Nicolet girls repeat volleyball conference feat
Girls take 2nd straight NSC volleyball title
Winning a title once is gratifying; repeating it can prove to be sublime.
That's what the two-time North Shore Conference champion Nicolet girls volleyball team found out Saturday, as the Knights overcame adversity and won the league tournament, something they didn't even need to do to clinch overall NSC honors.
"I am so proud of this team," said Nicolet coach Dann Jacobson. "To have a target on your back in every conference match and rise to the occasion in every match and in every game (but one in the tournament) is just remarkable. To play at that high of a level all season is a testimony to their talent and ability to focus."
The Knights will now turn their attention to WIAA tournament play. They earned the second seed in the Waukesha West sectional and picked up a first-round bye. They will host the winner of Waukesha South and Arrowhead in a 7 p.m. regional final Saturday.
Sectional semifinals will be at top-seeded Watertown on Oct. 29 and the sectional final will be at West on Oct. 31.
"We think our chances are pretty good," said senior middle blocker Nicole Flemming. "We know there's a lot of competition and that we can't look past anyone but we think we can get there (state)."
Nicolet had run the table in NSC duals and had a two-match cushion heading into the tournament. The Knights formally clinched the overall title when they swept Whitefish Bay (25-18, 26-24), Grafton (25-18, 25-15) and Cedarburg (26-24, 25-13) in pool play.
That explained the bit of a letdown at the start of their tourney championship semifinal match with Germantown. They fell behind in the first game, 16-6, and eventually lost it 25-21, but then steamrolled the Warhawks 25-15, 15-10.
"I know it sounds weird but I was really proud of our players after game one," Jacobson said. "They did not give up, they did not get down, they were able to make in-game adjustments and we were all really positive going into game two."
That comeback made the title match win of 25-19, 25-19 over Homestead all the more special.
Flemming was happy for herself and seniors Katelyn Richards, Sam Lautmann and Rachel Morello.
"A major strength of ours is how close we are," Flemming said. "We've been together so long (the seniors) and everyone (on the team) meshes together so well."
"We also work very hard in practice. Coach (Jacobson) really keeps us moving, " she said with a laugh.
Knights are North Shore v-ball champs again
Title second in a row
NSC Tourney Leaders
Digs-Melissa Morello 48, Katelyn Richards 46 Assists-Rachel Morello 103 Kills-Melissa Morello 51 Blocks-Nikki Flemming 11 Aces-Sam Lautmann and Dana Kenney 9
*Conference season record: 7-0 (games 21-0)
*Conference tournament record: 5-0 (games 10-1)
*Third straight conference tournament win and in the past two seasons the Knights are 23-1 in conference and tournament combined.
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