Witt-Birn volleyball team falls to Howards Grove at state

Chargers cap season with 28-9 record
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School volleyball team left everything it had out on the state court, but it wasn’t enough to dethrone three-time defending state champion Howards Grove during a Division 3 state semifinal match on Nov. 4 at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

The fourth-seeded Chargers lost by scores of 25-13, 25-18, 25-9 to the top-seeded Tigers.

“I’m so proud of all my girls,” said Witt-Birn coach Becky Rew in a postgame press conference with seniors Reese Rogowski and Lilly Betry at her sides. “They fought the whole way through. They didn’t let the nerves of state get to them. They fought and they pushed every point … I just can’t say enough about these girls and how they never give up on each other.”

Witt-Birn came out swinging and with plenty of confidence in set one. The Chargers got their first two points on Rogowski kills and grabbed a 3-2 lead after an ace from senior Kiara Deruchowski.

Witt-Birn continued to battle with Howards Grove and eventually was tied 7-7. The Tigers seized control of the set after a pair of 3-0 runs.

From there, Witt-Birn struggled to string together points as Howards Grove ran away with the set.

“They’re a great team, they have three great hitters in the front row at all times,” said Rogowski of Howards Grove. “Their back row is crazy good so just their whole lineup honestly is outstanding — they kept pushing and got all of our hits up.”

Betry added that Howards Grove was “also very smart with the ball. They knew where to place it.”

The beginning of set two saw the two teams split the first six points. Rogowski added another kill to her stat line during that stretch.

Howards Grove broke things open with a 7-0 run and later led 12-5 before Metropulos delivered a kill and Metropulos and Melaina Granquist teamed up on a block.

The Tigers responded with the next four points before Metropulos had another kill. Again, Howards Grove went on a 4-0 run, grabbing a 20-8 advantage and forcing Witt-Birn’s final timeout of the set.

The Chargers bounced back by winning the next four points. Rogowski had two more kills as Metropulos served on the final three points.

After Howards Grove got within two points of taking the set, Witt-Birn went on another 4-0 run. Deruchowski served two aces on the run before Rogowski delivered a kill.

The Tigers were soon able to finish off the set, but the Chargers’ fight and determination was what made Rew so proud postgame.

Had you looked on the Witt-Birn side of the court most of the match, one might have thought the Chargers were the ones controlling the set with all the smiles and laughs the team shared. That’s something the team did all season regardless of what the scoreboard read.

“It’s definitely a great mindset (that) these girls have, is “I’m out there, I’m enjoying it and I’m going to do my best to give it my all and get the win,” said Rew. “It’s really come around for them and it’s really been the way our team has played all season long.”

Set three saw Howards Grove jump out to an 11-1 lead, but it still didn’t spoil the Chargers’ spirits.

Witt-Birn got a couple kills from Metropulos in the middle of the set to match points with Howards Grove before the Tigers pulled away for good.

The Chargers finished with 16 attack kills in the contest, while Howards Grove had 42. Rogowski tallied 11 of the kills, while Metropulos had the other five.

Senior Payton Foster tallied a team-leading eight assists, while Betry had five. Deruchowski had all three of the team’s aces. Rogowski, Foster and Metropulos all were credited with four digs in the contest.

It was a tough finish to an otherwise spectacular season for Witt-Birn. The Chargers finished 28-9 overall, winning the Central Wisconsin Conference-East Division with a perfect record before claiming regional and sectional titles to get to state for the first time in school history.

It was a team dominated by upperclassmen and led by six seniors — Rogowski, Foster, Betry, Deruchowski, Halle Beversdorf and Allison Linke.

“Just the fans and the energy throughout the whole thing was amazing,” said Betry on the state experience. “If I was going to play a last game, it’s great to have it here. And to make it this far, it’s an amazing season, I’m really proud.”

“I’m so grateful for this experience, it’s like no other really,” said Rogowski. “Just getting to play our last game here like she (Betry) said is really special for us.”

After receiving a bye to open the postseason, Witt-Birn swept Coleman before rallying for a five-set regional title win over Bonduel. Witt-Birn made quick work of Weyauwega-Fremont in a sectional semifinal before winning the final two sets against Edgar to claim another five-set match and punch a ticket to state.

More match details can be found at www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Volleyball_Girls/2022/d3match1.htm.

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