Lady Chiefs bust out of gate
Kristin Oines (#3), Nicole Gantz (#4), Skye Solava (#6) and Kinsey Mace (#12) celebrate a Dells' point in their match against Shawano at JustAgame Fieldhouse on Thursday afternoon.
By Jim den Hollander
A combination of a quicker start to the season and an earlier venture into the tournament tests didn't have a negative affect on the Wisconsin Dells High School varsity volleyball team. In fact, the team is already 6-1 in matches on the season following a four-game set win at Madison East last Tuesday and a rare appearance as 'visitors' on the home court Thursday and Friday. At Madison East, the Chiefs needed a game to get used to a short serve used by the host Purgolders and stormed back from an opening game defeat to win the next three in the non-conference match. "We had butterflies," said head coach Cyndy Collins. "We were a little nervous on the court, but once we got into the flow, things went well." The team followed up that match with entry into a tournament at JustaGame Fieldhouse, but hosted by Horicon High School, Thursday and Friday. The Chiefs marched won six of seven games to sweep their three division matches, then added a crossover win to move into the 'Gold/Silver' half of the 16-team tourney. In their opener, the Chiefs again surrendered the first game, 16-25 to Kettle Moraine, but fully awake after that, the team rolled to wins in its next 10 straight games. A 25-17 edge, then 15-6 margin in the tiebreaker moved the Chiefs past Kettle Moraine and they added a 25-18, 25-9 win over Shawano; 25-17, 25-20 over Peshtigo and then 25-22, 25-15 against Riverdale. In playoffs, the Chiefs started out with a 25-20 win over Dodgeland and just when it seemed their string would end with nine straight games, Markee Schultz stepped up to the service line for nine straight points that delivered the 10th win in a game the Chiefs trailed 16-22. That put the Chiefs against Waunakee in 'Gold' semi-finals and they bowed out their 15-25, 19-25, ranking in a tie for third overall among the 16 teams in attendance. The Chiefs will get a chance to put a few practices together before opening the conference potion of its schedule against Pioneer Westfield at WDHS on Thursday evening. More information on the team along with a full season schedule will appear in the Wednesday Events as part of the volleyball team's season preview.