Westosha falls in five-game thriller, season ends

Falcons wrap up solid season

 

By Jason Arndt

STAFF WRITER

With their backs to the wall in the WIAA Division 1 Sectional Championship Nov. 5, the Westosha Central High School boys volleyball squad stormed back, but it was not enough to overcome Kenosha Indian Trail.

The Falcons, who dropped the first two sets (25-23, 25-15), made adjustments entering the following two sets.

“We needed to pick up our game a little bit,” said Falcons’ coach Wayne Schultz.” In our first two sets, we were giving away too many points.”

Courtesy of senior leadership and shuffling of the lineup entering sets 3 and 4, the Falcons rallied back to even the match, with wins of 25-20 and 28-26.

“They charged themselves up, I got a strong group of seniors that play at a high level,” Schultz said.

Furthermore, Westosha Central clamped down on defense, which was led by seniors Adam Papendick with nine and four from George Capelli.

Brian Sharkey, Indian Trail coach, noted the Falcons front-line of seniors Jordan Easthon, Mike Majors and junior Drake Muhlenbeck for challenging his squad.

Easthon led the Falcons in kills with 13, while Muhlenbeck pitched in 11 and Majors added 10.

“I give credit to their hitters, guys like Jordan Easthon,” said Sharkey, who also commended Falcons’ setters Connor Muff, a sophomore, and junior Parker Krumm.

The Falcons and Indian Trail had a one-point game in the fourth set, before the Falcons jumped ahead to win 28-26.

Muff contributed a team-leading 28 assists and Krumm added 15.

“They did an outstanding job of distributing the ball,” Sharkey said.

However, the Falcons came within four points of advancing to the state tournament in the final set, losing 15-11.

Schultz acknowledged the Hawks hitters for challenging Westosha Central throughout the game.

Jon Quinn contributed a game-high 19 kills, while Travis Lopour added 13.

Blake Schwandt blocked four of the Falcons’ kill attempts.

“Indian Trail played us hard,” Schultz said. “They are a great team, and they were bringing high velocity to their shots.”

The Falcons concluded its season with a 29-16 overall record.

Indian Trail improved to 25-9 with the win.


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