dgriswold@marshallindependent.com
MARSHALL - Chalk up another Subway Classic championships for the Wabasso volleyball team.
The Rabbits returned as reigning champions in the Brown Division, and after a 5-0 weekend, they will continue to hold that title.
"The girls came ready to play and did really well," said Wabasso head coach Beth Reinke. "It's a good time to be playing well at the end of the season."
After defeating Lincoln HI Friday night, the Rabbits carried their success over into Saturday with a wins over Martin Luther GHEC (25-10, 25-16) Dawson-Boyd (25-14, 25-18) and Springfield (25-19, 25-14) to win Pool 1 and earn a spot in the championship against Cedar Mountain Comfrey.
"We had pretty easy games because we jumped out right away and didn't let too many teams get too close in the games," Reincke said.
The Rabbits hosted Cedar Mountain/Comfrey earlier in the season and rolled past the Cougars 3-0, and Saturday night's result was no different.
The Rabbits swept the cedar Mountain/Comfrey 2-0 after jumping ahead early in both games.
"If you can jump out to a big lead, that makes life so much easier," said Reincke.
With the scored knotted 4-4, Wabasso went on a 5-0 run capped which was capped off by a Tori Altermatt kill.
"I was more focused on my passing because that's how we get it started," Altermatt said. "The hits will come after you get the passing down."
Altermatt's passing helped surged the Rabbist offense as they went on to extend their lead to 19-12 but Cedar Mountain/Comfrey rebounded with back-to-back aces to help spark a four-point rally.
As the lead diminished the three points, the Rabbits rallied to put away the Cougars 25-20 to take the 1-0 edge in the match.
"We weren't getting our passes up right away, so that's why I think they came back," said Altermatt. "When we get our passes up we can run our offense really well and efficient."
The Rabbits found themselves in a familiar position in Game 2 as they jolted out to a quick 6-2 lead, forcing Cedar Mountain Comfrey for the second-consecutive game to play from behind.
The Cougars climbed to within two points but another five-point rally gave the Rabbits yet another comfortable lead to work with.
Wabasso built a 19-10 lead which proved to be enough to hold off another late charge by the Cougars.
"We sometimes get complacent," Reincke said. "When we don't pass we can't run our offense. The big thing is getting our passes up to our setter so we can get on the offense."
Cedar Mountain/Comfrey closed the gap to five points but an Ashley Fennern tip kill and a defensive Cougar error lifted the Rabbits to a 25-17 victory to win the match.
"I'm really happy with the team's performance," Altermatt said. "I think we played good overall."
Altermatt finished with seven kills on the match and 18 on the tournament.
Andrea Rohlik led the Rabbits with 41 kills on the tournament along with 12 blocks. Morgan Samyn finished with a total of 106 assists and Chantel Salfer led the team with 40 digs.
"We played really well this weekend," Reincke said. "I was really proud of the girls."
With the late-season tournament win, the Rabbits will now carry some momentum into the Section 3A tournament.
"Hopefully this carries over into playoffs because we could probably make a run and scare some teams," Altermatt said.
Wabasso will open the section play against TMB on Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Kerkhoven.
"Hopefully we can use this momentum," said Reincke. "We won our last conference game and (the Subway Classic). Now we have to keep working hard in practice this week to prepare."
Lincoln HI finished fourth in the Brown Division after going 3-1 in pool play losing only to Wabasso and losing to G-F-W 25-15, 25-13.
TMB took fifth place after the Panthers defeated Martin Luther GHEC 25-19, 25-23 in the final conest.
Adrian finished seventh as the Dragons downed Springfield 25-20, 25-15 and St. James claimed the ninth place position with a win over Dawson-Boyd 25-10, 27-25.
Subway Classic
Brown Division
Saturday's Scores
Pool 1
Martin Luther GHEC10 16
Wabasso25 25
Wabasso 25 25
Dawson-Boyd 14 18
Wabasso 25 25
Springfield 19 14
Martin Luther GHEC 25 25
Dawson-Boyd 22 14
Dawson-Boyd 25 11 6
Lincoln HI 22 25 15
Lincoln HI 25 25
Springfield 22 22
Pool 2
Adrian 16 17
CMC 25 25
Adrian 25 19 10
TMB 17 25 15
G-F-W 25 17 11
CMC 14 25 15
G-F-W 25 25
St. James 22 12
TMB 15 22
CMC 25 25
TMB 25 25
St. James 23 15
Brown Division Finals
Ninth Place Game
Dawson-Boyd 10 25
St. James 25 27
Seventh Place Game
Springfield 20 15
Adrian 25 25
Fifth Place Game
Martin Luther GHEC 19 23
TMB 25 25
Third Place Game
Lincoln HI 19 23
G-F-W 25 25
Championship Game
Wabasso 25 25
CMC 20 17
Wabasso Individual Statistics
Serving (good-att-aces): Chantel Salfer 52-52-5, Morgan Samyn 40-44-8
Kills: Andrea Rohlik 41, Tori Altermatt 18. Alonna Baune 18
Assists: Samyn 106
Blocks: Rohlik 12
Digs: Salfer 40, Samyn 28
Lincoln HI Individual Statistics
Serving: Bridgette Bloch 40-44-6, Chelsea Conrad 44-48-6
Kills: Megan Evert 32
Assists: Amanda Steffes 30
Blocks: Evert 8
Digs: Evert 23
Blocks: Evert 8
n No other Statistics were made available to the Independent.
