Redmen get off to tough start in Marawood, go 2-1 at Owen

RIB LAKE VOLLEYBALL

The defending Marawood North champion Athens volleyball team proved to be too much for the Rib Lake Lady Redmen on Tuesday night.

Rib Lake hosted the Blue Jays who, besides going 5-0 in the conference last year, also made a run to state. The Blue Jays return a number of key players this year.

The games went all Athens way most of the night. In game one, Rib Lake kept the score within striking distance early on. But, after Isabella Fallos served an ace to make the score 11-5, Athens scored nine straight points, led by the serving of Jazelle Hartwig, to extend its lead to 20-5. The Blue Jays would go on to win game one 25-9.

The Redmen did bounce back early in game two. The score was tied five different times in the early part of game two. Rib Lake was down 11-10, but then Athens started slowly pulling away, stretching its lead to 17-11. Rib Lake did claw back to 19-15, but Athens went on to win game two 25-18.

Athens carried its momentum from game two right into game three. The Blue Jays raced out to an 11-3 lead and never looked back. They ended up winning game three 25-11.

It was a tough night for the Redmen. Despite the score, they proved at a couple of different points that they can hang with one of the top teams not only in the conference but also in all of Division 4.

Jennie Pichea led the way for Rib Lake with four blocks. Tessa Weik also added two blocks.

Pichea and Josie Scheithauer led the Redmen with three kills apiece. Camryn Glenzer, Madi Blomberg and Weik all added two kills apiece as well.

Athens was led in kills by Sophia Coker, who had 10 kills and Jazelle Hartwig who added nine kills on the night.

Jazelle Hartwig and Danica Diethelm also added five aces apiece for the Blue Jays.

Up next for Rib Lake, the Redmen will host the Edgar Wildcats tonight, Thursday, at 7 p.m. Edgar is the defending Marawood South champion and opened league play Tuesday with a 3-0 sweep of Auburndale.

Over the weekend, the volleyball team heads to the Just A Game Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells, where it will play seven matches.

2-1 at Owen Withee Quad

The Redmen participated in the Owen-Withee Blackhawk Quad on Tuesday Aug. 29 and won two of three matches.

The Redmen swept the Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Bulldogs 25-14 and 25-16.

Rib Lake was led in kills in that match by sophomore Camryn Glenzer, who had seven kills. Josie Scheithauer added four kills in the victory.

Addison Gumz and Camryn Glenzer added two aces apiece against the Bulldogs.

Pichea had four blocks for the Redmen.

The Redmen as a team had a 100% serving percentage in the match, putting all 49 serves in play with five aces.

Rib Lake’s second win came against the host Owen-Withee Blackhawks. The Redmen came away victorious in a threeset match, beating the Blackhawks 25-20, 18-25 and 15-7.

Coralee Glenzer and Josie Scheithauer each had six kills in the contest to lead Rib Lake. Josie Scheithauer also had two blocks.

Tahlia Scheithauer had 19 digs, while Coralee Glenzer had 14.

Rib Lake’s loss for the night came against the quad champion Gresham Community Wildcats. Gresham won the match 17-25, 25-17 and 15-11.

Coralee Glenzer, Josie Scheithauer and Camryn Glenzer led the way in kills for the Redmen with four apiece.

Camryn Glenzer served four aces, while Gumz had three aces in the contest.

Rib Lake’s Coralee Glenzer challenges the double block from Athens’ Sophia Coker and Sydney Coker during Tuesday’s loss to the Blue Jays.MATT KRUEGER/THE STAR NEWS