A volleyball box score doesn't always tell the entire story.
At a glance, Winnebago Lutheran's sweep of Flyway opponent North Fond du Lac on Tuesday night might look like the Vikings dominated. That wasn't the case.
The match was close in every set and the Orioles were the better team for most of the third set. But WLA found a way to grind out its first conference win, thanks in large part to an excellent final stretch from junior Jenna Petrowitz.
WLA won 25-23, 25-21, 26-24 at home.
The Vikings (6-13 overall, 1-4 in Flyway) trailed 22-13 in the third set. They proceeded to go on a 13-2 run to end the set and secure the sweep.
During the run, Petrowitz had four kills, including the final three points of the match.
"I think you especially saw in this game, we got out of a hole," Petrowitz said. "We really picked it up, we picked up the pace and we earned our points, and we made them play our game."
WLA got excellent serving during the run from Addy Suprenand, Brooklyn Dins and Abby Walta. Walta, a sophomore setter, had back-to-back aces to tie the set at 24.
The WLA student section and crowd became loud once it realized that the Vikings were on the cusp of the huge comeback. The momentum was too much for NFDL (0-9, 0-5) to overcome.
Petrowitz and Walta seem to have formed a connection on the court, with Walta getting the middles more involved when she is on the court.
"At first it was a little hard, just to get used to how she wants [the passes]," Walta said. "Then we got to work together more in practices and stuff, and it just started to flow better."
Walta, who had 11 assists and has continued to improve as the Vikings second setter in their 5-2, said it took time for her to get comfortable in her role on the team.
"At the start of the season I felt a little away from the group," Walta said. "Then I realized we're a family and we pick each other up when we're down.
Junior Sam Unger, the Vikings starting setter, had 16 assists.
WLA won three matches at a tournament at Wisconsin Lutheran College on Saturday before Tuesday's win.
Petrowitz said she thinks the team is starting to turn a corner.
"I think we're just finding who we are as a team," Petrowitz said. "I think our communication is getting better. We know how our hitters like their sets.
"We're just growing as a team and that's really showing with how we're playing volleyball."
NFDL setter Cora Rivera-Foster had 14 assists. Junior Lily Roberts had six kills.
PHOTO GALLERY: NFDL at WLA volleyball - 10/1/2024
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