WIAA DIV. 4 VOLLEYBALL - Rib Lake cruises to first WIAA win since 2019

WIAA DIV. 4 VOLLEYBALL

Hosting the program’s first WIAA Division 4 regional match since 2020, the Rib Lake volleyball team wasn’t about to let the home court advantage go to waste on Tuesday night.

The sixth-seeded Lady Redmen quickly and efficiently took care of overmatched Flambeau, the 11th seed in the sectional half-bracket, in a 3-0 sweep to advance to a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal matchup tonight, Thursday, at third-seeded Turtle Lake (21-15).

Rib Lake improved to 12-26 on the year and ran its mark to 6-4 in its last 10 matches. Tuesday’s win was Rib Lake’s first in postseason play since a 3-2 win at Wild Rose in the opening round of the 2019 tournament. The home match in 2020 was a 3-1 firstround loss to Northland Lutheran in the Redmen’s last match under then long-time coach Barb Anderson.

Current head coach Heather Weik’s crew dominated the Falcons throughout. Game one was a 25-11 final. The Redmen really took it to Flambeau in game two, winning 25-7. The third one went quickly as well with Rib Lake winning 25-10.

Turtle Lake easily defeated 14th-seeded Bruce in its regional opener Tuesday 25-10, 25-7, 25-4. The Lakers were 8-2 in the Central Lakeland Conference, finishing second a game behind Prairie Farm, who is the fourth seed in the sectional half-bracket.

Tonight’s winner will advance to the WIAA Division 4 regional final set for 7 p.m. on Saturday. The other semifinal features seventh-seeded New Auburn and second- seeded Gilman. The higher seed will host the final. New Auburn was a 3-1 winner over 10th-seeded Clayton Tuesday, while Gilman enjoyed a first-round bye.

Sectional play starts with the semifinals on Thursday, Oct. 26. Bruce is set to host the sectional championship match on Saturday, Oct. 28.

1-1 in triangular

Rib Lake and Spencer both earned wins over Ladysmith to set up a match for first place in Saturday’s home triangular where the Rockets came up with key plays at key times in a 2-0 sweep that brought the regular season to a close.

Spencer also beat Ladysmith 2-1 in the middle match to go home with a 2-0 record. Rib Lake started the day with a 25-20, 25-20 sweep of Ladysmith.

“We lost our steam against Spencer for the second time this season,” Heather Weik said. “We were able to try a few slight adjustments to get ready for Flambeau. When we play clean, we are much more successful and seem to be able to score more consecutive points. We are looking forward to this week and finishing strong against any team we play.”

Rib Lake’s play was solid throughout against Ladysmith. Rib Lake got out to leads of 9-4, 10-5, 11-6 and 15-8 in game one. A Coralee Glenzer kill made it 16-9 before Ladysmith made a run, getting within 16-14 before Tessa Weik’s left-handed tip beat a block in the middle. The Lumberjacks got within 19-18 when Coralee Glenzer got a kill to hold them off temporarily. Ladysmith middle Keira Hoyt’s kill off the net tied it at 20-20.

Rib Lake then got the game-changing play of the set. Weik dove to save a misplayed serve receive and Camryn Glenzer’s hard bump found a hole in Ladysmith’s defense to break the tie. Coralee Glenzer hammered a winner off a block, Weik’s deep push fell in play in the deep corner, Madilyn Blomberg served an ace and Jennie Pichea pounded a free ball on set point.

The Redmen went ahead 9-4 in game two, Ladysmith scored three straight then Rib Lake opened a lead it would not relinquish. Kills by Blomberg, Coralee Glenzer and Pichea made it 15-11. Later, back-to-back kills from Josie Scheithauer and a Camryn Glenzer kill off a Weik back set put Rib Lake up 20-14. Scheithauer’s kill off a Blomberg assist made it 21-15 and Coralee Glenzer added two kills to help close it out.

Coralee Glenzer had six kills in the win. Camryn Glenzer and Blomberg had five each and Pichea had three. Weik had 22 of Rib Lake’s 24 assists. Tahlia Scheithauer and Blomberg each served an ace. Camryn Glenzer had 10 digs, Tahlia Scheithauer had nine and Weik had six.

Game one against Spencer was close throughout. The Redmen trailed 14-10, 16-12 and 17-13 before creeping back within 18-17 on a Coralee Glenzer kill. Josie Scheithauer’s block kill made it 19-18 and Blomberg’s kill made it 21-19. But that’s when the Rockets went on a little 4-0 run to close it out at 25-19, capped by a kill from Hannah Schreiner and an ace from Alisia Bocchino.

The Redmen got off to a good start in game two. Josie Scheithauer blocked an attempted tip to tie it at 5-5. Tahlia Scheithauer served an ace at 7-5 and Josie Scheithauer got a touch on a spike attempt at 8-5. She tapped a bad set by the Rockets for an easy kill at 9-7 and that was followed by a Blomberg kill for a 10-7 lead.

But Hannah Reckner’s kill gave Spencer a sideout and then the senior served Spencer into the lead at 1410. Blomberg’s kill finally stopped the run, but the Rockets’ momentum carried on. They took a 22-12 lead and the Redmen could do no more but trade points the rest of the way in a 25-15 defeat.

Blomberg had six kills, Pichea had four and Josie Scheithauer added three kills to go along with four solo blocks. Blomberg had two aces and Tahlia Scheithauer had one. Weik had 10 assists and Josie Scheithauer had two. Tahlia Scheithauer had 11 digs, Addison Gumz had seven, Weik had four and Camryn Glenzer and Josie Scheithauer had three each.

Reckner had nine kills for the Rockets, who closed the regular season at 13-16 overall.

Rib Lake senior Isabella Fallos gets in position to receive a serve and make a good pass to setter Tessa Weik during game one of Saturday’s 2-0 sweep of Ladysmith in the Rib Lake triangular.MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS