By NATE BEIER | For the County Line
Success has been limited for the Brookwood volleyball program in its relatively short existence.
But the Falcon netters, like many other Brookwood athletic programs, have found a way to achieve new milestones. This year, the team is guaranteed its first overall winning record in program history, largely due to a strong finish in the regular season that featured wins over Cashton and Necedah.
Brookwood hosted a hot Cashton team Oct. 14. Coming off a surprising 3-2 win over Hillsboro the week before, the Eagles expected to avenge a 3-2 loss to the Falcons earlier this season. The match surged back and forth: Brookwood won the first set 25-15 and dropped the second 25-11 only to return with a 25-19 win. The fourth set went Cashton’s way 25-14 before BHS locked up the win via a 15-11 win in the fifth set.
Coach Jeanine Brieske said the team’s ability to pass the ball was what kept the Falcons in the game. Bridget Cleven had 24 assists and spread the attack attempts around as Amber Brueggen paced the teams with 9 kills; Haley Hall, 8; and Zoey Rynes, 7. Brueggen tallied 32 digs; Cleven, 23; and Rynes, 21.
The Falcons were pushed again Oct. 16 when Necedah hosted the regular-season finale. Though Necedah took game one 25-21, Brookwood rallied for the final three wins, 25-19, 25-16, 25-22. The team served a season-high 14 aces in the win. Hall led the team with 14 kills, and Brueggen contributed 12. Also, Brueggen had 22 digs; Rynes, 17; and Alex Decker, 15.
Scenic Bluffs Quad
Brookwood swept Necedah 3-0 (25-13, 25-14 and 25-13) at the SBC quad Oct. 7 and knocked off New Lisbon 3-2 (25-19, 20-25, 25-16, 23-25 and 16-14). Brueggen had 14 kills; and Hall, 8, against the Rockets. Also, the team tallied 130 digs in the five-set win.
However, the team dropped a 3-0 (8-25, 17-25, 18-25) decision at Bangor on Oct. 9. As a team, the Falcons missed just one serve, but couldn’t get anything going on offense or defense.
Brookwood finishes the regular season 15-13 overall and 8-6 in the Scenic Bluffs, tying with Bangor and Wonewoc-Center for third place. The Falcons traveled to Westby on Oct. 21 for the opening round of the WIAA regional tournament.