Badgers edge Gretna East in five-set thriller

BENNINGTON — The Bennington volleyball team continued its hot start to the 2023 campaign with a five-set triumph over Gretna East Thursday.

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"We kept going and pushed until the end," Bennington senior Maddie Uhlir stated. "We kept our energy up and that's what got us through."

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Thursday's match was another tough test for the Badgers, who have faced 10 Class A squads and numerous ranked Class B teams.

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"Playing tough teams has helped us pick up our level of play and our pace," Uhlir continued. "We are performing at a much faster pace this year and I think that is what has gotten to where we are this year."

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A 6-1 run in the opening set jump started the Bennington offense as five different players scored during the run.

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The Griffins cut the deficit to three but a four-point spurt by Hayden Liebsack extended Bennington's edge to 24-16. Emily LaSure ended the set with an ace.

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Hayden Liebsack had a huge first set for the Badgers, accounting for seven kills and a block in the opening set.

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"It helps when everyone is communicating well," Hayden Liebsack noted. "Our defense led to good offense tonight. When we get a good ball to the setter, it helps us on the attack,"

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Bennington used a pair of runs to claim a 22-19 advantage in the second. However, Gretna East ended the set on an 8-3 run to rally past the Badgers and win the set 27-25.

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Both teams jockeyed for momentum in the all-important third set. The teams exchanged runs throughout the set. Bennington scored the set's first three points, but Gretna East answered with an 8-4 run.

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Trailing 11-8, the Badgers scored seven of the next nine points to reclaim the lead. 

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A big four-point stretch by Evynn Olsen helped Bennington pull away. Olsen recorded a pair of kills and back-to-back aces to extend Bennington's edge to 21-16. Bennington won the set 25-19 and took a 2-1 set advantage.

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Gretna East quickly snatched away the momentum in the fourth set. A 7-1 run gave the Griffins an early 8-2 lead. Bennington drew no closer than three as Gretna East forced a decisive fifth set with a 25-16 set win in the fourth.

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The Badgers bounced back and pounced to a 6-2 edge to start the fifth.

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"In our huddle we talked about how we needed to communicate more and adjust better," Hayden Liebsack remarked. "We needed to adjust and read where their attack was going better. Coach (Lindsay Grant) told us we needed to stay strong and positive on our side to keep us going. We got up and got momentum, which helped us get the early lead."

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Two kills by Olsen and a Hayden Liebsack kill extended Bennington's lead to 10-5. Olsen ended the match with a kill to seal Bennington's fifth-straight win on the hardwood.

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Hayden Liebsack guided the Badgers with a match-high 23 kills, 16 digs, three aces and three blocks. Olsen collected a double-double with 11 kills and 17 digs to go along with two aces; Uhlir contributed a double-double with 15 digs, 28 assists, six kills, three blocks and two aces; Olivia Mauch had 39 digs, two assists and an ace; Keatyn Liebsack tallied nine kills; Abby Dahlgren recorded six blocks and seven kills; Millie Mauch pitched in 13 digs, 28 assists and an ace and Emily LaSure added two aces.

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"It's important to spread the attack out," Uhlir commented. "We want to make their blockers run pin to pin. We try to get all of our hitters involved and get them going."

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Bennington (18-2) competes in the Aurora Invitational Saturday beginning at 10:15 a.m. before traveling to Concordia Tuesday and heading to Elkhorn North Thursday for a big Eastern Midlands Conference battle.

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"I'm looking forward to us growing as a team," Liebsack concluded. "We need to work on our communication and stay positive when we're down. Being able to lift each other up and communicate will help get us to where we want to be at the end of the season. We need to keep pushing."

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