Girls spikers enjoy big week

Sauk Prairie’s girls volleyball team had one of its toughest weeks of the season. And the Eagles came out of it a perfect 4-0 believing anything and everything is possible this season. The highlight came Saturday when Sauk Prairie won the Wisconsin Lutheran Triangular. The Eagles defeated Waterloo — the second-ranked team in Division 3 — and upended the host Vikings, as well. “I was very pleased with the team play on Saturday,” Eagles coach Amy Schlimgen said. “The chemistry seems to be good and the communication as well.” Sauk Prairie also notched impressive wins over Lake Mills on Oct. 6 and against Reedsburg on Oct. 8. Here’s a recap of the Eagles’ week: • Wisconsin Lutheran Triangular — The Eagles opened with a 25-21, 16-25, 15-11 win over Waterloo. Aida Shadewald was outstanding with 17 kills and 12 digs, while Olivia Paukner had a big match with six kills, six digs, two blocks and two aces. Alia Schlimgen added 14 digs, two assists, one save and offered tremendous service receive, while Kaitlyn Brickl had 10 digs and a save. “Our defense may have been the best it’s ever been,” Amy Schlimgen said. Olivia Breunig added 15 assists, five kills and a block, while Jenna Pistono had 13 assists, six digs and a 100% service rate. Maggie Hartwig had two blocks and two kills, Anni Braund had two kills and a block, and Alexis Klemm added two kills and one block. The Eagles then defeated Wisconsin Lutheran, 25-21, 25-27, 17-15 to capture first place at the outstanding triangular. “(Jenna) Pistono put an end to their loudness with a setter dump kill for the winning match point,” Amy Schlimgen said. “What a smart, smart play from her. She has been playing great this year, speeding up her sets, communicating great with her hitters, and her defense is great this year.” Shadewald had another terrific match with 14 kills, 12 digs, three blocks and two aces, while Breunig had 17 assists, eight kills and four digs. Alia Schlimgen had 17 digs and shined on serve receive, while Pistono had four assists, six digs, one ace and a big kill to end the match. Brickl had 14 digs and shined on service receive, while Paukner added four kills and three blocks. Hartwig had two blocks and three kills, while Braund had one kill and Klemm had a block. • Sauk Prairie 3, Lake Mills 0 — The Eagles toppled the L-Cats, 25-14, 25-11, 26-24, on Oct. 6. In the win over Lake Mills, Shadewald had 20 kills, two aces and nine digs, while Olivia Breunig added nine kills, 17 assists, nine digs and one ace. Alia Schlimgen was tough in the back row with 25 digs, one save, seven assists, and outstanding service receive, while Brickl had 11 digs and five aces.  Hartwig had four kills and Paukner added three kills, one block and four aces. Pistono had 16 assists, two kills, two aces and five digs, Braund had a big night with six kills and three digs, while Klemm and Makenzie Breunig both added a kill. “Lake Mills wasn’t challenging us too much during the first two sets, then it seemed like they just flipped a switch and decided to play ball,” Amy Schlimgen said. “We were still strong enough to hold them off and win the third set though.” • Sauk Prairie 3, Reedsburg 1 — The Eagles upended a scrappy Reedsburg team and notched a 25-13, 25-19, 21-25, 25-12 win on Oct. 8. Shadewald was strong again with 28 kills, two blocks, 18 digs and an ace, while Hartwig was fantastic with four blocks and four kills. Olivia Breunig had 10 kills and 20 assists, while Paukner added two kills and three blocks.  Alia Schlimgen played terrific defense and posted 21 digs and two assists, while Pistono had 19 assists, three aces and three digs. Brickl had nine digs, two aces and 24 good serves, Braund added three kills and two blocks, Klemm had two blocks and a kill and Kaelin Young added two kills and a block. “We are working out the bugs and coming together as a team,” Amy Schlimgen said. “And we have plenty of players that can step in at any moment to replace a starter if need be. The girls are working hard and improving every day!” • On deck: Sauk Prairie hosted Madison Edgewood Tuesday, then hosts Baraboo Thursday at 7:15 and travels to Platteville to face the Hillmen Saturday at 11:45 a.m.   Oct. 6 SAUK PRAIRIE 3,  LAKE MILLS 0 Sauk Prairie ……….. 25 25 26 Lake Mills ……..…… 14 11 24 SAUK PRAIRIE (leaders) — Kills: Shadewald 20; Assists: Breunig 17; Aces: Brickl 5; Digs: Schlimgen 25; Blocks: Paukner 1. LAKE MILLS — Kills: Palmer 7; Assists: Lewellin 18; Aces: Palmer 1, Kitsembel 1; Digs: Kitsembel 14; Blocks: Palmer 2.