Hornets pack in matches before post-season

By Ross Pattermann

The Cadott Hornets Volleyball team was busy last week, taking in seven matches, beginning with McDonell Central on the road, then hosting the Regis Ramblers. The Hornets finished off their week, with the final tournament of the regular season, the Altoona Invitational.

Oct. 8 vs. McDonell conference (L 3-0) The Hornets were on the road, facing off against one of the better teams in the state, the McDonnell Macks, who are second in the Western Cloverbelt Conference, behind only unbeaten Fall Creek.

The Hornets pushed the Macks in every set they played, but could not find a way past their defense, as they fell, 2517, 25-15 and 25-18.

Cadott racked up 17 kills overall, with senior Autumn Bremness talking a team high 8. Jada Kowalczyk added 3 and Hallie Solie, Lexxie Rowe and Elly Eiler, each had 2 kills.

Bremness and Kowalczyk added 2 aces, while Makenna Barone and Solie had a team high 2 blocks each. Lauryn Goettl collected 10 digs and A. Bremness had 8 digs. Abby Eiler finished with a team high 17 assists.

Oct. 10 vs. Regis conference (L 3-2)

The Regis Ramblers held off a stiff challenge from Cadott, as the Hornets put everything they had into their league test. Regis took an early 27-25 match, before the Hornets rallied, to take the second set, 25-17.

Regis responded, by dispatching the Hornets, 25-14, in the third, only to see Cadott come roaring back, forcing a fifth set, with a strong 25-23 effort in the fourth. Cadott had its chances, but Regis escaped the upset, by taking the final set, 15-11.

Bremness continued to impress, stacking the stat line, finishing with 8 kills, 11 digs and 6 blocks. Haylee Rowe added 5 aces, while Goettl led on defense, recording 28 digs. Barone and Kowalcyzk worked well up front, collecting 14 kills and 12 kills, respectively.

Oct. 12 vs. Altoona Invitational (L 1-4)

The Hornets picked up more match experience as they prep for the playoffs, with a short trip down State Hwy. 29 to the Altoona Invitational. The Hornets would finish the day 1-4.

Cadott opened up pool play, with a 2-0 loss to Colfax, dropping their sets, 25-12 and 25-14. E. Eiler, Barone and Kowalczyk all had 2 kills, Goettl had 1 ace, and Bremness had 4 digs and 4 assists.

Cadott suffered another straight-sets loss to the Unity Eagles out of Balsam Lake, falling 25-18 in the first and 26-24 in the second set. Barone and Bremness each had 4 kills, Kowalczyk had a team high 3 aces, Goettl added a team high 7 digs and A. Eiler had 11 set assists.

The Hornets were sharper in their third match of pool play, but could not find a way past the Osceola Chieftains, falling in three tightly contested sets, 25-23, 28-26 and 15-12. Barone had a team high 8 kills, followed by Bremness with 5 kills. Goettl had 3 aces and 10 digs. A. Eiler recorded a match high 19 assists.

In their fourth match of the day, the Hornets finally notched a match win, ousting the much larger school district of Chippewa Falls, with a two-set sweep. Cadott took the first set, 25-19, then dumped the Cardinals, with a 25-22 effort in the second set.

Cadott recorded an impressive 31 kills. Controlling proceedings up front were Bremness with 10 kills and Kowalczyk with 7 kills. Goettl had 11 digs, and A. Eiler added 7 digs and 19 set assists.

In their fifth and final match of the day, the Hornets once again took on a larger school, pushing the Old Abes of Eau Claire Memorial in each of the sets they played. The Abes escaped with the first set, 26-24, then proved to be just a bit steadier in the second set, 25-21.

Cadott had 24 kills, with Barone tallying a team high 9 and Bremness adding 6. Bremness also added 2 aces, while A. Eiler had a team high 20 set assists. Kowalczyk led the Hornets with 5 digs.

The Hornets have one more regular season match-up, then will open the playoffs with a match against Nekoosa Oct. 22, in the first round of WIAA Regional action.