Thunderbirds change gearsGFW begins night in high, ends in low gear

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

WINTHROP -- Judging by the first game of Monday's volleyball game between Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop and BOLD, it looked as if the Thunderbirds would cruise to an easy nonconference win.

The Thunderbirds won the first game 25-10 and hung on to win the second game 25-22, but then collapsed and lost 26-24, 25-23, 15-12 in the final three games.

In the first game, the Thunderbirds passed well and were able to exploit the Warrior defense with numerous ace tips.

Emily VonHon put the Thunderbirds up 6-2 after a Warrior block hit the net. Alisha Kruggel then put GFW up 12-6 with an ace tip.

Another Kruggel tip followed by a kill put the Thunderbirds up 21-7.

"We played pretty well in Game 1 because we played with some intense," GFW coach Bob Kaukola said. "Somewhere along that line in game two and three, four and five we lost that intensity. We just relaxed and didn't play as hard as we could and we mad a lot of dumb mistakes."

In the second game, BOLD took an early 8-6 lead on Augusta Garberich's service ace. Ashley Busch gave GFW its first lead of the game with a kill. Later Kruggel's tip to the baseline made it 22-21 and Busch finished the game with a tip, making it 25-22.

GFW then carried a big lead midway through the third game. Busch's kill made it 14-9 and Ashley Vorwerk's block put the Thunderbirds up 17-12.

However, the Warriors didn't have any quit in them and rallied back, tying the score at 21-21 on Christina Posl's kill.

Then, trailing 24-22, GFW's Nicole Black registered a kill to bring her team to within one. With the score tied at 22 apiece, a service error gave the Warriors the lead. Black's hit then sailed long for the final 26-24 margin.

"Basically what they did was they picked up their game and we did not," Kaukola said. "That was a huge difference."

GFW's struggles continued in the fourth game. Down 5-2, Missy Benson's kill put the Warriors up 6-2. Posl then emerged in the middle and connected on four kills, making it 10-4.

"She's a nice player," Kaukola said. "She's their go-to girl, and if we can control her, then we're in good shape. But if we can't control her, then she can do a lot of things."

GFW rallied back and tied it at 14-14 on Kruggel's kill. The Thunderbirds led by as many as three after Busch's tip found the open middle.

BOLD once again fought back and eventually won on Benson's tip, making it 25-23.

The Thunderbirds took a 2-0 lead, but it was short-lived as Leah Miller reeled off five straight service points. Posl continued her dominance with back-to-back kills to make it 9-3. She then switched to the tip, which gave her two more points, making it 11-3 BOLD.

GFW rallied, but it was too late and the Warriors hung on to a 15-12 win.

Statistically for the Thunderbirds, Kruggel had 13 kills and Busch had 10. Black also had 10 kills and seven digs. Lindsey Kiecker had 46 set assists and Ashley Vorwerk had 13 digs.

GFW (12-6) is at New Ulm Cathedral today.

Cathedral 3, Springfield 0

SPRINGFIELD -- Holly Helget and Katie Beranek had strong serves for the Greyhounds in their 25-13, 25-14 and 27-25 win over Springfield in Tomahawk volleyball action Monday.

Helget was 14-for-15 with 11 points, and Beranek was 14-for-14 with 10 pts and three aces. Angela Long had 10 ace hits, and Helget and Toni Hall each had six. Nikki Fischer had 25 set assists.

Krystal Schwanke led the Tigers with nine kills and three ace blocks, while Alissa Domeier had five kills and three ace blocks. Naomi Timm had 11 set assists, and Amanda Lipetzky had 11 assists and five service points. Kim Weedman had six points and four kills.

The Greyhounds (6-8, 3-4) today against GFW. The Tigers (4-10-1, 2-3) host Wabasso today.

The Cathedral "B" squad won 25-21, 25-23, and the "C" squads split, 23-25 (S), 25-20 (C).

St. Mary's 3, ML/GHEC 0

SLEEPY EYE -- Krista Armbruster had 11 kills as St. Mary's made quick work of Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain Monday, winning 25-19, 25-14 and 25-21 in nonconference volleyball action.

The Knights' Amanda Helget had 19 set assists, five digs and 10 service points, and Brynn Braulick had nine set assists. Steph Krzmarzick had five kills and Raina Walter five digs and 12 service points. Jonalyn Cook had eight digs.

St. Mary's (7-6, 2-4) play today in Tomahawk action against Cedar Mountain.

Sleepy Eye 3, Nicollet 0

SLEEPY EYE -- It was close, but Sleepy Eye came away with a win on Parents Day, beating Nicollet 25-22, 25-13 and 25-22 Monday.

Kristi Schieffert had five kills, 20 set assists and 16 digs to lead the Indians. Allie Deibele had eight kills and seven digs, Jessie Zuhlsdorf had six kills and 13 digs, and Char McMullen had seven kills and four ace blocks.

For Nicollet, Kore Swenson had six kills and Bridget Hulke had 16 digs.

The Indians (9-3-1, 3-3) play today at Minnesota Valley Lutheran. Nicollet hosts Martin County West.