GALESVILLE — The West Salem High School volleyball team is one victory away from winning the outright championship in the Coulee Conference this season.
The Panthers (23-7 overall, 9-2 Coulee) claimed no worse than a share of that title with a 25-12, 25-8, 25-17 victory at Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau on Tuesday. They have a slim lead on both Westby (9-3) and Onalaska Luther (8-3) but can shut them both out of the title picture by beating Black River Falls on Thursday.
Senior Natalee Reichert had eight kills and freshman Kensley Skifton seven kills and five blocks in the win over the Red Hawks.
West Salem beat Black River Falls in three sets the first times the teams played this season.
Westby 3, Onalaska Luther 1
ONALASKA — Senior Kayla Schiebel had a team-high 14 kills, and the Knights won the first set before the visiting Norsemen (9-3) came back for a 14-25, 25-21, 35-21, 26-24 win.
Sophomore Audrey Clark added 13 kills and sophomore Tessa Gloede nine for Luther (8-3), which also received 40 assists, 14 digs and four service aces from junior Addie Schaper.
Senior Kamryn Anderson also had 25 digs for the Knights, who close out their conference season at home against Viroqua on Thursday.
Onalaska 3, Logan 0
ONALASKA — The third-place Hilltoppers (18-9, 7-4) swept the Rangers (5-15, 0-11) by scores of 25-17, 25-22,25-21.
Senior Makena McGarry led Onalaska with 17 kills, and junior Lauren Pica finished with 18 assists. Junior Natalie Marso had nine kills and six digs, sophomore McKenzie Bauer eight digs and senior Zoe Koonce-O’Kane five blocks.
Logan was led by senior Kaia DePaolo’s eight kills and junior Lily Dettwiler’s seven. Juniors Emma Bacon and Adelaide Sprain had 12 digs apiece, and Sprain added five assists.
Aquinas 3, Central 0
LA CROSSE — The second-place Blugolds (14-14, 8-4) swept the RiverHawks (14-13, 6-6) 25-19, 25-17, 25-23 at the Mark Sutton Memorial Gymnasium.
Senior Sammy Davis had 12 kills and nine digs to go with two blocks for Aquinas, which also received 18 digs and five aces from junior Aubrey Coyne. Junior Adi Bezemek had 24 assists and seven digs and junior Reese Smith six kills.
Junior Ellie Gillitzer had 20 assists, 11 digs, six kills and three aces for Central. Senior Gabbi Zeeb added 18 digs and junior Mady Young 11 digs and nine kills.
