One is enough

West Bend Daily News: Sept. 6, 2013

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
Daily News Sports Editor

HARTFORD — Slinger let rival Hartford Union have a freebie.
After that, the Owls were tough to beat.
Slinger defeated the Orioles, 25-21, 14-25, 25-18, 25-18, in the second of three Wisconsin Little Ten Conference dual matches Thursday.
The first game-and-a-half of the match was close. In Game 2, the Orioles took over, finishing the game with a 15-4 run.
"We celebrated the first game and thought well we're done," Slinger coach Michelle Lastovich said. "They knew it. I knew it. They came in much more focused in the next two (games).
"I told them, 'You gave them Game 2. Now let's takes games 3 and 4.'"
Slinger led all of Game 3 and Hartford had just one lead in Game 4 at 1-0.
"I thought Slinger did a nice job," Orioles coach Amy Hoffmann said. "They were aggressive and finished some nice plays on volleys and rallies that went back and forth."
In the other matches, Oconomowoc beat Watertown in five games, 25-27, 25-19, 16-25, 25-23, 16-14. In that match, Watertown had a chance to close out Oconomowoc as it led 23-19 in Game 4. The Raccoons won six straight points to steal the game and force a Game 5.
Watertown beat Slinger in three games, 25-22, 25-15, 25-22.
Oconomowoc beat Hartford in four games, 25-12, 25-17, 28-30, 25-22.
Oconomowoc beat Slinger in four games, and Hartford beat Watertown in five.
It was the first conference matches for the season for each team. For Slinger, its first conference victory of the season came against the Orioles at Hartford.
"It's nice," Lastovich said.
It was the second meeting of the season between the rivals.
At the Demon Invitational on Aug. 28 in Burlington, the Owls beat the Orioles, 25-20, 25-23, to advance to the silver bracket final, which Slinger went on to win over Nicolet.
The matches mirrored each other.
"It was a very close match," Lastovich said of Thursday's meeting. "The girls really hung in there. They lost that second game and they didn't stay focused. They came out in the third and fourth games and played much more focused and ready to play."
The Owls vowed at the beginning of the season they were going to be a tougher to team to beat. So far, they haven't disappointed. Slinger took fifth at the Demon Invitational, going 3-1. The Owls also defeated Kewaskum in the season opener.
And outside of one rough game against Watertown on Thursday, the Owls were good. Wynter Elder was a big reason why.
Elder, a 6-foot-1 middle hitter, led the Owls with 13 kills and three blocks against the Orioles. She was tough around the night on defense and on offense. She also showed some versatility, hitting kill attempts with either arm.
"That kid can hit with both arms," Lastovich said with a smile. "She brings so much energy when she gets it. She's really grown as a player."
Libby Wesela was also good on defense for Slinger with 18 digs and Brittany Kusek had 25 assists.
"She has made huge strides," Lastovich said of Kusek.
Hartford made pushes to knock off Slinger in Games 3 and 4, but couldn't get the job done.
"We had a hard time getting some momentum back," Hoffmann said. "We're still trying to find our identity."
Allie Lehner and Britney Goodreau each had 11 kills for the Orioles, while Nicole Klipstein had 8 kills.