This story is sponsored by: Valley Communities Credit Union
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Spencer volleyball team has hopes of winning a Cloverbelt Conference East Division title this season and could not afford to start the season 0-2.
The Rockets took care of business early – and often – using a decided height advantage on the front line to down Marshfield Columbus Catholic 3-0 in a Cloverbelt East dual match Thursday at Columbus Catholic High School.
Spencer trailed only once – 1-0 to start the third game – and won the match by scores of 25-19, 25-7, 25-19 to even its Cloverbelt record at 1-1. Columbus falls to 1-1 after a season-opening 3-2 win over Loyal.
Following a hard-fought 3-2 loss to Owen-Withee on Tuesday, in which Spencer lost the final two games, it was important for the Rockets to get off to a good start.
“The girls looked at that 0-1 in the standings, I don’t think they were real happy,” Spencer coach Buff Heller said.
Spencer started out the first game 5-0 and led 14-9 before Columbus made a burst. Kills by Katie Weister and Taylor Weister helped fuel a run that brought the Dons to within one at 14-13.
The Rockets responded. Leading 15-14, the Rockets got a point on a sideout and Courtney Schulz served five straight points, including two aces, to push the lead to 21-14 and regain control.
That momentum continued into Game 2, as the Rockets started off with seven points in a row on the serve of Dani Johnson.
This time Columbus never recovered and gave up two runs of 5-0 to fall 25-7. The Dons did not score an offensive point in the loss.
“We don’t have the height so you just have to be ready to dig,” Columbus coach Jennifer Brock said. “We’re rebuilding and it’s slowly coming. A loss is good too, because it kind of puts things in perspective. A win is nice, but a loss is nice to just keep you grounded.”
Spencer started out strong again in the third game, grabbing a 9-3 lead after three rotations. Columbus later closed to within 17-15 after a kill by Mariah Heiman, but Spencer responded with five straight points that were capped off by kills from Schulz and Tara Matter. Kyleigh Hebert served out the match.
Schulz finished with 15 kills and Kylie Esser had 15 assists for the Rockets.
“With the size and hitting, if we can pass the ball …,” Heller said. “Owen-Withee had four or five girls that can really serve and we struggled passing the ball and couldn’t attack. We could attack tonight.”
Spencer plays at the Auburndale Invitational on Saturday, while Columbus Catholic hosts a tournament.