This story is sponsored by: Chips Hamburgers of Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
AUBURNDALE – The Auburndale volleyball team used a surge at the end of the first set to gain momentum and went on to a 3-0 sweep of Spencer in a WIAA Division 3 regional quarterfinal Tuesday night at Auburndale.
Auburndale won 25-11, 25-10, 25-18, to advance to a regional semifinal at home Thursday against Abbotsford.
Josie Ertl had five of her team-high 13 kills in the opening set as Auburndale pulled ahead.
Spencer came to within 14-10 after an ace from Hannah Reckner before Auburndale earned a sideout on a kill by Grace Krings.
Ashlyn Grimm served four-straight points for the Eagles, and after a Spencer sideout on block by Hayly Smith, Regynn Lau served out the set with five points in a row.
The momentum of the 11-1 run at the end of the opening set carried into the second as Auburndale raced out to a 14-4 lead.
Two service aces from Ertl and two kills by Dakota Specht gave the Eagles the early lead and they cruised to the 25-10 win.
With its season on the line, Spencer put up a fight in the third set.
Auburndale cruised out to a 7-0 lead after six-straight service points from Brianna Weiler, but the Rockets fought back.
Aces by Alina Jackson and Hallie Meyer, and two kills by Smith, brought the Rockets to within three at 17-14.
After exchanging points and Auburndale leading 19-16, the Eagles were able to score six of the next eight to finish off the match with a 25-18 victory.
Grimm finished with 23 assists, Specht added six kills and Maggie Baltus had a team-high 12 digs for Auburndale.
Reckner and Addie Foley each had three kills, Kaelyn Schreiner had five assists and Meyer had 11 digs to lead Spencer.