In a battle of Conference Champions, the fourth-seeded Pacelli Catholic High School volleyball team beat fifth-seeded Amherst in a WIAA Division 3 Regional Semifinal at the Student Activities Center Thursday, Oct. 18.

Haley Raflik (27), Teesa Shafranski (3), Karah Kluck (7) and Molly Lawlis celebrate following a point in the Cardinals’ 3-1 win over Amherst at the Student Activities Center Thursday, Oct. 18. (Lynn Hintz photo)

Central Wisconsin Conference (CWC) East Champion Amherst won the first set 25-21, but CWC South Champion Pacelli came back and won 25-14 in the next set to tie the match at 1-1.

Pacelli won 25-19 in the third set and 25-11 in the fourth set to win 3-1 eliminate the Falcons from the postseason. The Cardinals will play at top-seeded Oconto in a Regional Final at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct 20.

Senior Emily King had nine kills to lead Pacelli on her birthday, sophomore Julia Jakusz added eight kills, and senior Karah Kluck finished with 36 assists and three blocks.

Junior Madison Hintz totaled 10 digs and six aces, junior Sarah Mueller recorded four blocks, freshman Kylie Struble contributed nine digs, and sophomore Molly Lawlis added three blocks for the Cardinals.

Pacelli Catholic High School senior Karah Kluck goes up for a serve during the fourth-seeded Cardinals’ 3-1 win over fifth-seeded Amherst in a WIAA Division 3 Regional Semifinal at the Student Activities Center Thursday, Oct. 18. (Lynn Hintz photo)

In Division 4, the fifth-seeded Rosholt High School volleyball team had its season end with a 3-1 loss at fourth-seeded Athens in the Regional Semifinals.

Athens won 25-12 in the first set and 25-22 in the second set to take a 2-0 lead.

The Hornets came back and won 25-22 in the third set to close within 2-1, but Athens pulled out a 26-24 win in the fourth set to advance to the Regional Finals with a 3-1 victory.

“The Hornets came out slow and couldn’t pick it up in the first set,” said Rosholt volleyball head coach Steph Burclaw. “The second set they came out swinging, both teams battled hard and the Hornets fell just short of the ‘W.’

“Going into the third, the Hornets picked up their momentum and swung hard into Athens blocks and we powered through the third to take the win,” she said. “The fourth set came down to the finish and the Hornets just fell short of it.”

Outside hitters Kaylee Skibba and Ashley Studzinski led the way for the Hornets with 17 kills and 14 kills each.   Emma Kluck led the team in assists with 27, and Olivia Gagas had 21 assists. Maddy Simonis finished with 18 digs.