Pack wins thriller in Hayfield
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 17, 2002
A pair of local volleyball teams with sub-par records went head-to-head in Hayfield Monday night, with the Austin Packers posting their first victory ever against the Vikings in a five-game match.
The non-conference affair was thrilling from the beginning, with Austin emerging from a 2-1 deficit for the win, 13-15, 15-6, 10-15, 15-5, 16-14.
"We played very consistent throughout the entire night," said AHS coach Lisa Grunewald. "The one thing this team does is never quit."
The win was Austin's fourth straight triumph and second consecutive five-game match win. The Packers are 4-6 overall and 2-2 in the Big Nine Conference, but Farmington comes to town for a non-league meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m.
The host Vikings led 14-11 in the fifth and deciding game, but the resiliency of Austin eventually won the match. Hayfield had a number of chances at match-point, but the Pack had too much at the net.
Theresa Hirsch tallied a career-high 27 kills and also set the AHS school record with 12 blocks in the match, leading Austin to the victory. She shattered the old record of eight as the Packers kept its winning streak alive.
"There was a lot of back-and-forth (in the fifth game)," Grunewald said. "They kept fighting and kept getting the job done, and we came back and won."
Austin's experiment with the 6-2 offense lasted three matches before the Pack went back to just one setter. Coach Grunewald hopes to eventually get her team into the flow of the 6-2 looking towards the end of the season, but for now the Packers will have to settle for what works.
"It wasn't anything to do with the setters, it was just something different," Grunewald said. "It's a comfort level thing right now, they'll become a little more comfortable the more we play it."
Natalie Miller dished out 28 set assists and Laura Geffert contributed 11.
Hayfield countered at the net with Kristen Kaczmarek, who had "a career-best match," according to head coach Deb Hayfield. Kaczmarek recorded 13 kills, 18 set assists, 15 service points, eight aces and five digs as the Vikings' all-around performer. Lauren Burmeister contributed nine kills and Cassie Kraetsch added five.
Kraetsch helped the Vikings to the 2-1 game advantage with her solid serving, which included five aces. Alyssa Nelson tallied five ace blocks.
"Hayfield was a very tough-serving team," Grunewald said. "They did a good job with their passing, but it wasn't always where they wanted it.
"Our serving was outstanding last night."
Austin was nearly perfect from the service line, committing only three serving errors against 10 aces.
Lauren Royce tallied seven kills and seven blocks for the Pack, while Geffert and Angie Rohne added five kills apiece. Alli Tolbert chipped in with three kills.
Hayfield (2-7, 0-2) visits Cannon Falls tonight in Hiawatha Valley League action.
Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.