Gigl's memory lives on as Knights take second in volleyball tourney

It's been 10 years and where did the time go?

To tears, to memory and to some great volleyball.

All of which, the late Nicolet volleyball player Brittney Gigl would have enjoyed immensely on Saturday at the memorial tournament the Knights put on each year in her honor.

"It's amazing that it's been that long," Knights coach Dann Jacobson said. "Bob and Marta (her parents) are here every year helping to hand out the trophies and then they stay and talk to coaches and they talk to the kids on the other teams about Brittney's story (her sad passing from encephalitis in 2001).

"They talk to people who have lost children themselves and then everyone winds up crying and hugging. It's just a very bittersweet day.

"But, we're doing something Brittney loved to do. She loved to play and to compete hard and that's a real bright spot."

That's a point understood by Homestead coach Adam Heitzkey, whose team was sixth at the Gigl.

"It is my understanding that Brittney was the kind of player that all coaches would love to have 12 of on their roster," Heitzkey said. "Oftentimes coaches stress winning so much that they forget that they are working with young adults who see these opportunities as a chance to play, compete and be a part of something.

"The Brittney Gigl story reminds me of how I need to really look for the great things about these kids even if they are not as successful as I would like them to be as volleyball players, when it is all said and done, coaches coach because they feel they are helping young adults. In actuality, the players are providing some really great moments for their adult coaches."

Teams put on a show

And Gigl would be very pleased with that concept as again this year's tournament provided many great moments.

Nicolet, currently ranked fifth in the state, was denied a third straight tourney title in the event by a small but very athletic West Bend West squad, which has beaten the Knights in three out of four matches this season and is ranked fourth in state.

The Knights need to bounce back in a hurry as they have a critical North Shore dual at home at 5 p.m. Thursday against defending league champ and ninth-ranked Germantown. The Warhawks beat the Knights last season for the league title. The special starting time is due to Thursday night's football game at home against Germantown.

"We had two very specific goals going into this season," Jacobson said. "To be conference champions and the other (is) going to state. We aspire to do both. We're getting better everyday. I'm just hoping that both teams bring their 'A' games. That would make for a great match."

Which Nicolet managed to do most of the day on Saturday. It cruised out of pool play with easy wins over Milwaukee Riverside and New Berlin West before getting a signature victory, 25-16, 25-14, over a very good Brookfield Central team in the gold division semifinals.

"That's a big win," Jacobson said. "Great for our seeding because they're in our sectional."

But in the final, the Knights just could not quite get around West, which outlasted them, 25-23, 26-24.

"We missed six serves over the course of two games and that's just too many," Jacobson said. "In two, two-point games, that's just huge. Most of our errors were because we were trying to be aggressive, and you can't be that way against this team (West). They just get to every ball. They dig everything."

Jacobson was pleased with the all-around play as all-stater Melissa Morello had 30 kills on the day while Krystalyn Goode contributed 21 and Angie Morello and Jessica Kloehn had 11 apiece. Jacobson said that the 5' 11" Kloehn, who has been playing volleyball for just a couple of years, has been a huge addition in the middle helping out Goode.

"She's come on like gangbusters," he said.

Dana Kenney had 67 assists while Chloe Choice had 20 and Becca Olin contributed seven aces.

Highlander highlights

As for Homestead, the Highlanders beat Wauwatosa East but then lost to the champion West squad in pool play. In the silver division playoffs, they defeated Appleton East (26-24, 25-19) but then lost a tough decision to New Berlin West (25-19, 24-26, 15-9).

"We didn't play that sharp," Heitzkey said. "We played hard, as always, but really had some stretches of poor play characterized by unforced errors. As a whole, the team has plateaued a bit and it is a concern of mine. We only have a few weeks left together, and we really want to work on becoming better. We are so close against some of the best teams in the area and the players need to know that it has come time to beat these teams and not just compete with them."

Bay highlights

Whitefish Bay fell to Brookfield Central and Appleton North in pool play, defeated Riverside (25-12, 25-6) in the bronze division semifinals but then fell to Racine St. Catherine's in the division final (25-12, 25-14).

Jacobson felt good about the day as a whole, on all levels.

"We're always looking for something to push us forward, and I think we found that today," he said, "That's something Brittney would have understood. Ten years going and we're still happy that her memory is living on (in others)."