B-T net team loses two five-set matches

The Blair-Taylor volleyball team took Alma/Pepin the distance twice last week, but could not close out either contest in a pair of five-set losses.

The week started on the road in Alma, where the Wildcats won the opening set before faltering in three of the next four. All five sets were more evenly contested in Thursday’s home rematch, but A/P took the deciding set after the Wildcats bookended the first four sets with wins.

B-T moves to 3-5 on the season with the losses, and also earned the third seed in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division Three tournament. Their opening round draw was a road matchup with second-seeded Cochrane-Fountain City on Thursday. A win would advance them to a Saturday date against fourth-seeded Melrose-Mindoro, who advanced by forfeit after Onalaska Luther cancelled fall athletics.

B-T            25 13 25 10 9

A/P            23 25 15 25 15

After taking two of the first three sets on the road at A/P, the Wildcats could not hang on in a 3-2 loss.

Abby Thompson led the team with nine kills and four aces, while Madison Goodbear added 18 assists and four aces as well.

A/P            23 25 25 19 15

B-T            25 23 23 25 11

A/P outlasted the Wildcats late in a back-and-forth affair on Thursday. Leading

B-T on the stats sheet were Thompson’s 11 kills and seven aces, Lindsay Steien’s 10 kills, Alivia Boe’s eight kills and Goodbear’s 32 assists.