GRAND FORKS,
N.D. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Green
Bay had four players reach double figures in kills and posted season-highs in
blocks and assists in its final match of the North Dakota Invite, but the
Phoenix (2-5) lost in five sets to Montana (3-2) and dropped both of its
Saturday matches. The Phoenix lost to host North Dakota (3-2) earlier in the
day in Grand Forks, N.D.
Against Montana, senior Abbey Gitter
(Hortonville, Wis.) and sophomore Leah
Van Zeeland (Kaukauna, Wis.) had season highs with 17 and 16 kills,
senior Kelly Mischler (Kaukauna, Wis.) tied a season-high with six blocks, junior
Brittany Groth (Oak Creek, Wis.)
tallied a season-high 31 digs and sophomore Leah Poel (Jenison,
Mich.) totaled a season-high 54 assists, but the Phoenix was unable to complete
the comeback.
Poel's effort earned her a spot on the all-tournament team for the Phoenix. The sophomore setter tallied 116 assists for the tourney for an average of 10.55 assists per set and also ranked third on the squad in digs with 27.
"It was another tough 3-2 loss for our team," said
head coach Debbie Kirch about the Montana loss. "We
played some of the best defense of the season, and I was proud of how we fought
back from down 0-2. However, in order for us to turn these losses into wins, we
have to be more ready to play in the first set."
North Dakota
3, Green Bay 0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-20)
The Phoenix was never able to take control in the
rematch against the host Fighting Sioux and therefore failed to get revenge for
a 3-2 home loss last weekend in Green Bay.
After falling in the first set, Green Bay controlled
much of the second. The Phoenix jumped out early with a 7-2 lead and still led
17-13 midway through the set. However, the hosts fought back and took a 22-19
lead. After the Phoenix tied it at 23-23, North Dakota took consecutive points
for the win. North Dakota led throughout the third to close out the match in
straight sets.
Gitter
led the Phoenix with nine kills, Poel had 31 assists and Groth tallied a
team-high 13 digs in the match.
Montana 3, Green Bay 2 (26-24, 26-24,
23-25, 18-25, 15-12)
Green
Bay dropped the opening two sets to the Grizzlies but had its chances to take
both. The Phoenix led the first 22-21 after a kill from junior Carmen Leitermann (Schofield, Wis.) and the score was tied at 24-24 before
losing two-straight points. The second was a similar story, with the two teams
again tied at 24 before Montana closed out the set.
The
Phoenix looked to rally for its second five-set win of the season, and was able
to close out a tough third set by turning a 17-17 tie into a 22-18 advantage.
Gitter had a kill on set point to seal the win and finished the set with five
kills. Van Zeeland also had five kills in the third while Groth had nine digs.
A
four-point run midway through the fourth set put Green Bay in control and the
Phoenix stayed in front the rest of the way to win the fourth, 25-18, and force
a deciding fifth set. Gitter and Groth both matched their stats from the third
by tallying five kills and nine digs, respectively.
Green
Bay led the fifth set 8-6 after a kill from Lyndsay Zabkowicz (Oak Creek, Wis.), but the Grizzlies scored the
next four points and did not trail the rest of the way in posting the set and
match win. Zabkowicz had four kills in the fifth set and finished the match
with 10 kills to record double digits for the first time this season.
As
a team, Green Bay finished with 11.0 blocks. Leitermann added five blocks and
Gitter three to Michler's team-high total.
Green
Bay will return home to start school this week before competing in the Saluki
Invitational hosted by Southern Illinois next Friday and Saturday.
###
Season
tickets and Fall Sports Passes are now on sale for volleyball as well as men's
and women's soccer. Season tickets for each sport are available for $25 each,
or a Fall Sports Pass can be purchased for admission to all three sports for
just $50 for an adult and $25 for a youth pass. For more information and an
order form,
click here.
