The Prescott Varsity Volleyball team travelled to Ellsworth on Monday night to face the Panthers. The Cardinals came into the match with a 3-4 record looking to improve theirrecordto.500ontheyear. Ellsworth had a 2-6 record before Monday night’s match.

Prescott’s starting lineup against Ellsworth was, Maddie Matzek, Morgan Lundeen, Bella Lenz, Tori Benck, Reese Ptacek, Sydney Matzek, and Nicole Dalman. This was the same starting lineup for the Cardinals, that pushed conference leader Saint Croix Central to a five set match last week.

Prescott’s Reece Ptacek would blast a winner through the Ellsworth defense to score the Cardinals first point of the night tying the set at 1-1. Neither team would gain much of an advantage early, Bella Lenz sent a blistering shot cross court to tie the set at 4-4. Prescott would look to Lenz to fire shots from the outside often in the first set. With junior Grace Stuhl serving, the Cardinals would score three straight points, giving them their first lead of the set at 9-8. The set remained tight as teams continued to trade scores. Ellsworth finally took some momentum scoring three straight points to take a 16-13 lead and force a Cardinals timeout. Unfortunately, Ellsworth continued to find openings in the middle of the court against Prescott and pulled away for a 25-20 first set victory.

Ellsworth got out to a hot start in the second set scoring the first four points and the Cardinals coaches called a quick timeout. The timeout did not seem to deter the Panthers as they scored another four straight to take a commanding 8-0 lead. Finally, Bella Lenz, scored for the back row to get Prescott on the board. The Cardinals would score four more points with Delany Sanford serving, including a service ace, to close the score to 8-5. After another four point run from Ellsworth, Bella Lenz scored again from the back row. Ellsworth’s lead was trimmed to 12-6. Prescott closed to 13-9 when Nicole Dalman had a big block. Prescott could never get closer than three points the rest of the set and Ellsworth closed out the set victory 25-18.

For the first time on the night, Prescott scored first in a set, taking a 1-0 lead taking a 1-0 lead. It was just the second lead of the night. After the Cardinals took a 2-1 lead, Ellsworth scored four straight. With Reese Ptacek serving, Prescott rallied to tie the score at 5-5. Ellsworth then scored seven of the next nine points to take a 12-7 lead. Then it looked as though Bella Lenz was stepped on under the net and had to leave the match. Morgan Lundeen then pulled the Cardinals to with-in one point at 12-11 with two service aces, but Prescott could not pull even. From that point on, Ellsworth dominated the set and won going away 25-17.

Ellsworth wins impressively in straight sets 25-20, 25-18, and 25-17. The Panthers improve to 3-6 on the season. Prescott falls to 3-5 on the year. The Cardinals are in action Tuesday night versus Osceola.

Osceola tops Prescott in five sets

The Prescott Varsity Volleyball team travelled to Osceola on Tuesday October 13th. The match was the final regular season contest for both teams. Osceola began the night with a record of 7-4. Prescott entered the evening with a 3-5 record.

Prescott’s announced lineup was different than previous match’s. Bessie Schommer and Delany Sanford were inserted into the lineup with Maddie Matzek, Tori Benck, Reese Ptacek, Sydney Matzek, and Nicole Dalman.

Delany Sanford started the match off with a service ace. Teams battled back and forth, with neither team gaining an advantage. With the score tied 9-9, and Maddie Matzek serving, Prescott scored four straight points and Osceola called a timeout trailing 13-9. As it often seems, the timeout calmed down the Chieftains, and they came back to tie the set at 15-15. With the score 19-17 in favor of the Cardinals, it was Myah Miller’s turn to serve for Prescott. Maddie Matzek made a great diving play to keep play alive and Prescott increased their lead to three. Osceola had trouble returning serve as they sent two balls out of play. Prescott would lead 23-17 when the Chieftains called their second timeout of the set. Prescott would win set one easily 25-18. The Prescott back line played terrific in the set making dig after dig, allowing the offense to thrive at the net.

With Prescott trailing 1-0 in the second set, Bella Lenz got the Cardinals on the board blasting a shot off of the Osceola defenders. With the score 2-2, Grace Stuhl showed off her serving skills with two service ace’s and the Cardinals led 5-3. Osceola slowly started to take control of the set and leading 12-9, on a scramble, one of the Chieftains hit a shot from out of bounds across the net. The ball slid on top of the net and landed on the Prescott side for a point for Osceola. It was a great save for the Chieftains, and perhaps a bit of luck. The play really gave them the momentum. As they stretched the lead after that. Prescott could not close to less than five points and Osceola won set two by a 25-18 score.

Myah Miller gave Prescott the early 1-0 in set three with another service ace. Osceola then would score several points with touch shots. They continued to tip the shots over Prescott blockers. After a block by the Chieftains made the score 7-2, Prescott called a timeout. With the score 14-6 Osceola, one of the greatest volleys I’ve ever seen in volleyball occurred. Each team would take a dozen shots and it momentarily looked as though each team would win the point multiple times. After 55 seconds of intensity, Prescott won the point. The Cardinals seemed to use up all their energy winning the point however, as Osceola dominated the rest of the set and won easily 25-13.

Prescott trailed the match 2-1 going into the fourth set and would need to win set four and then a set five to win the match. Osceola had all the momentum going into the set and they quickly raced out to a 4-0 lead. Prescott answered with two points, only to see the Chieftains take a 7-2 lead. The Cardinals could have taken a timeout at either point, but instead they saved the timeouts and with Prescott’s backs against the wall, they started to comeback. Once again Grace Stuhl was a catalyst with her serving and Prescott closed to a 7-6 score. Prescott trailed 10-7 with Reese Ptcek serving they would score three straight, including one service ace, to tie the set at 10-10. A few points later, Nicole Dalman spiked a shot past Osceola to give the Cardinals their first lead of the set at 12-11. The teams then traded points back and forth and with the Cardinals down one point, Reece Ptacek hit a blistering shot down the line to tie the score 17-17. The Cardinals would take their first two point lead of the set when Nicole Dalman made a big block to make the score 19-17. With Prescott leading 22-20, Osceola called a timeout to try and steal the set win. Good things happen for Prescott when Myah Miller is serving. Osceola could not handle her first two serves and Prescott was one point away from the set win. As Osceola’s last shot went harmlessly into the net, Prescott had come back to win set four 25-20.

A winner take all fifth set, would start with the teams trading the first seven points back and forth. Prescott leading 4-3. Osceola then would get the first run of the set, scoring three straight to take a 6-4 lead. Knowing that the fifth set is a race to 15 points, Prescott called a quick timeout to try and stop any momentum. Prescott would rally three times to get within a point of the Chieftains, 8-7, 10-9, and 11-10. With Maddie Matzek serving the Cardinals finally took a brief 12-11 lead. Osceola would answer with three straight points to lead 14-12. With Osceola serving for the set and match win, Prescott called a timeout. The Cardinals would get within one point again on a spike down the center of the court making the score 14-13. Osceola then called a timeout. Delany Sanford would serve for Prescott knowing she had to put the serve in play. Sanford, in a big pressure situation, delivered a nice serve. The Chieftains were able to return the serve and then block Prescott’s shot to win an exciting 15-13 fifth set.