Central celebrates the last point vs Burlington and heading to State. /David Thoss photo
In front of a raucous crowd with fans from both schools cheering loud, the Central High School boys volleyball team traveled to Burlington to play in their third consecutive Sectional Final. The Falcons prevailed with a 3-1 match win, on scores of 25-23, 15-25, 23-15, 25-19.
The win sends the Falcons to the state tournament. They will next play Racine Horlick Friday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Wisconsin Luthern College.
In the first set, it was a seesaw emotional game that Central battled to win 25-23. The second set, Burlington jumped out to an early 9-4 lead, with Senior Joey Gesteland serving strong to the lead. The Demons then extended the lead to 16-8 which prompted Central Coach Wayne Schultz to call his second time out. The Falcons could get no closer than 10 points and lost 25-15. In the 3rd, it was more like the first set, with a back and forth battle. Both teams playing defense and strong hitting put the Falcons up 18-13. They pushed the lead to 23-15 and then closed it out 25-16. In the 4th set, it was another tight game, and Central called a timeout down 13-10. The Falcons clawed all the way back and took the lead on kills by senior Eric Spangler on overpasses. A critical point came on a rally, with Brooks Gahart getting a single block on a kill attempt, to put the Falcons up 22-19, which seemed to put the final touch on the match. However the final match point came on an overpass and kill by senior Sam Picchietti to secure the 25-19, 3-1 victory.
Burlington Coach Tim Gesteland commented after the game, that Central’s serving took his team out of everything they wanted to do offensively. He singled out the serving especially Michelau, “he is a college caliber player now as a senior and the jump serves took our toll on us. Even with Nick Bartlett and Garret Schilling doing their best kamakazee attempts to get serves to setter Zach (Gesteland) to run our offense.”
Coach Gesteland says he has a nice team returning and will look forward to another strong season in 2012.
Said Coach Schultz: “Eric Spangler was our unsung hero. He did all the little things to make our team successful. As always Mike Michelau and Caleb Mobile were great offensively and Brooks Gahart had a strong night leading our offense.”
Team stats leaders were:
- Kills: Mike Michelau 22, Caleb Mobile 15, Regan Hess 7, Eric Spangler 5
- Assists: Brooks Gahart 42
- Digs : Jake Stetson 15,Mike Michelau 14, Caleb Mobile and Brooks Gahart 7.
- Aces Mike Michelau 4,Caleb Mobile 3, Regan Hess 2
- Blocks: Caleb mobile 3,Regan Hess 2, Mike Michelau 2
Click the link below for more photos.
/David Thoss photo
Central students swarm the team after the victory. /David Thoss photo
Gahart setting up for a teammate to kill vs Demons. /David Thoss photo
Jake Stetson digs a ball while Brooks Gahart and Eric Spangler get in position. /David Thoss photo
Central fans and Brooks Gahart celebrate a point vs Burlington. /David Thoss photo
Caleb Mobile hits against no block from Demons. /David Thoss photo
Caleb Mobile ready to kill vs double block from Demons. /David Thoss photo
Mike Michelau hits line vs Burlington. /David Thoss photo
Sam Piccheitti up to kill on an overpass, Mike Michelau anticipating the point and victory./ Dvaid Thoss photo
Sam Piccheitti up to kill on an overpass, Mike Michelau anticipating the point and victory. /David Thoss photo
Brooks Gahart following the block kill vs Burlington. /David Thoss photo
Brooks Gahart behind for the block. /David Thoss photo
/David Thoss Photo
/David Thoss photo
Caleb Mobile up for the kill. /David Thoss photo
/David Thoss photo
Mike Michelau kills against Burlington. /David Thoss photo
Mike Michelau and Eric Spangler up to block vs Joey Gesteland from Burlington. /David Thoss photo
