Port boys end volleyball season in tight loss

If there ever was a volleyball sweep that could have gone either way, it was the Port Washington High School’s boys’ loss at Fond du Lac in the first round of the playoffs on Oct. 23.

Fond du Lac won, 29-27, 25-22, 27-25.

“Honestly, our boys were the best team that night. We just made a few untimely and uncharacteristic errors in various points in each of the three sets, and that was the difference,” coach Doug Niemeyer said.

Will Theisen had 11 kills. Sawyer Lorier and Cooper Celmo each had six. Sam Kiss had four. Mark Krueger had nine digs. Celmo had seven and Theisen had six.

Cooper Giese and Gabe Jerome each had 14 assists. Krueger made one error on 26 serve-receives.

“Our middles, when given the chance, won their matchups, and both Cooper Celmo and Will Theisen outplayed their matchups,” Niemeyer said.

The boys were relishing the tight competition.

“Mark Krueger walked up to me between sets and said, ‘Coach I know we didn’t win that first set, but this is the kind of volleyball I love being a part of. This is fun,’” Niemeyer said.

Port finished 17-11. Fond du Lac finished 27-7 after losing its next match to Germantown.

“It always stinks to lose and we all hate losing, but I am proud of how this team put up a great fight in a match most thought wouldn’t be very close due to their conference, school size and the fact that many of their players also play club volleyball,” Niemeyer said.