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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – Coming off a grueling tournament on Saturday in which it played five matches, the Columbus Catholic volleyball team leaped right back into action with a nonconference match against Wisconsin Rapids Assumption.
The Dons didn’t seem to mind having only one day of rest as they peppered Assumption time and again with a crisp offense and rolled to a 3-0 win at Columbus Catholic High School.
Columbus Catholic won 25-14, 25-13, 25-15, and never trailed after going up 7-6 in the first set.
“Over the weekend we learned how to play together as a team, how to trust one another, and how to communicate more and be louder on the court,” Columbus coach Kat Egle said. “Tonight, that was their challenge, to go out there and get louder, and bring what we had last weekend here.”
Assumption led 6-5 early in the first set before the Dons turned it up.
A kill by Emmalee Jicinsky tied the match and the Dons scored six of the next eight points to take control.
Two kills by Jicinsky and another from Jessica Jakopin were key in a 7-2 run to end the first game for the Dons.
Columbus took a 9-3 lead in the second set as Jakopin had three kills and Briana Post had a service ace.
After the Royals closed to within 9-6 on an ace by Abby Ashbeck and a kill from Calli Statz, the Dons ran off five points in a row and were never threatened.
The Dons again closed with a 7-2 run, which included two kills from Dorci Walker, and won 25-13.
“We’re a young team, just one starter is back from last year, so having this new group and seeing them improve every week is pretty fun,” Egle said.
In the final set, Columbus jumped on Assumption to take a 10-5 lead as Jakopin had three more kills.
Assumption never got closer than that as Walker had three kills and Ashley Herman had two as the Dons won 25-15 to close out the victory.
Walker finished with 11 kills and 15 digs, and Jakopin had nine kills and two blocks for the Dons. Jicinsky added six kills and 11 digs, and Meghan Kibbel had 25 assists and 11 digs as well in the win.
Emily Bohn and Statz each finished with five kills to lead the Royals.
“We’re looking for our hitters to work on their transitioning out, hitting new spots, and not hitting those same spots over and over again,” Egle said.
Columbus Catholic returns to Cloverbelt Conference East Division action Thursday at Neillsville.