Balance, speed key to Monticello’s success in volleyball

They won't intimidate you with their size. They won't wow you with their stats.The Monticello Panthers will merely beat you with quickness and balance.Monticello, rated 11th in Class 2A, captured its second tournament title of the season Saturday, winning at Lisbon.“This business of winning tournaments and being ranked, it's all kind of new to me,” said Stacie Breitbach, in her third year as the Panthers' head coach.“We do a lot of nice things. We're short, but we're balanced and we're quick. We control the ball pretty well on our side. We know the other team is going to get their hits, but we do a good job of recovering.”The Panthers (12-1) also won a tournament Sept. 5 at Midland. At Lisbon, they dropped a pool match to West Branch, but turned the tables on the Bears in the championship.Monticello's offense comes from a variety of sources. Five regulars average at least one kill per game, none of them more than 1.5.Kelsie Etten (5-9, junior), Nicole Simmons (5-4, senior) and Tracy Hermsen (6-0, junior) are the primary attackers.Etten is the only Panther that exceeds 5-9.“It's just something we have to overcome,” Breitbach said.Kinzie Ludwig and Tawni Tuetken are the setters in the Panthers' 6-2 scheme.Monticello hosts a tournament Saturday, its most challenging yet. The eight-team field includes West Delaware and Linn-Mar.“The level of competition certainly is going to go up, but I think we have the potential to play with anyone,” Breitbach said.

Among the state leadersIowa City High's duo of Erin Muir and Brittany Nelson ranks among the state's best setter/hitter tandem.Muir ranks fourth statewide in assists at 9.83 per game while Nelson is No. 4 in kills per game (5.24).Breanna Von Lienen of English Valleys is second in the state in aces per game (1.59).

Going InternationalJessica Gehrke of Iowa City West said Saturday that she has committed to compete in volleyball and track and field at Florida International University.A 5-foot-9 senior outside hitter who earned Elite all-state honors last year, Gehrke averages 3.6 kills and 2.6 assists per game. She owns a .450 kill efficiency.