Phoenix fall in regional final

By Adam Burdsall of the Daily Times staff
Monday, October 26, 2009 12:14 PM CDT

Luther Prep sophomore Erin Westendorf (right) had nine kills to lead the Phoenix in a 3-1 loss to Beaver Dam Wayland Academy in a WIAA Division 3 regional final Saturday in Juneau. The Phoenix end the season with a 12-20 overall record. (ADAM BURDSALL/Daily Times)

JUNEAU - The inconsistencies that plagued the Luther Prep volleyball team all season cost the Phoenix their season Saturday.

After winning the first game of its WIAA Division 3 regional final against Beaver Dam Wayland Academy, the Phoenix lost their touch, and the next three games, in a 3-1 loss to the Big Red.

“This is how we play sometimes,” Luther Prep coach Carolynn Bertolus said. “All year it seemed like we could play with anyone. We could play with really good teams, but we would have spots where we would lose momentum. Against good teams, we just could not make up that ground.”

Things looked good early for Luther Prep (12-20 overall). Senior Elizabeth Loersch had a pair of aces in a five-point run as the Phoenix went out to a quick 14-4 lead. The Phoenix would never lose the lead in the first game but did allow the Big Red to gain momentum in the loss. Wayland rallied to within 16-15 but had three hitting errors and were called for making contact with the net twice as Luther Prep went on a 7-2 run and held on to take the opening game 25-18.

Luther Prep rallied from a three-point deficit early in Game 2 to pull even at 11 on a tip kill by sophomore Erin Westendorf. The teams traded points and were still tied at 22-22 before Wayland senior Jenna Ptaschinski powered down an attack and junior Anne Rauschert recorded a block kill to make it 24-22. Ptaschinski then aced a serve to give the Big Red the 25-22 win.

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“Ptaschinski did a nice job adjusting after the first game,” Bertolus said. “She did a better job hitting around our block. She kind of took over for them.”

Aiding the Big Red cause was a poor passing night by the Phoenix.

“Our passing has been a problem all year,” Bertolus said. “When Wayland had tougher serves, we just had a hard time passing the ball. Everything goes downhill from there.”

Game 3 was close through the early stages as the teams played to a 16-16 tie. Luther Prep then had two errors and was called in the net twice before Wayland senior Stephi Hill recorded back-to-back kills to cap a 9-2 run to take the third game 25-18.

After playing to a 3-3 tie early in Game 4, it was all Wayland. The Big Red went on an 11-1 run culminating when Rauschert served three consecutive aces to make it 15-5. Luther Prep got within 18-12 but never seriously threatened and saw the season end when a tip by Westendorf, who led the Phoenix with nine kills, landed wide to send Wayland to the sectional semifinal Thursday in Clinton against Cuba City.

“After the third game, it seemed like we got mentally down,” Bertolus said. “I kept telling them they have to play aggressively and think we are going to win this game. But, we could not.”