Rammel, Indians top Jets (09/09/03)

FORT RECOVERY — Fort Recovery’s girls needed a lift before their Midwest Athletic Conference match against Versailles. They got it Monday.

The Tribe started a bit slowly at home, but rallied to win the first game and dominated the second for a 15-11, 15-4 victory over the Franklin Monroe Jets. The Indians will visit Versailles (5-2) — voted second among area Division III and IV teams in the Dayton Daily News coach’s poll — Thursday at 6 p.m.

“Tonight was a total confidence booster for us for Thursday night,” said Fort Recovery coach Jackie Kaup. “That was our goal. We changed things up, and the girls adjusted really well.”

The Indians (5-2) played without Olivia Post, who usually shares setting duties opposite Joscie Kaup. Post injured her ankle during warm-ups for last week’s match against Minster.

Franklin Monroe (3-3) leapt to a 4-0 lead on a pair of Dana Halderman aces and two Fort Recovery attack errors. But, moments later Julie Grube got the Indians going with an ace of her own, and by the time Kaup stepped back to serve they were on fire.

Kaup scored seven straight points, to turn a 6-3 deficit into a 10-6 lead. The Tribe made the rally with its varied offense, getting two kills from Briget Metzger, two from Tiff Gaerke and one by Grube.

The Jets pulled to within one point twice at 10-9 and 12-11 before Krystal Rammel took control. Rammel racked up three kills down the stretch as the Tribe scored the final three points, and Kaup slammed down a quick kill to finish the game.

“We’ve lost to three pretty good teams,” said Franklin Monroe coach Scott Brewer, whose team’s other defeats came against Minster and Jackson Center. “(Fort Recovery) has got a lot of weapons.”

Brewer’s Jets scored the first two points of the second game, but did little after that.

Rammel started the Tribe’s scoring with her seventh kill of the match, and Grube followed with an ace to tie it. Moments later Lindsay Gaerke served four consecutive points, including an ace, for a 6-2 Fort Recovery lead.

Franklin Monroe pulled to within two points before the Indians ran off the final nine points — including a pair of Megan Wenning aces — for the big win.

“It was quite obvious we couldn’t pass in the second game, we couldn’t receive serve,” said Brewer. “I thought we had a little momentum to start the game. We couldn’t pass and then we just let them keep going.”

Rammel paced the Tribe with eight kills, twice as many as any other teammate. She also had three blocks.

Julie Grube finished with four kills and four digs, Jenn Stahl had four kills and Tiff Gaerke notched five blocks.

Kaup had nine digs, and put up 15 assists as the lone setter as the Tribe switched to a 5-1 formation. Wenning scored eight points and added a trio of digs.

“Krystal Rammel had a great match tonight,” said Kaup. “She had a great match Thursday night (against Minster), and she did it again tonight. She has elevated her play.”

Franklin Monroe got four blocks and three kills from junior Elaina Kakatolis. Eva Stephens had four points, Dana Halderman scored three points and Melissa Vance notched six assists.

Junior varsity

Fort Recovery’s junior varsity team remains undefeated after a 15-6, 15-12 victory over Franklin Monroe.

The Indians (4-0) rolled out to a 12-3 lead in the first game.

The Jets tried to rally only to have a Julie Link kill give the game to Fort Recovery.

The second game was closer, but the Tribe scored the final three points to finish off the match.

Jennalee Post paced the team in points and assists with nine and five respectively.

She also matched Vicki Roessner with four digs.

Roessner was second to Post with four assists and five points.

Brenda Rindler racked up five kills, and Kelly Link had four blocks.

Junior high

Fort Recovery’s eighth grade team rallied for a 7-15, 15-8, 15-11 victory over the Celina Bulldogs while the seventh grade team dropped a 15-0, 15-13 decision.

Angie Wenning had a big match for the eighth grade team, scoring 10 points and dishing out 14 sets. LeAnne Tobin had a team-high 11 points, and Jill Pottkotter finished with six kills.

Beth May had 10 sets and three digs, Ashley Grube had three digs and Lindsey Fortkamp had five digs. Grube and Sarah Braun each had one block.

The seventh grade team got nine points from Chelsea Klenke. Joanna Snyder had four sets, and Kelsey Wuebker added four sets and three digs. Snyder, Kinsey Wenning and Betsy Tobe each notched two kills.[[In-content Ad]]