Rabbits chase down Eagles

By DOUG MONSON

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Rebekah Otte could've asked for a little more from her team Thursday night when the Wabasso Rabbits came to town, but the effort she got was enough to boost the confidence of her and her team heading into the playoffs.

Though the Eagles couldn't come away with a win, they proved that as a team they are capable of containing a team's top player while battling back from early deficits. Despite what the team proved it could do, the Eagles fell in four games, 17-15, 3-15, 3-15 and 9-15.

"We have so many well rounded people, we all can do everything," said Laura Yager as she tried to sum up the night. "We have to keep that killer instinct throughout the game."

In game one, the Eagles found themselves trailing early, falling behind by as many at five at 5-10. But the Eagles refused to go away and found a way to fluster Rabbit's senior Brandi Wurscher whose powerful attack often left Eagles players turned in the other direction.

With Wurscher frustrated and out of the picture, the Eagles made a move, riding the skirt tails of Christine Otis, who ran off a quick five service points to tie the game, including two aces. Otis finished the night with three aces.

With the game tied and possession back to the Eagles, Mary Otis came up big with a kill giving the Eagles an 11-10 lead. Although the Eagles would flounder, they wouldn't relinquish the lead until the game was tied at 14-14.

Wabasso took the lead at 15-14 and looked poised to take game one until sophomore Coresa Leighty came up with one of her three blocks on the night, giving possession back to the Eagles.

That was all they would need as Miranda Mathiowetz would finish the final two service points to give the Eagles and early match lead at 1-0.

"I think we were playing really well," Otte said. "Angie Flor passed outstanding tonight. She played really well."

Kayla Farasyn, who was partly responsible to holding Wabasso's Wurscher to 10 kills on the night, said the Eagles played really well, but needed more consistency.

"In the first game we proved we can do it as a team," Farasyn said.

Otte said she told her team after the game to be proud of the way they played because they could have easily folded to the Rabbits after falling behind 2-1 in the match. Yager said part of the reason the team was able to stay in the game was because of the intensity the crowd brought, often at times becoming so loud it drowned out the players and the whistles of the refs.

"We love our fans," Yager said. "We have to give them all the credit, they pump us up."

Farasyn said she thought the team played well and that the momentum should help them in the playoffs.

"If we play together as a team, we can do it," Farasyn said.

Otte said that she was pleased to see her team play so well with the playoffs just around the corner.

"You like to start coming around like this when you're heading into the playoffs," Otte said.

Stephanie Navara and Amber Bianchi contributed to the Eagles defense, which kept them in games one and four. Navara finished the night with 9 kills and 16 digs.

Bianchi was called upon after an injury to Mary Otis forced her to the bench.

"Amber came in and did a great job," Otte said. "She's been very valuable to us."

Yager finished the night with 23 set assists, and Mary Otis finished with seven kills.

The loss drops the Eagles to 6-20 on the year. The Eagles have one more game before playoffs start at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Fairmont. The playoffs start Oct. 24.