet, the girls weren't ready in their defensive position.
Brainerd Warriors Alanna Hansen (4) and Sydnie Mauch tipped the ball toward Pierz's Sammi Lucking (15) during their match Monday at Brainerd High School. The Warriors lost to the Pioneers 3-0. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls» Purchase reprints of this photo.
"This is like Volleyball 101, like things that are taught at the early levels and we weren't doing them."
The Pioneers were led offensively by Sammi Lucking, who slammed 14 of her team's 29 kills. She also had three of her team's nine blocks.
Miranda Przybilla and Hannah Groves each had 10 digs and Sam Herold added nine of the Pioneers' 47.
Pierz pounded eight ace serves, five straight by Lindsay Monson in the third game.
"I think we stayed pretty focused," Pierz coach Wally Brown said. "And, when we needed to, we were able to pick up the ball, get it to the right person and get the ball down when we needed to."
The victory improved Pierz to 20-6 overall.
"If we peak at the right time we're going to make some noise," Brown said. "We've got a shot at the Xcel (Energy Center in St. Paul) if we peak at the right time."
Pierz 3, Warriors 0
The key: The Pioneers had 29 kills and eight ace serves.
Overall: Brd 8-11, Prz 20-6
Next: Brainerd at Sauk Rapids 7 p.m. Tuesday; Pierz at Maple Lake 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
After losing the first game 25-16, the Warriors led 3-2 and 10-9 in the second before Pierz seized a 16-15 edge. Twice, Brainerd pulled within a point before Pierz prevailed.
Brainerd tied the final game four times before the Pioneers grabbed a 10-9 lead. The Warriors climbed within 16-15, but Pierz wouldn't surrender.
"We dig ourselves such a big hole," Diem said, "then just when we gain some momentum we have a service error, a hitting error, or 100 percent it's a talking error on our team. My girls don't talk.
"The Pierz girls were chatting the entire game, they know where the ball is, they protect the ball better. It's something I stress at every practice, every huddle and it's still not happening."
Sydnie Mauch had six kills and 6.5 blocks for Brainerd. Alice Widmark added six kills and two blocks and Ally Mueller had eight kills and 2.5 blocks.
"Sydnie is starting to play really well in the front row," Diem said. "She's reaching for balls, not making hitting errors. Ally still has trouble keeping out of the net, but overall she's making good choices in the front row.
"Hallsey seemed to pass really well today on serve receive, but we had 12 service errors. Having service errors late in the game, that just is demoralizing to a team."
Pierz 25 25 25
Brainerd 16 21 19
Brainerd statistics
Hallsey Olson 8 digs, 1 kill, 1 set assist
Carlie Sweet 2 digs, 2 kills, .5 blocks
Alanna Hansen 5 digs, 2 kills, 1.5 blocks, 18 set assists
Trisha Kramer 5 digs, 1 kill, 1 ace serve, .5 block
Sydnie Mauch 6 kills, 6.5 blocks
Alice Widmark 7 digs, 6 kills, 1 ace, 2 blocks
MiKinzie Hradsky 3 digs, 1 ace
Tess Rahto 1 dig, 1 kill, 2.5 blocks
Allison Mueller 2 digs, 8 kills, 1 ace, 2.5 blocks
Pierz statistics
Miranda Przybilla 10 digs
Amber Preimesberger 3 kills, 2 blocks, 1 dig
Lindsay Monson 4 kills, 2 blocks, 5 aces
Sam Herold 9 digs
Hannah Groves 2 kills, 10 digs
Katelyn Fuhrman 1 kill, 1 set assist, 1 ace, 7 digs
Kelsey Meyer 2 blocks, 26 set assists, 1 ace, 7 digs
Emily Weber 3 kills, 1 dig
Erika Broschofsky 2 kills
Sammi Lucking 14 kills, 3 blocks, 1 ace, 2 digs
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.