TILTON – Two of the best setters in the state were on the floor, as was another strong outside hitter who’s already eclipsed 500 career kills. And still, Inter-Lakes sophomore Emma Wheeler was the best player in the gym on Wednesday night.
“I just really wanted to have a strong night because this is the night to do it,” said Wheeler, who helped the Lakers do what no other team in Division III could by handing Winnisquam its first loss of the season in a 3-1 win in Tilton.
“This is a huge win for us. Beyond what I could of ever imagined for our team and I’m so proud of everyone,” Wheeler said. “We really played like the best we could play once we got going.”
Playing inside of a gym as packed as you’ll see for a regular-season volleyball game, Wheeler and the Lakers (15-0) marched into rival Winnisquam (15-1) for the Bears’ senior night and continued their impressive streak in the battle of unbeatens.
The third set alone was worth the price of admission. After trading wins in the first two games, the Lakers pulled ahead 9-1 only to have the Bears storm back to take a 16-12 lead. Morgan White served Inter-Lakes back to even at 16-16, but Winnisquam nearly put the set on ice when it charged ahead, 24-20.
That’s when the Lakers kicked it into gear. They climbed to within one on an ace from Jessalyn Brown (33 assists), seized the lead after three kills from Wheeler and eventually took the set, 27-25.
“We used all that energy and then it’s for nothing,” Winnisquam Coach Mike Livernois said of the third set. “I think it was really the turning point. If we had won that, it might have been a different outcome. But Inter-Lakes did not stop playing. They did not back down. They hit the ball well and handled everything we threw at them tonight.”
Even with the back-breaking loss, the Bears were still very much alive in the match if they could force a fifth set. But, at least on this night, there was no slowing down the Lakers.
Inter-Lakes came out sharp again and picked up quick points for an early 15-7 lead. Winnisquam threatened with a late run, stringing together enough offense to crawl within five points, but Wheeler made sure there would be no comeback, hammering a kill inside the tape in the far corner for the match-winning point and the 25-18 set victory.
“I did not expect that match to end 25-18. I fully expected them to come back,” said Inter-Lakes Coach Randy Mattson, whose team is one win shy of a perfect regular season. “(Winnisquam) played a little hesitantly and it’s hard when you’re down 2-1 to stay motivated to get back into it. I’m just proud of my team and the contributions we had all around.”
Jordan Durand finished with 13 digs and six kills, White added six kills and 13 service points and Aria Shufelt chipped in with four kills and three huge blocks, but there was no bigger contribution than the one from Wheeler, who finished with a match-high 17 kills to go along with 15 digs and eight service points.
“She’s a phenomenal athlete and she’s only a sophomore so it’s hard on a team like this when you’re a sophomore to show that kind of leadership and that kind of intensity that the team needs when you’re one of the younger players,” Mattson said. “But she’s developed as the year’s gone on and the last few matches we’ve played, she’s really come through with that kind of intensity. It’s just exciting to see and a thrill to be able to coach her.”
It wasn’t just Mattson’s eye that Wheeler caught, either.
“She’s not the kid she was last year. She’s a much better player,” Livernois said of Wheeler. “She’s putting the ball down with authority and it’s a difficult ball to play because she can put it in the corners with a lot of pop.”
While it was the only loss of the season for the Bears, it won’t shake up the postseason picture too much. Winnisquam, who received strong play from Talia DeBlasie (32 assists, nine digs), Gabby Isabelle (12 kills) and Shannon Goodwin (17 kills, 14 digs), is still a lock to receive a first-round bye, as is Inter-Lakes.
But the Lakers have one more game to focus on before shifting to the tournament, and that comes Friday at home against Sunapee.
“We played some games where we didn’t play anywhere near as well as we did tonight,” Mattson said. “We’ve really been talking about advancing what we’re doing on the court and tonight we advanced a huge step so it’s just going to be one game at a time.”
(Jay McAree can be reached at 369-3371, jmcaree@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @JayMcAree.)
Laconia 3, Kingswood 0
Key players: Laconia – Avy Bartlett (10 kills, 7 digs), Caitlin Beattie (4 kills, 26 assists)
Highlights/key moments: Laconia fell behind in the first set, but the Sachems were able to adjust and come from behind for a 25-18 win before finishing things out, 25-15 and 25-12.
Coach’s quote: “Bartlett was really strong tonight and Beattie had great consistent service.” – Laconia’s Jeffrey Twombly
Records: Laconia 9-4; Kingswood 3-13
Coe-Brown 3, Oyster River 2
Key players: Coe-Brown – Amaya Newport (13 kills, 2 aces), Abby Jerome (8 kills, 3 aces), Drew Ceppetelli (29 digs), Emma Dubois (20 digs), Jadlyn Newport (25 assists)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears pulled out a tight win at home against their rivals from Oyster River, 25-23, 25-17, 21-25, 23-25.
Coach’s quote: “It was a heck of a match. It came down to mental toughness in the fifth game.” – Coe-Brown’s Rick Veno
Records: Coe-Brown 9-7; Oyster River 8-6
Gilford 3, Kennett 0
Key players: Gilford – Brooke Beaudet (12 kills), Maggie McNeil (5 kills), Lindsey Sanderson (4 kills), Lexi Boisvert (3 kills), Karly Sanborn (13 assists)
Highlights/key moments: The Golden Eagles rolled to the win at home, 25-2, 25-1, 25-13. McNeil served 22 straight in set two and had nine aces while Beaudet served 13 straight in set three with two aces. Gilford served 96 percent for the match and had 17 aces as a team.
Records: Gilford 13-2; Kennett 0-15
Hillsboro-Deering 3, Stevens 0
Key players: H-D – Eva Evans (7 aces), Meg Wheeler (7 aces, kill), Kaelyn Snair (5 aces, 2 kills), Mackenzie Murdough (2 assists, ace)
Highlights/key moments: Wheeler had 18 consecutive serves in the first set to set the tone for the Hillcats.
Records: H-D 4-11; Stevens 0-13
Moultonborough 3, Franklin 0
Key players: Franklin – Lexy Lynch (3 digs, block, ace), Addison Granger (ace), Mackenzie Lavoy (kill), Kirsten Smith (kill), Sarah Sorette (3 digs)
Highlights/key moments: Moultonborough extended its winning streak to four straight with this win in Franklin.
Records: Franklin 1-13; Moultonborough 8-7
Portsmouth Christian 3, Pittsfield 1
Key players: Pittsfield – Arianna Cyr (11 digs, 8 kills), Lily Dunagin (13 digs), Emily Dunagin (9 digs, 10 assists, 2 aces)
Highlights/key moments: Pittsfield won the first game, 25-18, but PCA came back to win the next three, 25-22, 25-20 and 25-22.
Coach’s quote: “The girls played with some attitude tonight, and it was detrimental to the team. They’re better than they played. They need to regain their focus against Nute (Thursday) night.” – Pittsfield’s Paul Strickhart
Records: Pittsfield 7-7; Portsmouth Christian 6-9
Merrimack Valley 2, Sanborn 0
Key players: MV – Maddie Merchant (6 saves), Emily Knouse (goal), Kylie Curtin (goal), Abby Grandmaison (assist), Kerragan McNeil (midfield), McKayla Palhof (midfield)
Highlights/key moments: Knouse scored in the game’s first minute and Curtin made it 2-0 just before the half when she slotted home a pretty through ball from Grandmaison.
Coach’s quote: “The girls worked hard knowing we are trying to secure home field for the first round of playoffs. Today’s game wasn’t perfect, but our effort was consistent and unrelenting.” – MV’s Jeff Richard
Records: Merrimack Valley 11-4; Sanborn 3-9-3
Campbell 3, Hillsboro-Deering 1
Key players: H-D – Izabella Warren (goal), Emily Wightman (assist), Zoe Kemp (12 saves), Sam Grondin (defense), Kaylea Davison (defense), Mara Grady (midfield)
Highlights/key moments: Campbell led 1-0 at halftime and pushed it to 3-0 before the Hillcats scored in the 77th minute.
Coach’s quote: “The team is playing well defensively, but struggled to find an offensive rhythm today.” – H-D’s Susan Else
Records: Hillsboro-Deering 9-6; Campbell 10-4-1
Bow 2, Kennett 0
Key players: Bow – Freshman Ryan Leonard (first varsity goal), Chris Besho (goal, assist), Ben Guertin (defense), Joseph Rychwalski (shutout in goal)
Highlights/key moments: On Tuesday, the Falcons scored twice in the first 15 minutes and held off Kennett from there for the win at home.
Coach’s quote: “Good game to get all 22 players equal playing time and prepare them for tournament action.” – Bow’s George Pinkham
Records: Bow 12-3; Kennett 0-12-3
Pittsfield 2, Newmarket 1
Key players: Pittsfield – Matt St. George (goal, assist), Cameron Darrah (goal), Jacob Marcotte (defense), Gavin Knight (7 saves)
Highlights/key moments: Pittsfield took a 1-0 lead into halftime, Newmarket tied things in the 58th minute and Darrah found the game-winner off a St. George pass in the 75th minute.
Coach’s quote: “The boys closed both halves of play with strong, physical play. This win puts us in position for a home playoff game and it’s likely we’ll see Newmarket again next Tuesday.” – Pittsfield’s Derek Hamilton
Records: Pittsfield 10-5; Newmarket 8-8