Cardiac kids: Saints push past Tripoli
By Kristi Nixon
ST. ANSGAR — Amelia Porisch hadn’t had a match like this before.
The junior outside hitter put down a season-high 14 kills, adding three blocks, including two big plays in the fifth and deciding set during the Class 1A No. 9 St. Ansgar volleyball team’s five-set regional semifinal victory over Tripoli.
“I really just try to help the team as much as I can every single game,” Porisch said, “and today, that’s how I was able to help the team, so I was happy about that. Having the confidence to go in and make smart plays, be good enough to win was really the focus.”
Coach Tyler Johnson said that Porisch has been building toward a performance like this one all season long.
“She, throughout the season, has been swinging harder and harder and harder, which has been huge for us,” Johnson said. “Outside of her swing, she had a couple of major blocks for us tonight, that were really helpful, too. There were a couple of times we had to pull her back in serve receive, which we had not done all year long. We were a little bit concerned about (that), but she had a perfect pass every time it came to her. So, she stepped up big tonight. Hopefully, that gives her a lot of confidence moving forward.”
The Saints were on the verge of a sweep, leading by as much as seven in the third set and ahead in the match 2-0, but the Panthers refused to go away. Part of Tripoli’s ability to stay in the third set was thanks in part to nine different errors by the Saints. Tripoli led only three times in that third set – at 21-20, 23-22 and at set point at 25-24 before finishing it off.
“We knew…they knocked us off here last year,” Johnson said. “We knew one of the big things is they were super-intense, they focus and stay up at a high level all night. We were going to have to match them. And, we didn’t in that fourth game, but luckily, we had that two-game lead to help us out.”
That third set seemed to give the Panthers life, where they ran away with the fourth set to force the fifth and deciding set.
“It’s really hard to stay in the game with that much energy and just to be able to be focused and make the best move every single play is hard,” Porisch said. “So, (I was) really trying to focus and have the confidence to know that I can do the right thing quickly in those short moments in time. That’s something that I’m comfortable with.
“Everyone was trying to lift each other up and even though it took a while, we were able to come back in the fifth set, finally. You could tell everyone wanted to win a lot, so that helped. I felt like everyone did their role. We all came together in the end and closed it out.”
Porisch may have led the team in the attack category, but she had plenty of help: Lindsay Kruse added 11 kills and they were among six Saints who had at least four kills in the match.
It was an electric atmosphere with a packed house with Tripoli bringing a big crowd, including a student section doing its best to distract.
“They were really talkative,” Porisch said. “At the net, they are talking right until the serve gets over – they say our names, talk to us about stuff that’s not even about volleyball, trying to get us – make us really not focused, and you just have to tune that out. Push through and dial in, focus on the game.”
Johnson added, “They bring a crowd, they bring noise and it makes it a fun atmosphere for everybody. I think it makes good adrenaline in the gym. I think it helps the kids. Yeah, it is pressure-packed, but at the same time, the kids want to play well when there is that kind of noise and excitement.”
Aspen Falk finished with 44 assists and Kinsey Anderson led five back row players with double-digit digs, putting up 34. Sophie Urbatsch was one of just four Saints to record an ace against the Panthers, going 20-of-22.
The win sets up a regional final at 7 p.m., Charles City High School, on Wednesday, Oct. 25.
“This Tripoli team took a set from Janesville earlier this year, so we know we can’t have a fourth game like we did tonight,” Johnson said. “We have to step up a little bit. It’s going to be hard, it’s a quick turnaround. Not a lot of practice time to figure it out. We have to go home and watch tape on that one. Their fans will be loud no matter where they are.”
Porisch added, “I feel like we have a lot of the tools and we have a talented, athletic team this year. I hope a lot of people come out, just like tonight and be loud and celebrate and be just as loud as they are, to balance that out to have people behind us.”
An updated version of this story, and more photos, will appear in the Nov. 1 editions of the Enterprise Journal.
