Bonduel netters drop CWC-East match to Amherst

It was an opportunity for the Bonduel volleyball team to make a little noise in the race for a Central Wisconsin Conference-East championship.

The Amherst Falcons didn’t go along with that plan, however, as they hosted the Bears on Sept. 22 and sent them home following a three-set sweep.

Amherst improved to 3-0 in CWC-East play with a 25-22, 25-17, 25-16 win, while the Bears fell to 0-3 in conference play after also dropping recent four-set matches to Shiocton and Weyauwega-Fremont.

Bonduel’s best chance for a set win came in the first game, as the Bears built 14-10 and 20-17 leads. Amherst led from start to finish in the second and third sets.

Coach Abby Krull and her team have already faced two favorites to contend for a conference championship in the Falcons and Shiocton.

“We have a lot of youth, so it’s taken us a little bit to get rolling on the same page,” she said. “We made some strides in the last couple of matches and tournaments that we’ve had, so we’re getting there.”

The Bears’ starting lineup against the Falcons included sophomores Casey Wesenberg and Jorja Reinke and freshman Kollins Wesenberg.

“I think it’s going to continue to compete when we come in the gym and do everything we can to make it tough on the other side,” Krull said.

The Bears didn’t have much time to dwell on the loss, as they host Wittenberg-Birnamwood two days later on Sept. 24.

“That’s definitely a goal for us here, get the first (CWC-East win) and get some momentum going for ourselves,” Krull said.

Several of Amherst’s points, especially in the second and third games, came on Bonduel’s unforced errors that included service errors and misplayed balls at the net.

“It’s the little stuff,” Krull said. “Get the pass up to the center hitters, everybody be ready to go so you have all your options and make them play defense. When we do that, that’s when we look really good. When we have unforced errors, that’s when we’re going to struggle.”