Spartan netters fall on Senior Night

It wasn’t the way they wanted Senior Night to go, but Luxemburg-Casco’s Aubrey Frey and Claire Schleis — two of seven seniors on the Spartans’ state-ranked team — took a tough loss to Oconto Falls in stride Tuesday.

Prior to the match, the two teams flip-flopped in the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association weekly poll, Falls moving up a spot to seventh in Div. 2 and the Spartans dropping to eighth.

After winning the first set, 25-20, L-C lost three straight, 22-25, 19-25 and 15-25 to drop to 6-1 in the North Eastern Conference behind the unbeaten Panthers.

“We were just trying to go really hard, and giving it your all sometimes comes with a lot of errors,” said Frey. “It’s not always going to be perfect, but I think we tried our best.”

Said Schleis, “We knew they were a really good team coming in. The first set we played our volleyball, and then it just kind of got away from us. We’ll be back in the regional, and we play great on the road. I think how we show up in other teams’ gyms is going to be a huge advantage for us.”

Frey added, “I think it’s definitely going to light a fire under our team, and make us want it more. We’re going to work harder and harder every practice, and continue to get better every day.”

Her dad, coach Jeff Frey, said the team made a lot more uncharacteristic mistakes than usual, but he credited Falls with stepping up and attacking in a big match.

“I think we played a little tight,” said Frey. “That second set, a couple plays here and a couple plays there. We beat ourselves, and they made just one more play. But a loss doesn’t define us. What matters most is how we respond.”

Coach Frey continued, “You can’t look ahead, but looking ahead, this is going to be a team that we’re going to face in the regional final; now with the loss tonight probably in their gym. We welcome that challenge, and we have 2-1/2 weeks to get ready.”

Aubrey Frey said the seniors have been best friends since, “like, kindergarten,” and said the Senior Night slide show and talks were special moments.

Said Schleis, “I love all of these girls, and I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish.”

She shares the court with her younger sister, Stella, a junior.

“I’m so proud of her and how far she’s come,” Claire Schlies said. “She has been just an amazing partner to work with; you know, we play the same position (setter) and push each other every day. The little bickering is all love, and I’m really blessed to be able to spend my last year with her.”

Claire had 27 assists and 12 kills, Stella 16 assists, Frey 26 kills and 14 digs, and Jenna Annoye 25 digs.
At Saturday’s Neenah Invite, the Spartans placed sixth of 12 teams, going 2-2 on the day. They beat Appleton East 25-23, 28-26 before falling to third-ranked (Div. 1) Oconomowoc 25-20, 20-25, 12-15. In the silver bracket, they beat Manitowoc Lutheran (ranked fourth in Div. 3) 25-17, 19-25, 15-13 before losing to Fox Valley Lutheran 16-25, 25-21, 13-15.

“We battled and competed all day against some really good competition,” said coach Frey. “I’m excited about the growth we are showing.”

Claire Schleis had 56 assists, 22 kills and 20 digs; Stella 32 assists and 21 digs; and Frey 62 kills and 31 digs.

At Marinette last Thursday, the Spartans swept the Marines 25-9, 25-14, 25-8.

Claire Schleis had 17 assists, five kills and six aces; Stella 10 assists; Frey 18 kills; and Ali Jansen six kills.
“We have been focusing a lot on our serving, and I thought we were really good again tonight (19 aces),” said Frey.

On Tuesday, Algoma lost at home to Southern Door, 22-25, 23-25, 19-25.

Eva Liu had three aces, 28 receptions and 18 digs; Natalie Ray three kills, eight digs and 16 receptions; Sadie Rikkola three kills, 12 receptions and nine digs; Lauren Loucks nine kills, three blocks and one ace; and Aleasha Granius 11 assists, four aces and three digs.