To quote celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, it was time for the Oconto Falls volleyball team to “kick it up a notch.”
That’s exactly what the Panthers did in their North Eastern Conference opener, as they headed to Waupaca on Sept. 10 and returned home following a three-set sweep over the Comets.
Oconto Falls opened the match with 25-11 and 25-13 wins and completed the sweep with a 25-18 victory.
The Panthers were one of two North Eastern teams ranked in the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association’s Division 2 state poll for the week of Sept. 8. Oconto Falls was ranked 10th, while Luxemburg-Casco was ninth.
“Absolutely, 100%,” coach Rochell Otto said when asked if the team’s conference matches are a big deal for her team. “It felt really good. It’s been awhile since we played, because we had a first-round bye. They came out and were ready to play. They practiced hard. Getting that first one underneath your belt is always huge.”
Despite the state ranking, the Panthers came into the match with the Comets with a 6-4 record.
“We had little struggles here and there,” Otto said. “We’ve got some new people on the team trying out new positions, and they’re pushing through.”
Oconto Falls never trailed in the first game and only trailed briefly in the second set.
The Panthers had a two-point lead in the third game before Rhiana Van De Yacht served up seven straight points — including a pair of aces — that turned a 5-3 lead into a 12-3 advantage.
The Comets closed the gap to five points twice down the stretch but never got any closer.
The Panthers finished one game behind Luxemburg-Casco in conference play last year. The Spartans won the North Eastern championship with a 7-1 mark, while the Panthers, Waupaca and Freedom tied for second at 6-2.
“Our conference is always tough, and it has been for years,” Otto said. “L-C is always good, and Freedom always fights.”
The Panthers’ upcoming conference schedule includes a trip to Clintonville on Sept. 22 and a home match against Denmark on Sept. 24.
“You can’t take anybody for granted,” Otto said. “We’re ready to just come and play, and that’s what makes us go and persevere through the postseason. We have big goals. Big goals mean you have to be ready every single match.”
Calli Bursa concentrates before serving for Oconto Falls on Sept. 10 during the Panthers’ North Eastern Conference opener against Waupaca. Bursa and the Panthers swept the Comets 3-0. (Greg Seubert)
Brenna Belanger, left, replaces Ella Jahnke in Oconto Falls’ match with Waupaca at Waupaca High School. (Greg Seubert)
Brylee Gorman reacts after Oconto Falls scores a point against the Waupaca Comets. (Greg Seubert)
