‘Jays hunting for hardware

Athens first in division at Merrill Invite

By Ross Pattermann

It’s very early in the 2021 season, but there’s a feeling that this could be a great year for the Athens Bluejays. The size, speed and ability is there, and after winning starting the year 12-7 so too is the belief.

“We’re still young, we’re figuring things out, still getting through the ups and the downs,” Athens head coach Tanille Hartwig said. “Slowly we are becoming a little bit more mentally tough, and in situations where we are down a few points here or there, we’re not giving up.”

That maturity and toughness showed in the ‘Jays’ match with Colby last Thursday, and extended to the Merrill Invitational on Saturday.

Athens raced out to a 25-13 first set victory, only to see Colby fight back in the second set, and take a 8-4 lead.

The ‘Jays regrouped and began to use their height and firepower to score points in the middle, and before long, Athens took the second set 25-23.

“We just told each other that we were going to go out there and have each other’s backs,” Athens sophomore Sophia Coker said. “We went after every ball, brought each other up, and did what we needed to do.”

Athens kept their torrid hiting up, blasting 41 kills past Colby’s defenses. The ‘Jays won their match in straight sets with a third set score of 25-20.

Jazelle Hartwig struck a team high 13 kills, and Sophia Coker added eight more. That striking is something Athens works hard on, and Coker said the Colby match will have a big impact on the season.

“That pulls us all up,” Coker said. “Our practices are better, our selfconfi dence is through the roof, and we have each other’s backs, so it makes everything better.”

The momentum from the win over Colby stayed with Athens through Saturday. The Bluejays went down to Merrill for a tournament, and finished first in the silver division by going 3-1 on the day.

Athens topped Marathon in straight sets, winning the match 25-22, 25-17. Sophia Coker had nine kills, and Jazelle Hartwig and Addison Lavicka had six kills apiece. Celina Ellenbecker had a team high 12 digs.

The ‘Jays dropped a tough match with Tomahawk, falling in three sets, 25-12, 20-25 and 10-15. Hartwig and Lavicka had ten kills each, and Ellenbecker added another 11 digs.

Athens rebounded with a three set victory over Wittenberg-Birnamwood. The Lancers took the first set 25-15, but the ‘Jays showed the mental toughness that coach Hartwig had seen against Colby, and fought back to earn the second set victory 25-17, and topped Wittenberg-Birnamwood 15-10 in the deciding third set.

Lavicka served four aces in the match. Jazelle Hartwig and Celina Ellenbecker had 11 digs apiece, and Sydney Coker had four blocks.

The Bluejays wrapped up the day by stopping Rib Lake in two sets. Athens took the match 25-22, 25-16. Addison Lavicka was big at net with 12 kills. Celina Ellenbecker had nine digs.