FR rallies over Jets (09/14/04)

PITSBURG, Ohio — After back-to-back losses to two of the best Division IV teams in the state, the Fort Recovery volleyball team was in need of a big win. It delivered in The Hangar.

The Indians handed the Franklin Monroe Jets just their second loss of the season, coming back from a game-one loss for a 22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-15 victory Monday.

“Them being 6-1 and only losing to (Sidney Lehman Catholic) so far made this a huge win for us,” said Tribe coach Jackie Briscoe. “That’s the way I look at it.”

Fort Recovery had lost two straight, falling to Division IV No. 7 Minster Thursday and No. 8 Lehman Catholic Saturday. It’s only other loss came against Old Fort, which finished 13th in the Division IV voting this week.

The Indians (5-3), who were 17th in the Division IV voting, rallied after giving away the first game. They had six service errors in the opening game against the Jets, five of which came on first serves.

But, the Tribe took control at the end of the second and third games to turn the tables on the home team.

Game two was tied at 21 when Franklin Monroe sent a serve flying into the net and the Indians made them pay. The Jets weren’t able to get the ball back over the net on Ciera Rammel’s first serve, and sophomore Tiff Gaerke hammered down back-to-back kills to even the match at one game apiece.

The third game was again tied, this time at 16, when Ciera Rammel headed behind the service line. She scored six straight points, which included an ace, a block by Gaerke and a tip for a kill from Jennalee Post.

Franklin Monroe middle hitter Elana Kakatolis managed a couple of blocks on Gaerke and Megan Wenning to keep the game alive, but Gaerke again delivered the game-ending kill.

Fort Recovery took advantage of Jet errors in the third game.

Megan Wenning scored five straight points, four of which came on consecutive Franklin Monroe miscues, for a 13-6 lead. From there Krystal Rammel and Gaerke drove home kills for seven of the final nine Tribe points as the Jets never came close.

“My kids had a team effort tonight,” said Briscoe, who got 18 kills apiece from middle hitters Krystal Rammel and Gaerke. “I had every one of those kids (who dress varsity) in the ball game tonight. They all did it. They all came through when they had to come through.”

Fort Recovery did a nice job on the front line, with Gaerke recording five blocks and Krystal Rammel, Holly Stein and Post each adding four. Ciera Rammel had 16 points, and Wenning added 12 points and eight digs.

Post also had 41 assists, and Rachel Brackman notched 14 digs.

Brewer said the biggest problem for his team was its inability to get the ball to his middle hitter, Kakatolis, who stands 6 feet tall. She finished with eight blocks, but was a non-factor on the offensive side of the ball.

Dana Halderman led the team with eight kills, and also scored seven points. Kelsey Wiseman had 11 assists and nine points.

“My outside hitters were doing a real nice job,” Brewer said. “We just didn’t get Elana (Kakatolis) any balls tonight. I think we only set her seven times, and you could tell. She’s the key to our team.”

The Tribe will return to Midwest Athletic Conference action Thursday when it hosts Versailles at 6 p.m.

Junior varsity

Fort Recovery controlled the third and deciding game Monday for a 25-23, 22-25, 15-11 victory over Franklin Monroe.

The Indians (4-1) split the first two games with the Jets, but led 9-6 in and 13-9 in the third. Franklin Monroe called time outs on both occasions, but could not stop the Tribe.

Abby Niekamp paced Fort Recovery with 12 assists, seven points, five kills and five digs. Lauren Wenning had a team-high nine kills to go along with six points and five digs.

Alicia Schwieterman finished with four kills and one block. Lori Osterholt had eight points, Brittany Brackman came up with 16 digs, Jodi Tobe notched nine assists and Rachel Stahl had four digs.

Junior high

The Indians’ junior high volleyball teams took on the Celina Bulldogs Monday and came away with a couple of losses. The eighth grade team fell by a 25-15, 25-22 score while the seventh grade team managed to take one game in a 25-11, 24-26, 15-4 defeat.

Kinsey Wenning led the eighth graders (2-3) with five kills, five points, two digs and one block. Chelsea Klenke had six points and four assists, and Kelsey Wuebker added three assists and three kills.

Rachel Tobe and Kelly Sudhoff each had a pair of digs.

The seventh grade team (3-2) got eight points and two kills from Nicole Pottkotter. Carly Staugler had four points and three assists, and Emily May finished with team highs of five kills and three digs.

Alyssa Brackman had two digs, and Sylvia Schwieterman added two kills.[[In-content Ad]]