Sports Editor

The Tomah High School volleyball squad ran into stiff competition at Middleton Thursday.

Middleton used its superior height and experience to defeat the Timberwolves, 25-4, 25-8, 25-10, in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal at Middleton High School.

The Cardinals advanced to Saturday’s regional final, where they defeated La Crosse Central in three games. They host Verona in a sectional semifinal tonight (Thursday). Middleton is ranked number-one in the sectional.

“They were a taller team than we have seen all season long,” said assistant coach Toni Henry, who led the team in the absence of head coach Greg Bever. “We may have been a bit intimidated by their size. We kept pushing forward, but they were just too much overall for us.”

Henry said her girls did a better job of blocking late in the game.

The Timberwolves struggled with their passing. Henry said the Timberwolves strive for a passing percentage of 65 percent, but they executed just 33 percent.

Tomah’s statistical leaders were:

*Mandi Hartshorn, three assists.

*Brittany Schultz, two assists, four digs.

*Amber Patterman, three kills.

*Erin Ducklow, four kills, three digs.

*Cassie Manuell, four digs.

“I commended them for a great effort,” Henry said. “We wish our seniors the best of luck in their next venture and for the underclassmen to start new goals for next season and keep working hard in the off-season.”