The Luxemburg-Casco volleyball team saw their season come to a premature close Friday afternoon, but not without a fight as they lost to top-seeded Sauk Prairie 3-2 (25-22, 25-19, 24-26, 17-25, 15-7).

 

Both teams took their time settling in during the first set with the Eagles and the Spartans exchanging service errors and other miscues. A five-point run midway through the set gave the Eagles the momentum to build a 21-14 lead before the Spartans were able to get back within striking distance. Mallory Hartwig's fifth kill of the set sent the Eagles to a Set 1 victory.

 

In the second set, it was another five-point run that put the Spartans on their heels, turning a 13-13 tie into an advantage that would build to 21-15. The Spartans battled back again thanks to two late kills from Aubrey Frey, but a service ace from Brooke Braund sent the match to the brink as the Eagles took the second set.

 

With their backs against the wall, the Spartans came out firing as they took an early lead that they would build up as high as 14-8. The Eagles whittled the advantage down and eventually took an 18-16 lead. The two teams traded points until the bitter end before Rylan Kaminski closed the set with two straight service aces to force a fourth set.

 

The Spartans started the fourth set even hotter than third set, building a seven point lead thanks to a nine-point run with Kaminski serving. The Eagles were able to whittle it down to a three-point deficit, but a six point run with Danica Bartels serving stretched the lead out again before offensive miscue by the Eagles sent the match to a fifth set.

 

 

The Eagles took control of the decisive set early with four straight points to start the match and 10 of the first 15 points. The Spartans could never get into a groove as they struggled to keep runs alive before a block by the Eagles ended the match in heartbreak.

 

 

The Spartans were led by Aubrey Frey (27 kills, 12 digs), Claire Schleis (10 kills), Alayna Deprez (45 assists), and Rylan Kaminski (eight service aces, 11 digs). Frustrating the Spartans in addition to their 10-4 edge in team blocks were Mallory Hartwig (23 kills, 11 kills), Ella Logterman (10 kills), Leah Allen (17 assists, 22 digs), and Alaina Kraemer (nine kills, 31 assists, 11 digs).

 

After the match, head coach Jeff Frey expressed his pride on how his team battled back from a two-set deficit to push the Eagles to a fifth-set and his appreciation to the thousands of fans who made the trip to the Resch Center. The Spartans finish their 2025 campaign 34-13 with a regional, sectional, and NEC title in tow. The Eagles will face Grafton in the state final Saturday evening after beating Waupaca 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 26-28, 25-21).