Wildcats fall to Augusta, win two at BRF tourney

The Blair-Taylor volleyball team lost its first match of the season last week, then won two of three at a tournament.

The Wildcats had only lost one set all season entering play last week, but fell to Augusta, 3-1, on the road last Tuesday. The Wildcats suffered another loss on Saturday, falling to Viroqua in a tournament hosted by Black River Falls, but B-T won two other matches.

B-T began this week with a record of 9-2 and 1-1 in Dairyland Conference play. The Wildcats hosted Eleva-Strum on Tuesday, then will be off until next Monday when they host Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran. B-T plays at Osseo-Fairchild next Tuesday. 

B-T     23 25 17 23

AUG   25 20 25 25

After splitting the first two sets, the Wildcats struggled to get going offensively in the third and came up just short in the fourth.

Senior Chloe Medenblik had 21 kills and five aces for the Wildcats, and sophomore Charlyse Horton finished with 11 kills and two aces. 

Horton also led the team with 15 digs while Addison Lejcher had 12 and Emma Wathke finished with 10. Wathke handled the setting duties, finishing with 34 assists. 

BR Falls Tournament

The Wildcats defeated a Dairyland Conference rival and split against two Coulee Conference teams. 

B-T easily dispatched Melrose-Mindoro, 21-9, 25-21. Medenblik had 11 kills and an ace in the win. Wathke led the team with two aces, 17 assists, and eight digs.

The Wildcats lost to Viroqua 2-1, winning the second set 25-21, but dropping the first, 25-17, and the third, 15-13.

Medenblik had nine kills while Kelcie Kindschy finished with eight. Medenblik added two blocks and an ace. Wathke had three aces to lead the team and also had a team-best 18 assists. Alyssa Tubbs led the team with 12 digs. 

B-T controlled the first, 25-18, and third, 15-10, sets in a 2-1 win over Black River Falls. The Tigers won the second set, 25-23. 

Medenblik had 19 kills and six blocks. Tubbs led the team with four aces and nine digs. Wathke finished with 30 assists.