MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (Aug. 27–Sept. 3)
Monticello Six Rivers Volleyball Invitational
By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal, Fennimore Times, Boscobel Dial
Belmont goes 4–0 to win season-opening tournament
MONTICELLO — The Belmont volleyball team opened the season with a bang by going undefeated Saturday to win the season-opening Monticello Six Rivers Invitational.
The Braves opened pool play at the nine-team tournament with a 26–22, 27–25 sweep of Albany powered by a match-high 13 kills from senior Morgan Freeman and 20 assists from classmate Kaci Riechers.
Belmont (4–0) went on to beat Pecatonica 25–19, 18–25, 15–5 by dominating the third set to win the pool and advance to the three-team championship gold pool.
Freeman again led the way with seven kills and five digs, but Addy McNett chipped in 11 assists and a team-high five aces.
In the gold pool, Belmont rallied after dropping the first game to beat eventual runner-up Barneveld 20–25, 25–20, 15–10, before sweeping Six Rivers West rival Shullsburg 25–19, 25–19 to clinch the title.
Kaci Riechers had 14 assists and two aces in the sweep of Shullsburg, Freeman floored a team-high six kills and senior Kalli Jo Hodgson made three blocks. Courtney Fritz led the back row defense with six digs.
“The girls overall played really well,” said Belmont head coach Danielle Bonin. “We use this tournament as an opportunity to see what our conference competition will be, as well as our regional competition will look like. The girls really game out and played hard, and put a lot of effort in on focusing on other teams areas of weaknesses.
“I was very impressed with how hard they worked and the grit they put in for the weekend! We still have work to do, but it was a great way to start off the season!”
Freeman finished the day with 31 kills and 13 digs in the four matches. Hodgson added 14 kills and six blocks, while Carsyn Ramaker chipped in eight kills and a team-best seven blocks.
Kaci Riechers finished the day with 52 assists and five aces, and McNett added 26 assists and a team-high six aces.
The Braves hosted Cassville Tuesday night to begin Six Rivers West play. They will now travel to Benton Thursday night. They will also travel to Highland Monday before hosting Potosi Tuesday in a four-match stretch in eight days to open conference play.
Monticello Six Rivers Invitational
(from Saturday, Aug. 26 @ Monticello)
Gold pool: Belmont 2–0, Barneveld 1–1, Shullsburg 0–2.
Pool A: River Ridge (Ill.) 1–1, Monticello 1–1, Benton 1–1.
Pool B: Belmont 2–0, Pecatonica 1–1, Albany 0–2.
Pool C: Barneveld 2–0, Shullsburg 1–1, Wayland Academy 0–2.
Belmont match scores
Belmont def. Albany 25–22, 27–25
Belmont def. Pecatonica 25–19, 18–25, 15–5
Belmont def. Barneveld 20–25, 25–20, 15–12
Belmont def. Shullsburg 25–19, 25–19
Belmont individual stat leaders
Kills: Morgan Freeman 31, Kalli Jo Hodgson 14, Carsyn Ramaker 8, Kaci Riechers 7. Blocks: Carsyn Ramaker 7, Hodgson 6, K. Riechers 2. Assists: Kaci Riechers 52, Addy McNett 26. Aces: McNett 6, Fritz 6, K. Riechers 5 C. Runde 4. Digs: Fritz 21, C. Runde 13, L. Riechers 15, Morgan Freeman 13, McNett 10.
