G-E-T volleyball rebounds with win over BR Falls

Last week started on a down note for the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School volleyball team. That’s putting a tough Monday loss to Onalaska Luther lightly, according to the program’s coach.

But the Red Hawks rebounded and looked in prime form against Black River Falls at home on Tuesday, sweeping the visiting Tigers in dominating fashion.

“The girls were pretty disappointed about last night against Luther,” G-E-T coach Jess Weiler said after Tuesday’s win. “And so they had a little bit of fire under their bellies to come back and play with a little bit more aggression.”

Weiler and G-E-T were set to hit the road this Thursday to play West Salem.

Luther   25 22 25 25

G-E-T   18 25 16 18

Monday’s effort was not kind to G-E-T in a a four-set loss.

The Red Hawks tied the match by winning the second set after conceding the first, but Luther shut out the home team after that.

Elyse Schoonover had 10 kills, and Jordan Stanislowski added five. Kaylee Hauge again led the way in assists with 14, while Tatum Johnson and Shayna Kirkey each had a pair of aces.

G-E-T   25 25 25

BRF     15 11 12

A conference title is out of the question for G-E-T, especially with Westby (8-0 Coulee Conference) and West Salem (7-1) on top of the standings.

But Tuesday’s win showed Weiler’s group has other goals. After going back-and-forth to a tie at eight points in set one, the Red Hawks outscored the Tigers 17-7 the rest of the way.

Weiler said her team has talked a lot about building the program up together one match at a time.

“Especially with our seniors, what kind of legacy do you want to leave and how we are going to finish out the season is entirely up to them,” she said.

Tuesday was a good example of what leaving a strong legacy should look like, she thinks.

The Red Hawks dominated set two, claiming a 25-11 win before silencing the Tigers again in the third set with a 25-12 win to close out the match. Kills, digs, aces and assists were coming from all over the court for G-E-T in a spread attack.

Elyse Schoonover (nine) and Jordan Stanislowski (eight) led the home team in kills, and Kaylee Hauge recorded 15 assists.

“They did a nice job, the setters, sending it all over the place and making sure that we weren’t predictable,” Weiler said, “and everybody stepped up tonight. It was good to see.”

Freshman Mandy Pierson got some time on Tuesday after senior setter Kayla Schultz was out with an injury. Pierson served a string of points for G-E-T, including a team-high seven aces.

“We’re kind of bringing people up, shuffling people in and Mandy Pierson has done a nice job on the JV team. And so, we’re excited about what she can do,” Weiler said.

The Red Hawks, now 4-10 on the year and 4-5 in the conference, were going to enjoy the recovery win last week. But not for long, especially as they prepare for a powerful West Salem team.

“We’re going to roll up the sleeves and get to work,” Weiler said.