Northland Pines recognized their 2024-'25 senior volleyball players last week. Those being honored were, from left, Aleena Ryan, Maggie Reppert, Autumn Stecker, Matanna DePuydt amd Kyli Gwyn. —Photo By Chris Oatman
Hopes were for a better outcome last week as the Northland Pines volleyball team was beaten twice in back-to-back Great Northern Conference (GNC) matchups.
Pines hosted Rhinelander last Tuesday and the visiting Hodags won the first two sets, 25-20 and 25-22.
The Eagles rallied and dominated the third set as they won going away, 25-10.
However, that momentum was not enough to carry Pines to victory as Rhinelander took the fourth set, 25-15, and the match three sets to one.
“We had 53 unforced errors and basically handed them two sets due to those errors,” said coach Julie Smith. “The girls just need to believe they can finish a set and the match.”
Tuesday’s game was also Senior Night as Matanna DePuydt, Kyli Gwyn, Maggie Reppert, Aleena Ryan and Autumn Stecker were saluted by a large group of Pines fans.
“They have been a special part of this program for many years, some probably since fifth grade,” said Smith. “It’s been a good group of girls.”
The Eagles took a trip to Tomahawk two days later and split the first two sets before an exciting third set which saw Tomahawk outlast Northland Pines, 27-25.
The hometown Hatchets put the match away with a 25-17 win in the fourth to take a 3-1 win.
“We were missing Kami Neff, who is our leader in attack kills,” said Smith. “Tatum Fisher did a great job filling in for Kami on the outside attack at the net with eight kills, and Mykala Felesena had a great game with zero attack errors and four kills.
“Tomahawk’s defense was very good, and our blockers and back row were not connecting.”
The Pines volleyball team was scheduled to host Antigo in a conference game at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
They’ll travel to Medford for the final leg of the GNC tournament on Saturday starting at 10 a.m.
The Northland Pines volleyball team is currently 0-8 in the GNC and 9-16 overall.
“Even though we have not been able to get a conference win yet, I feel we are getting geared-up for postseason play in our first season in Division 3,” said Smith.
The team drops from Division 2 this season, and will be seeded against many eastern Wisconsin schools.
Those in Pines half of their Section are Bonduel, Clintonville, Kewaunee, Menomonie Indian, Oconto, Peshtigo, Southern Door, Sturgeon Bay, Tomahawk, Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Wrightstown.
Regional play is set to begin the week of Oct. 22, followed by Sectionals Oct. 31. The State finals will begin Nov. 7 in Green Bay.
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