Florence competed over the weekend in a 16-team invitational volleyball tournament in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., going 2-1 in pool play and 2-2 in bracket play for a sixth-place finish.

“The competition was top-notch, with teams from all over the state and every division,” said LadyCats coach Teresa Chrisman. “Florence always representing the smallest division, now 5.”

Florence’s Sami Demuri and Miley VanDenHeuvel were selected to the all-tournament team.

In pool play Friday, Florence defeated DeSoto 25-19 and Fountain Cochrane City 25-27, 26-24,16-14 before falling to Madison Abundant Life Christian 23-25, 23-25.

“All of these matches were super tight,” Chrisman said.

In bracket play on Saturday, Florence defeated Tri County 25-15, 25-17, lost to Alma Pepin 25-19, 22-25, 13-15, and then got past highly rated Rib Lake 25-17, 20-25, 19-17.

“We then met Abundant Life Christian again for a fifth-place finish match,” Chrisman said. “I was happy with what we had worked through on the day and used the match more to get everyone some playing time. We lost 18-25, 18-25.”

Many sets in the tournament were only decided by 2 points.

“This showed what kind of heart these girls have, and it did show that they can finish,” Chrisman said. “However, at times we looked really good and at others our own errors is what is leaving doors open for the opposition. We just need to continue to practice and work on that.”

The VanDenHeuvel sisters of Ashlyn and Miley each notched 11 blocks apiece. Kelsi Chrisman led with 44 kills on the day, 61 assists, and 71 digs. “We displayed a real nice balanced attack with Miley adding 39 kills and Ashlyn with 42 and Sami dishing out 59 assists,” Chrisman said.

Florence stats:

Sami Demuri, 7 aces, 28 kills, 2 blocks, 59 assists, 42 digs

Kelsi Chrisman, 9 aces, 44 kills, 3 blocks, 61 assists, 71 digs

Miley VanDenHeuvel,10 aces, 39 kills, 11 blocks, 2 assists, 59 digs

Ashlyn VanDenHeuvel,11 aces, 42 kills, 11 blocks, 2 assists, 55 digs

Naomi Millan, 4 aces, 8 kills, 4 blocks, 6 assists, 38 digs

Emily Wolske, kill, 8 block assists, 6 assists

Ashley Peterson, 3 aces, 1 kill, 1 assist, 49 digs

Lyla Nolan, 3 digs

Quinn Cassidy, 1 block assist, 1 assist, 4 digs