Girls volleyball: Spartans win Homestead Invitational

Brookfield East won the Homestead Invitational on Saturday following a Greater Metro Conference dual meet win over West Allis Hale earlier in the week.

The Spartans went 5-0 on Saturday, beating Appleton East (25-17, 25-15), Oconomowoc (25-17, 22-25, 19-17) and Stevens Point (16-25, 25-19, 15-8) in pool play.

They then beat Homestead (25-23, 25-15) in the semifinals and Oconomowoc (25-18, 25-16) in the finals.

The day's stats look like this.

Kills: Haley Massa (25), Morgan Parker (24), Taylor Wilkerson (24); Assists: Morgan Pink (45), Petra Bryda (35); Blocks: Parker (eight), Wilkerson (seven); Digs: Olivia Lyster (35), Erika Hansen (31) and Aces: Pink (13).

"We really feel like we got back on track as a team this weekend," coach Chris Polowy said. "Over the past couple of weeks, I feel like we were underperforming as we struggled to get back to where we were during the Whitewater and Muskego tournaments."

The Spartans, who have been overcome by unforced errors, were able to minimize those errors on Saturday.

"Our serve receive was hot and cold," Polowy said, "but our blocking and serving allowed us to build sustainable leads in each of our matches. This weekend proved that our young team is taking it up a notch and that our girls are becoming more comfortable with each other on the court."

Polowy had praise for senior middle Parker, who led the Spartans in hitting percentage (.442) and blocks (eight).

"Her leadership down the stretch became a large factor in our success," Polowy said. "I was also impressed with our setters, Morgan Pink and Petra Bryda. Although both struggled with decision making at the beginning of the tournament, they were able to bounce back and run an effective attack.

"Pink also had an unbelievable day behind the serving line with a 13:1 ace to error ratio. Lots of things can happen when a team can pass and serve effectively."

It took the Spartans five games, but they beat West Allis Hale, 3-2, on Sept. 18 at Hale to begin the week.

East won by scores of 25-16, 22-25, 25-14, 24-26 and 20-18 in a hard-fought battle.

Massa led the way with 13 kills and six aces and Parker added 13 kills. Pink handed out 21 assists and Wilkerson had six blocks.

The Spartans are 25-7 overall and 3-1 in the Greater Metro Conference.