The Oconto Falls High School volleyball team rallied from a second-place showing in pool play to reach the championship match of Saturday’s Shawano Volleyball Invitational, but couldn’t get past Rhinelander in the final.
“We’re improving, every match, every outing,” Oconto Falls coach Rachel Otto said. “I’m very pleased with this second-place finish here.”
Having already lost to Rhinelander in pool play, Oconto Falls knew the championship match was going to be tough. Rhinelander took control of the first game early, going up 10-3. The Hodags increased the lead to 18-10 and closed it out, 25-20.
The Panthers (1-7) kept it closer in the second game, tying at 13-13. The score was 23-22 before Rhinelander scored the last two points.
“We were in it, we were in it,” Otto said. “We just couldn’t finish it off. Hopefully, later in the season we can start finishing off those tight games.”
In the semifinal of the championship bracket, Oconto Falls beat Shawano 2-1. Oconto Falls won the first game, 25-21, and Shawano won the second, 25-20. In the tiebreaker, the Panthers went up 7-5, but fell behind 9-7 before winning it 15-12.
“That was huge,” Otto said. “It was a huge comeback to play that third game and come out on top. It’s a good bonus for us.”
The Panthers lost to Rhinelander (25-23, 25-23), but beat Kewaunee (25-17, 25-23) and Valders (25-18, 25-19) in pool play.
Junior outside hitter Emily Kilmer led Oconto Falls with 50 kills and 11 aces. Junior Alyssa Nelson had 27 kills. Senior Kayla Virtues had 24 kills. Junior setter Mikaela Thomson had 97 assists. McKayla Johnson had 29 digs.
“Different people stood out at different times,” Otto said. “Emily Kilmer has been pretty solid in the front row for us. Kayla Virtues is doing well. Mikaela Thomson is coming along as a setter.”
The Panthers are transitioning to a 5-1 offense with Thomson as the setter.
“It’s a little bit of a new role for her,” Otto said. “She’s handling it quite well.”
Otto said the team, which made a run to the state tournament last year with a strong senior class, is still finding itself.
“Our seniors were huge last year, but we’re slowly getting better each outing,” Otto said. “It’s a nice transition. We’re getting better and better.”
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