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By Levi Zimmerman
The 2022 Mineral Point varsity volleyball team are SWAL Champions.
The Pointers clinched the title outright Monday in a thrilling victory over Cuba City, and they did it at home.
Mineral Point beat the Cubans 3-2 to take the match and their conference champion aspirations from them.
But it wasn't easy.
Cuba City opened the match by taking set one in a 25-22 decision.
But the Pointers answered, flipping the momentum, as they won 25-22 in the second set of the night.
Mineral Point would then get a win in the third set with a final score of 25-23.
Looking to end it in the fourth set, the Pointers allowed the Cubans to grab a 26-24 win in an exciting battle.
In the fifth and final set, it was just as tight as the previous set.
Both sides went on runs and had answers, but Mineral Point did just enough to get the win, 15-13, and a victory in the match.
The Pointers improved to a perfect 10-0 in conference play.
Mineral Point head coach Kari Kabat expressed her feelings about the events Monday night.
"Tonight was a great matchup between two great teams. We knew Cuba City would be gunning for us with how close our first matchup was. They always rise to the challenge and play their best against us," Kabat said about the scrappy Cubans.
"I am so proud of our girls for keeping their composure. We had our chance to put the game away in set four tonight, but we just got a little tentative and were in one of the rotations we struggle in. However, our girls never let the pressure of the match get to them. Kennedy Kabat was on fire tonight, and although she was second in kills for us, her presence in the middle was a game changer for us and allowed us to really open up the outside for Kennedy Wenger once she got hot," said Kabat.
"The setters struggled to connect with Wenger early on in the match, so having that balanced attack really allowed us to keep them out of system and work through those connection challenges," she said. "Our girls have worked really hard this season at maintaining composure, and we are on a good path to finish out the regular season heading into postseason."
With the win, the Pointers also improved to 14-5 overall.
Mineral Point earned the #2 seed in the WIAA Tournament and will host #15 Parkview Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in a Regional Quarterfinal.
But before that, Mineral Point will play at Southwestern this Thursday in the final regular season match.
MP Stat Leaders:
Kills - Kennedy Wenger - 25
Kennedy Kabat - 20
Assists - Mackenzie Aurit - 39
Bre Goninen - 24
Aces - Kennedy Wenger - 4
Maddy Kabat - 2
Blocks - Kennedy Kabat - 2
Digs - Kennedy Wenger - 30
Regan Suddeth - 25
Cuba Stat Leaders:
Kills - Ella Vosberg - 16
Blocks - Lainey Runde - Monica
Schmidt - 3
Aces.- Ella McKinley - Alexis
Runde, Olivia Olson - 2
Assists - Ella McKinley - 44
Digs - Monica Schmidt - 20