By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent
GREEN BAY — It usually helps when you bring back one of your top players.
Jocelin Feutz returned to the starting lineup, as the Pulaski volleyball team raced past Green Bay East (25-8, 25-9, 25-6) in a non-conference match March 22 at East High School.
“Everybody got in tonight, and it was a complete team effort,” said Bethani Thibodeau, Pulaski head coach. “Lots of players got extended playing time as we were able to move the ball around. Every hitter who played registered at least one kill on the night.”
The Red Raiders jumped out to a 10-1 lead in set one behind five Red Devils’ unforced errors.
Later, East went on a mini-run to cut the margin to 16-8, but Pulaski scored the final nine points of the set behind the setting of Emily Bruss and high-octane kills from Feutz.
The Red Devils kept the second set tight early after Yanet Torres-Mejia won two straight points on her serve.
“We are relearning volleyball through COVID-19,” said Heidi Kieffer, East head coach. “The kids keep working hard and are getting more comfortable. Our communication has to be better. There’s still too much confusion on the court.”
With Pulaski holding a 9-6 advantage, Jolee Klingeisen went on a serving bonanza.
Most of the damage was done short and just over the net.
“We mixed up areas to serve, and it paid dividends for her,” said Thibodeau. “She hit the spots I called for her, and she made it difficult for East to return the ball effectively.”
When the dust cleared, Klingeisen recorded six aces, as the Red Raiders took an 18-6 lead.
Down the stretch, East had no answer for Pulaski’s height.
With two sets in hand, the Red Raiders took leads of 5-0 and 15-4 in set three.
Near the end of the match, Pulaski’s Lexi Schuurmans placed a perfect push kill to the empty floor and then finished with a blast to give her team a 19-point, third-set victory.
“We’re still working on our volleyball IQ,” Thibodeau reiterated. “We still have challenging conference games ahead. We work on quick arm swings and being aggressive with the ball. We have to prepare every day and practice and keep the opponent guessing.”
The Red Raiders return to Fox River Classic Conference action when they travel to Green Bay Southwest Tuesday, March 23.
Meanwhile, East travels to Brussels to face Southern Door Thursday, March 25.