By Lauren Bergner Starting on Monday, September 21, the New Haven Shamrocks volleyball team competed in the 60th annual Hermann Invitational Volleyball tournament. In pool play, New Haven played Owensville, Union, and St. Francis Borgia. In their first game against the Owensville Dutch girls, senior Lauren Bergner had 5 kills and senior Erin Scheer had 18 assists. The Shamrocks won the first set 25-7, and lost their second set, 24-26. |
The Shamrocks went into their third pool play game, 3-1. The last game was against St. Francis Borgia, a close competitor they had only played just the week before. In this game, senior Erin Scheer had 5 aces, and sophomore Emma Engelbrecht had 5 kills. In the end, the Shamrocks lost both sets to the Knights, 17-25, 23-25.
From pool play, the Shamrocks came in 2nd in their pool, resulting in playing the 1st place team in the Pool B.
For the Shamrocks, the tournament continued on Thursday, September 24. In the semifinal game, the Shamrocks took on the Washington Blue Jays. The first set was full of high energy and excitement for the Shamrocks, who won 25-16. In the second set, the Blue Jays fought back and forth with the Shamrocks but managed to find a way to win, 25-23. The third set determined who would play the St. Francis Borgia Knights in the championship game, and who would play the Hermann Bearcats in the third-place game. The Shamrocks and Blue Jays again put up an intense match. Back and forth, back and forth, the momentum shifted throughout the gym. In the end, it was Washington who would top New Haven, 30-28.
Directly after their loss to Washington, the Shamrocks were set to play the third-place match immediately against the Hermann Bearcats. In the first set, the Shamrocks and Bearcats played neck and neck, in which the Bearcats won 27-25. In the second set, the Bearcats ultimately took the game, beating the Shamrocks 25-16. Senior Lauren Bergner had 4 kills, and senior Emma Borcherding had 5 kills. On regarding what the Shamrocks need to improve on, Coach Hoener mentioned that the girls need to just “loosen up, play free and relaxed.”
The Shamrocks’ next regular season game will be back in Hermann against the Hermann Bearcats on Tuesday, September 29.