MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (Sept. 17–24)
PREP VOLLEYBALL: Platteville wins Edgerton Invitational
By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal
SWC-leading Platteville Hillmen go 6–1 to win round robin Edgerton Invitational
The Platteville volleyball team is on a roll.
The Hillmen scored a grueling five-set Southwest Wisconsin Conference win over visiting Dodgeville last Tuesday night then notched a road sweep at Prairie du Chien to nights later to improved to 4–0 nearing the midway point of the conference schedule.
Platteville (19–8) then overcame an early morning loss to Janesville Craig and rattled off six straight best-of-three victories to win Saturday’s eight-team round robin Edgerton Invitational.
“The girls once again had the determination to finish matches,” said coach Denise Berntgen. “We went to three sets a few different times in the day and each time they came back and won. Each girl did their part and it was a fun way for our seniors to end their last high school weekend tournament with first place.”
After a narrow 22–25, 25–14, 16–14 loss to Janseville Craig to begin the day, Platteville battled back to beat the host Crimson Tide 18–25, 25–17, 15–13 before an easy sweep of eighth-place Deerfield 25–8, 25–14.
The Hillmen then swept runner-up Stoughton 25–17, 26–24 and East Troy 30–28, 25–13.
The win over Stoughton proved to be the championship-deciding match, as the Vikings finished 6–1 as well on the day, but Platteville was declared the tournament champion by virtue the head-to-head win.
The Hillmen then beat Brodhead in three sets, 25–19, 18–25, 15–13, before clinching the title with a 25–18, 25–17 sweep of SWC rival Dodgeville.
Platteville senior setter Jaxcyn Berntgen was named the tournament MVP, while sophomore middle hitter Rianna Dye joined Berntgen on the All-Tournament Team. Berntgen posted a tournament-best 165 assists, 52 digs, 24 kills, six blocks and a team-high 10 aces in seven matches to earn tournament MVP honors. Dye posted 40 kills and a team-high 10 blocks to earn her spot on the All-Tournament team.
Senior Linnea Dye led the Platteville offense with 57 kills and also had nine digs on Saturday. Sophomore outside hitter Avery Richard added 38 kills and a team-high 84 digs, while senior libero Claire Huser had 64 digs and six aces. Senior outside hitter Addison McNeill had 26 kills, and freshman Quinn Temperly contributed seven blocks and six aces.
Platteville began its incredible 9–1 week with a 22–25, 25–17, 17–25, 25–23, 15–8 comeback victory over visiting Dodgeville (11–8), which fall to 1–3 in SWC play.
Linnea Dye led the Hillmen with 10 kills, eight blocks and two aces, and Berntgen had 34 assists, 16 digs and six blocks in the win. Rianna Dye added 10 kills and Richard finished with nine kills and a team-high 17 digs in the five-set marathon.
“The girls really pulled it together and played some of their best volleyball of the night in the fifth set,” said coach Berntgen. “This group just doesn’t quit and they all have done a great job at finishing matches so far this season. I think the key to winning was just their determination to keep playing hard till the very end.”
Richard had a double–double of 11 kills and 17 digs — both team highs — in Thursday’s 25–9, 25–11, 25–10 sweep of Prairie du Chien.
“We are very happy with the way we are playing. The girls are improving every time they are on the court which is exciting going into the second half of the season.”
Platteville host River Valley Tuesday night and will now travel to Lancaster Thursday night to begin the second round of SWC play.
Platteville 3, Dodgeville 2
(from Tuesday, Sept. 17 @ Platteville)
Dodgeville....25 17 25 23 8
Platteville....22 25 17 25 15
Platteville stat leaders
Kills: Linnea Dye 11, Rianna Dye 10, Avery Richard 9. Blocks: L. Dye 8, Berntgen 6, Quinn Temperly 3. Assists: Berntgen 34. Aces: Temperly 2, L. Dye 2. Digs: Avery Richard 21, Claire Huser 19, Berntgen 19, McNeill 9, Temperly 8.
Platteville 3,
Prairie du Chien 0
(from Thursday, Sept. 19 @ Prairie du Chien)
Platteville...............9 11 10
Prairie du Chien..25 17 25
Platteville stat leaders
Kills: Avery Richard 11, Linnea Dye 9, Rianna Dye 9. Blocks: L. Dye 3, Jaxcyn Berntgen 3. Assists: Berntgen 26. Aces: Addison McNeill 3. Digs: Richard 17, Berntgen 16, Claire Huser 15, Maggie Grabandt 10.
Edgerton Invitational
(from Saturday, Sept. 21 @ Edgerton)
Standings: Platteville 6–1, Stoughton 6–1, Edgerton 5–2, Janesville Craig 5–2, Dodgeville 3–4, Brodhead 2–5, East Troy 1–6, Deerfield 0–7.
Platteville match scores
Janesville Craig def. Platteville 22–25, 25–14, 16–14
Platteville def. Edgerton 18–25, 25–17, 15–13
Platteville def. Deerfield 25–8, 25–14
Platteville def. Stoughton 25–17, 26–24
Platteville def. East Troy 30–28, 25–13
Platteville def. Brordhead 25–19, 18–25, 15–13
Platteville def. Dodgeville 25–18, 25–17
Platteville stat leaders
Kills: Linnea Dye 57, Rianna Dye 40, Avery Richard 38, Addison McNeill 26. Blocks: R. Dye 10, L. Dye 9, Quinn Temperly 7. Assists: Berntgen 165. Aces: Berntgen 10, Claire Huser 6, Temperly 6. Digs: Avery Richard 84, Huser 64, Berntgen 52.
