In the end, it was a case of too much Bobcats and not enough Eagles.
Suring hosted Florence in a WIAA Division 5 sectional semifinal volleyball match Oct. 30 but ended up on the short end of a 3-1 score. The loss ended one the most successful seasons in program history, while the Bobcats advanced to state for the first time two days later with a 3-1 win over Central Wisconsin Christian in a sectional final in Eagle River.
Florence opened the match in Suring with a 25-18 win, but the Eagles came back to win the second set 25-22. The Bobcats answered with a 25-19 win in the third set before closing the match with a 25-16 win.
The Eagles and Bobcats came into the match as a No. 1 and No. 2 seed, respectively.
Florence jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the first set.
“They served well,” coach Tonia Kruschke said. “They took us out of our rotation. We just couldn’t get back into the game and serve-receive was a struggle for us.”
Suring had an 11-5 lead in the second set and led for most of the game.
However, the third and fourth games belonged to the Bobcats.
The Eagles needed to win the fourth set to force a fifth game, but Florence led the entire way.
“When our backs are against the wall, we’ve done well throughout the year to keep pushing and striving to get there,’ Kruschke said. “We’ve had a week of kids sick. I’m not using that as an excuse, but it pushed us back a little bit this week. The girls knew we had to come out and play 100%. If we gave 100% and still got beat, they were the better team and that’s what happened tonight. They were the better team.
“Florence travels well. They’re all over the state playing tournaments. They get on the bus and they go and play. They’re used to that. We knew Florence was going to come to play. I just wanted to finish with a battle and we did. We battled.”
The Eagles’ season included an M&O Conference championship, a 16-0 record in conference matches and a regional championship.
“Best season of my coaching career,” Kruschke said. “This group of girls is amazing. They work hard, they play well together, there’s nobody trying to outdo one another on this team. That’s really what’s contributed to our success this year.”
