By KLINT SPILLER

kspiller@dailynews.net

For Thomas More Prep-Marian senior outside hitter Megan Gottschalk, she said it was a solemn moment when she realized her volleyball match against Plainville would be her final one in Al Billinger Fieldhouse.

Her teammates made sure she went out on a high note, as the Monarchs rebounded from their loss to Phillipsburg to defeat Plainville in two sets.

"It's hard to think this is the last time I'll ever play here," Gottschalk said.

The Monarchs went 1-1 Tuesday at the TMP Triangular.

TMP lost to Phillipsburg (25-15, 25-12) and beat Plainville (25-17, 25-18). TMP now is 2-14.

"The second match was a total turn around from the first match," Gottschalk said. "We really picked it up and played a lot better."

Phillipsburg swept its opponents, beating Plainville (25-15, 25-10).

The Panthers improved to 7-5, and Plainville dropped to 2-10.

Phillipsburg coach Terra Keeten said the sweep was positive for her young team, which features only three seniors and got off to a rough start to the year.

"I thought we played a lot better tonight," Keeten said. "We've got some kids in new positions and trying some new things on offense and defense. I think things finally came together and clicked for us."

In the Monarchs' match against Phillipsburg, TMP coach Natausha Dreher said her team didn't communicate.

"We were very quiet," Dreher said. "I don't know if they were a little intimidated to play here in front of their peers. I don't know what was going on there, but they played quiet. It has to start with them being very vocal on the floor. It makes them play with more confidence."

The Monarchs were loud against Plainville, jumping to early leads in the first part of each set. At one point in the second set, TMP led Plainville 11-2.

But in the middle part of both sets, the Monarchs allowed the Cardinals to creep back into it. Plainville managed to tie it in the first set and came within three points in the second set before TMP managed to close out each game.

"We have one rotation where our serve-receive was a little weaker," Dreher said. "They basically had to calm down a little bit and get it made up in their mind that they just needed one good pass."

The Monarchs forced multiple Plainville mistakes in the match. In fact, eight of the Monarchs' first nine points in the second set were the result of Cardinal hitting, serving or receiving errors.

Dreher said she thought many of the mistakes were forced by her team.

"Some of their errors were definitely forced by us," Dreher said. "We were telling them to push the ball long, push the ball deep. Their defense was sucked in really tight. We told them to push the ball deep. It would make them pass way outside of their midline, and they would shank balls."

Sophomore middle hitter Kaylor Gottschalk led the team with five kills against Plainville, while Gottschalk had three aces.

Gottschalk said she enjoyed playing in front of her peers in her one home match of the season.

"It's really nice to have a home game," Gottschalk said. "I wish we had more here."