Volleyball resurgence reaches milestone

It took five sets, but the Port Washington High School volleyball team finally defeated a familiar North Shore Conference foe on the road on Sept. 30.
The Pirates beat Homestead, 8-25, 26-24, 26-24, 20-25, 15-13.
“That was a huge win for us. Our program has not done well against that school in the past,” coach Paul Jungbauer said.
He said Port has lost every match against Homestead since at least 2006, an 0-21 stretch. Coaches were thrilled to tell the team after the match.
“They just were like, ‘Wow, that’s something we just accomplished,’” he said.
The Pirates got help from a sophomore showing improvement.
Jennacy Wille stepped up to serve late in the match when Port had the lead. In a similar situation against Grafton on Sept. 24, Wille missed her serve and the Black Hawks won in five sets.
Not this time. Wille’s serve fell in, Port closed out the set and Wille got the game-winning kill.
“Jennacy Wille took a step forward,” Jungbauer said. “She grew significantly.”
Wille had 17 kills, Elyse Karrels had 12 and Carolyn Lippe had 10.
Sydney Hoeft had 45 assists despite being banged up.
“She was able to gut through a knee injury and she played very, very well,” Jungbauer said.
Amiera Szczepanski had 18 digs, Wille had 17 and Lippe had 16. Mina Giersch served three aces.
Against Ozaukee last Thursday, Jungbauer had mixed emotions facing a team he coached the last four years before coming to Port this season.
The Pirates pulled it out, 25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 25-9, 15-10.
“We were able to pick each other up in situations where things weren’t necessarily going our way,” Jungbauer said.
“Everybody had the opportunity to play in that match. Some girls executed better than others. It was another good learning opportunity,” Jungbauer said.
Karrels had 14 kills, and Wille and Lippe each had 11. Julia Schmit had 46 assists.
Wille served four aces. Sczcepanski had 17 digs, Wille had 13 and Schmit had 12.
“Elyse Karrels in the middle has really been starting to become a really good option for us offensively,” Jungbauer said.
The Pirates mustered enough energy to win their fifth match in eight days.
“I was proud of how they persevered and came together without much left in the gas tank,” Jungbauer said.
He also credited his old team, especially the digs of Sydney Stadler and Madison Karmisin. Jungbauer said Nicole Liermann is doing well in her first year as setter, and  Josie Robinson and Evy Geis are doing well in the middle.
“It was nice to get caught up a little bit. There definitely is some mutual respect there, once a coach of someone I’m always coach of them,” Jungbauer said.
Ozaukee first-year coach Vanessa Depies said she was proud that the Warriors fought hard against an opponent from a higher division.
“I said it earlier this year and continue to say it, defense is the key. With Sydnie Stadler bringing in 33 digs and Madison Karmasin with 20, our defense was providing us the opportunity to challenge Port,” she said.
Liermann had 17 assists and 18 digs, and Hannah Lemke had 12 digs and five kills.
“It truly was a fun and competitive game all around from both sides. I believe that these girls had something to prove and they did it,” Depies said.
On Saturday, Port got swept by Grafton a couple of weeks after losing a five-set match to the Hawks. Grafton won, 25-23, 26-24, 30-28.
Karrels had eight kills, Wille had six and Lippe had five. Lippe had 17 digs and Szczepanski had 16. Schmit had 26 assists.
“We just lacked a little discipline to be able to pull that out. We had a lot of uncharacteristic errors with net violations, which definitely add up in the difference between a two-point loss or a two-point win,” Jungbauer said.
He credited Schmit, who hasn’t played much, with stepping up to fill in at setter since Hoeft is injured.
“She’s taking coaching during the match and making the adjustments in the match, which is good to see,” Jungbauer said.
Port was to play at Sheboygan Falls on Tuesday, host Whitefish Bay on Thursday and play at Hartford on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Warriors go 1-2 in Rio tournament
Every Warrior got some playing time at a tournament in Rio last Saturday.
The Warriors went 1-2. Marshall beat Ozaukee, 17-25, 25-15, 15-10; and Rio beat the Warriors, 25-23, 25-12. Ozaukee beat Faith Christian, 25-9, 25-7.
Stadler had 21 kills and 20 digs on the day. Liermann had 42 assists and eight aces. Karmasin had 40 digs.
“A great part about the day was everyone got to play at some point and made a contribution in some way,” Depies said.
On Sept. 29, the Warriors lost to Big East foe Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah at home, 25-23, 25-18, 22-25, 25-20.
Ozaukee was scheduled to play Reedsville that night, but the team couldn’t play due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This game was a statement game for our team,” Depies said.
“With a short season, we tried something different to see what could be done. With a new lineup that never practiced the girls went out and gave 100% to prove something.”
Geis had nine kills, six blocks and an ace.
“Evy Geis took on this challenge and led her team even though she is the only underclassman on the team. She contributed to her team with both defense and offense,” Depies said.
Depies also credited Marisa Schmit for her “contagious attitude” and for 12 digs with no errors.
Ozaukee is scheduled to host Sheboygan Lutheran on Thursday.
Covie-19 slows Cedar Grove-Belgium
Cedar Grove-Belgium got swept by defending Division 3 state champion Howards Grove last Thursday, 25-11 25-7, 25-8.
“Actually, we played really well against them. The score doesn’t show it, but we had some really good rallies,” coach Sharon Stellwagen said.
“They all played well together. It was a good showing by everybody.”
The Rockets get two weeks off due to contact tracing from positive Covid-19 tests at the school. A tournament at the school last Saturday was canceled, as were an Oct. 6 match against Ozaukee and an Oct. 12 match at Sheboygan Christian. They will also miss the Big East Conference meet on Oct. 10.
Their next match is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, at Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah.
Stellwagen said she planned to send the girls some activities to do on their own during quarantine.