Ehrhardt comes up aces as Jacobs dumps PR
Jacobs junior Alyssa Ehrhardt stepped behind the service line Tuesday evening with her team trailing in the first game against Prairie Ridge.
Ehrhardt quickly changed that, serving 4 consecutive aces and a fifth never got over the net, as the Golden Eagles took a 13-10 lead. Jacobs was in control the rest of the match, defeating Prairie Ridge, 25-19, 25-18, in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division play.
“I really think that serving is a real momentum changer,” Ehrhardt said. “You have all the pressure on you. You can miss it and lose the momentum or you can get a point straight for your team. It can really help out the team.”
The Wolves led the opening game 10-7 before an error gave the Golden Eagles (11-6, 2-2) a point and the serve. That’s when Ehrhardt went back to serve and hit 4 straight aces, forcing the Wolves to call a timeout. After the timeout, Prairie Ridge again was unable to return Ehrhardt’s serve, making four contacts with the ball as Jacobs took a 13-10 lead.
Jacobs led 24-19 and earned the Game 1 victory on one of Nikki Madoch’s 5 kills.
“(Madoch) has really been working hard offensively and defensively. Defensively with her blocks,” Golden Eagles coach Lisa Dwyer said as Madoch also added 2 blocks.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 15-10 lead in the second game after Ehrhardt and Rachel Arceneaux combined for a block. Prairie Ridge cut its deficit to 15-13 before a service error. Ehrhardt then served another ace. After a hitting error by the Wolves, Ehrhardt added her sixth ace of the match, giving Jacobs a 19-13 lead.
“Not a lot of energy on our side of the court,” Prairie Ridge coach Stefanie Otto said.
A Maris Smith kill gave the Golden Eagles a 24-18 lead and match point. Prairie Ridge was unable to get the ball over after a battle at the net went on the Wolves side.
Ehrhardt finished with 7 kills, 10 digs and 2 blocks to go along with the 6 aces. Smith added 4 kills. Taylor Lauder had 13 assists.
Sophomore Maddie Drain led the Wolves with 4 kills. Kennedy McNeal and Katie Hamilton each added 3 kills.