Ellsworth spikers don't plan to let low seed hold them back

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While the seed wasn't what the Ellsworth High School volleyball was looking for, the Panthers are confident that with good play it hold them back from advancing in their regional tournament bracket which begins tonight.

The Panthers open up at Bloomer, which finished in the top-half of the Heart O'North conference with a 10-4 record. Ellsworth also finished in the top of their league, but somebody had to get high seed and the someone has to get the low seed. So the Blackhawks were seeded No. 3 and EHS put at No. 6. The match begins at 7 p.m.

"If was a tough bracket to seed because there were a lot of good teams in it," Ellsworth head coach Tanya Powers said. "I know it's tough to see teams you've beaten like Osceola and Somerset seeded higher than you and hosting matches but that's what we have to deal with and play through."

And Powers believes the Panthers can play through to the end of the regional despite their No. 6 seed. If they win they play the winner of the No. 2 Barron vs. No. 7 seed Durand. Altoona is the No. 1 seed in the regional.

"At this point there's nothing really which can be taught or coached," Powers said. "All there is is finding out which team wants it more and which teams are the most consistent for three matches. And if we can be the team which wants to win and plays that way, we can do it. We especially have to avoid enforced errors to do so."

Other teams looking to make their way include Spring Valley and Prescott in Division 3 as they both host home matches, Valley against Unity and Prescott vs. Boyceville. If they win they will square off in Prescott on Thursday. In Division 4, Plum City, the No. 2 in their bracket hosts Gilmanton and Elmwood, the No. 5 seed will be at No. 4 Eleva-Strum.

Tags: prep, volleyball