SCHULENBURG — The Schulenburg High School volley - ball team faced off in a Fayette County Area matchup September 3 at Shorthorns Gym and won a four-set victory vs Round Top-Carmine High School by a final score of 25-22, 25-13, 21-25, 29-27. Round Top gave the Lady Horns a great test as they nearly
took it to five sets, but Schulenburg was able to put down some key kills late to secure the win in four sets.
“Anytime you gotta battle ad - versity early in the season, it’s gonna help you for district sea- son,” said Schulenburg head volleyball coach Donald Zapalac.
“That’s what we’re gearing it for. Had some really good plays. I thought we played really well defensively overall against a good, quality team. We know what Round Top's gonna give you.
They’re gonna give you effort on every play, they're gonna keep balls alive, and they're gonna find ways to put the ball on the floor, so anytime we can come out with a victory against Round Top, you feel good about it. A good battle.”
Lady Horns senior outside hitter Emmrie Marx recorded 26 kills for the contest and has been a huge spark on offense for Schulenburg throughout the season.
"I enjoy playing under pres- sure,” Marx said. “I love cheer - ing on my team, doing well for them, and I don't just play for myself, I play for my team as well and that’s what goes through my head. I do it for them.”
Round Top played a solid game against a good Schulen - burg team and this team is still one of the best in Fayette County, if not the area despite the loss. "We showed great fight at times," said Round Top-Carmine head volleyball coach Catie Car - ney. “We seem to lately turn it on in the third set. Hard hole to get out of, but when they're playing good, they’re really fun to watch and they’re really good, so just gotta play to win and stay consistent. Be efficient. That's our main thing right now. Staying efficient from the first point to the last point." Round Top had a 12-7 lead in the first set before Schulenburg stormed back and made four kills in a row to take a 17-15 lead. Af- ter going back and forth for a few points, Round Top called a time- out after a ball in the net, which gave the Lady Horns a 21-18 advantage. A kill from Schulen - burg’s Grace Schramek eventu ally made it 24-21, then another kill from Schulenburg won them the set 25-22.
The Lady Horns jumped out to a big lead in the second set, putting the scoreboard at 6-1 on two aces and a bunch of kills, in - cluding one each from Schramek and Marx. Schulenburg kept the kill spree going and took a 16-5 lead on a put down from junior Reagan Dusek. Schulenburg didn't back down and kept the offense going, winning the set 2513 on another kill from Marx.
A tip ball, kill, and ace by senior Jill Eilers for Round Top-Carmine put them ahead 3-0 in the third set. Schulenburg fought back and would tie the set at eight on a kill from sophomore Haylee Vacek.
The Cubettes answered with nine-points in a row to pull ahead 18-9, forcing Schulenburg to call two timeouts within the point streak. Two aces in a row from Schulenburg senior Mad ison Kunschick put it at 20-15 and they even climbed back to a one-point deficit on a mishit from Round Top at 20-19, then a kill and an ace for the last two points from Round Top closed out the set for the Cubettes 25-21.
The fourth set was back and forth until about midway through the set when Round Top took a 19-14 advantage on a kill from senior outside hitter Tess Eilers.
Both teams made a few mis - takes to even out the set, then as both teams were trading punches again, Marx notched four out of the last 10 points in a nail biter that was on a kill by Vacek to win the set and match for Schulen burg 29-27.
