HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW: FIVE AREA TEAMS LOOK TO REPEAT CONFERENCE TITLES
By Paul Lecker
Zaleski Sports
Area high school volleyball teams kicked off their 2021 season last week as a number of high-profile invitationals and local quadrangular meets were held.
This week and next will be the start of the conference schedules, and a number of teams will look to repeat success from 2020.
Stevens Point Pacelli (Central Wisconsin Conference South Division), Marshfield Columbus Catholic (Cloverbelt Conference East Division), Stratford (Marawood Conference South Division), Mosinee (Great Northern Conference) and Marshfield (Wisconsin Valley Conference) are all defending conference champions and each have a number of top players returning as they try to make a run at another championship.
Here is a look at the 22 teams in our coverage area:
ABBOTSFORD FALCONS
Coach: Lee Schreiber.
Last year’s record: 1-4.
Requested information on the team was not provided.
Schedule (HOME IN CAPS): Aug. 28 at Wisconsin Rapids Invite, 9 a.m.; Sept. 4 at Marshfield Invite, 9 a.m.; Sept. 7 PRENTICE, 7 p.m.; Sept. 9 at Gilman, 7 p.m.; Sept. 14 CHEQUAMEGON, 7 p.m.; Sept. 16 at Colby, 7:15 p.m.; Sept. 18 at Clintonville Invitational, 9 a.m.; Sept. 20 AUGUSTA, 7 p.m.; Sept. 21 at Athens, 7 p.m.; Sept. 25 ABBOTFORD INVITATIONAL, 9 a.m.; Sept. 28 RIB LAKE, 7 p.m.; Oct. 2 MARAWOOD CROSSOVER CHALLENGE NO. 1, 10 a.m.; Oct. 5 at Phillips, 7 p.m.; Oct. 9 at Edgar Invitational, 9 a.m.; Oct. 12 Marawood Crossover Challenge No. 2 at Marathon, 4 p.m.
AMHERST FALCONS
Coach: Autumn Groshek.
Last year’s record: 7-3, 5-1 Central Wisconsin Conference East Division.
Returning players: Haley Peskie, jr., outside hitter; Alexa Shulfer, sr., outside hitter; Hannah Wall, sr., middle hitter; Talin Maves, sr., setter; Carly Wandtke, sr., libero; Sydney Lehman, sr., middle hitter.
Key newcomer: Sara Breed, jr., all-around.
Schedule (HOME IN CAPS): Aug. 26 AMHERST QUAD, 4:30 p.m.; Aug. 28 at Oshkosh Lourdes Invitational, 8 a.m.; Sept. 2 AMHERST TRIANGULAR, 4:30 p.m.; Sept. 7 at Weyauwega-Fremont, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 9 at Oshkosh Lourdes, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 11 at Port Edwards Quad, 11 a.m.; Sept. 14 SHIOCTON, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 18 at Berlin Invitational, 9 a.m.; Sept. 21 at Bonduel, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 23 IOLA-SCANDINAVIA, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 28 at Menominee Indian, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 5 WITTENBERG-BIRNAMWOOD, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 14 at Pacelli, 7:30 p.m.
ASSUMPTION ROYALS
Coach: Jeanette Glaza, fifth year.
Last year’s record: 2-8, 0-5 sixth place Marawood Conference South Division.
Returning players: Kayla Kerkman, sr., outside hitter; Maleia Kolo, jr., outside hitter; Ava Schill, jr., setter/outside hitter; Autumn Moon, so., outside hitter; Jayden Glaza, so., setter; Kendall Duellman, so., libero.
Key newcomers: Madi Abbott, so., outside hitter; Anna Schooley, fr., outside hitter.
From Coach Glaza: “(We want) to grow and be as competitive as possible at playoff time. We are a young team again this year with only one senior, but our younger girls bring with them a passion and competitive volleyball knowledge.”
Schedule (HOME IN CAPS): Aug. 26 at Iola-Scandinavia Triangular, 5 p.m.; Aug. 31 at Loyal, 7:15 p.m.; Sept. 2 w/Adams-Friendship at Amherst, 4 p.m.; Sept. 7 STRATFORD, 7 p.m.; Sept. 9 NEILLSVILLE, 7 p.m.; Sept. 11 at Auburndale Invitational, 9 a.m.; Sept. 14 at Marathon, 7 p.m.; Sept. 16 w/Pacelli at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 5 p.m.; Sept. 21 at Edgar 7 p.m.; Sept. 28 AUBURNDALE, 7 p.m.; Sept. 30 at Pittsville, 7:15 p.m.; Oct. 2 Marawood Crossover Challenge No. 1 at Edgar, 10 a.m.; Oct. 5 WAUSAU NEWMAN CATHOLIC, 7 p.m.; Oct. 12 Marawood Crossover Challenge No. 2 at Marathon, 4 p.m.; Oct. 14 WILD ROSE, 7 p.m.
ATHENS BLUEJAYS
Coach: Tanille Hartwig.
Last year’s record: 2-4.
Requested information on the team was not provided.
Schedule (HOME IN CAPS): Aug. 24 at Spencer Invitational, 11:30 a.m.; Aug. 27-28 at Menomonie Sprawl (UW-Stout), 8:30 a.m.; Aug. 31 at Northland Pines Quad, 4 p.m.; Sept. 2 GILMAN, 7 p.m.; Sept. 7 PHILLIPS, 7 p.m.; Sept. 9 COLBY, 7 p.m.; Sept. 11 at Merrill Invitational, 9 a.m.; Sept. 14 at Rib Lake, 7 p.m.; Sept. 21 ABBOTSFORD, 7 p.m.; Sept. 25 at Eau Claire Regis Invitational, 10 a.m.; Sept. 28 at Prentice, 7 p.m.; Oct. 2 Marawood Crossover Challenge No. 1 at Abbotsford, 10 a.m.; Oct. 5 at Chequamegon, 7 p.m.; Oct. 9 ATHENS QUAD, 9 a.m.; Oct. 12 Marawood Crossover Challenge No. 2 at Marathon, 4 p.m.
AUBURNDALE EAGLES
Coach: Kate Schmutzer, second year.
Last year’s record: 6-5, 4-1 Marawood Conference South Division.
Returning players: Josie Ertl, honorable mention all-Marawood South in 2020; Bri Weiler; Ashlyn Grimm; Nicole Marth; Morgan Raab.
From Coach Schmutzer: “Overall, we are young with only two seniors, Nicole Marth and Morgan Raab, and unfortunately Morgan suffered a preseason injury, so her status is uncertain. The returning players and newcomers have been working hard in the gym. We are expecting to be competitive. However, we will need to stay healthy.”
Schedule (HOME IN CAPS): Aug. 26 at Wisconsin Rapids, 7 p.m.; Aug. 31 at Wausau West Quad, 4 p.m.; Sept. 7 at Wausau Newman Catholic, 7 p.m.; Sept. 9 IOLA-SCANDINAVIA, 7 p.m.; Sept. 11 AUBURNDALE INVITATIONAL, 9 a.m.; Sept. 14 EDGAR, 7 p.m.; Sept. 16 AUBURNDALE QUAD, 5 p.m.; Sept. 21 STRATFORD, 7 p.m.; Sept. 28 at Assumption, 7 p.m.; Oct. 2 Marawood Crossover Challenge No. 1 at Abbotsford, 10 a.m.; Oct. 5 MARATHON, 7 p.m.; Oct. 9 at Edgar Invitational, 9 a.m.; Oct. 12 Marawood Crossover Challenge No. 2 at Marathon, 4 p.m.
COLBY HORNETS
Coach: Hannah Engevold, first year.
Last year’s record: 6-6, 5-2 tied for second in Cloverbelt Conference East Division.
Returning players: Kya Viegut, sr., middle/right side hitter; Hayden Willner, jr., outside hitter; Brett Schmitt, sr., libero.
Key newcomers: Fabiola Castillo, sr., defensive specialist; Kaylee Garcia, jr., setter/defensive specialist; Kennedy Bilz, jr., right side/middle hitter; Hilary Feiten, jr., right side hitter; Sophia Fontoira, jr., outside hitter; Hailey Baumann, sr., right side hitter; Savana Thomsen, fr., middle hitter; Sierra Strassburger, jr., defensive specialist; Lydia Decker, so., outside hitter; Jorja Weiland, jr., setter.
From Coach Engevold: “This year we are expecting a younger team. Last year we had nine seniors who filled the roster, but we are looking forward to growing the program, really relying on our defensive skills and net play. This group is coachable and we have great looks for all positions. I have been placed as an interim head coach for this season as our previous coach got a new teaching job. With that being said, this is pretty new but the girls know the expectations I hold for them and what the overall goal for the Colby volleyball program is. I am excited to see what this year brings.”
Schedule (HOME IN CAPS): Aug. 27-28 at Menomonie Sprawl (UW-Stout), 8 a.m.; Aug. 31 at Edgar, 7 p.m.; Sept. 9 at Athens, 7 p.m.; Sept. 11 at Cadott Invitational, 9 a.m.; Sept. 14 SPENCER, 7:15 p.m.; Sept. 16 ABBOTSFORD, 7:15 p.m.; Sept. 20 STRATFORD, 7:15 p.m.; Sept. 21 at Gilman, 7:15 p.m.; Sept. 23 NEILLSVILLE, 7:15 p.m.; Sept. 25 at Abbotsford Invitational, 9 a.m.; Sept. 28 at Greenwood, 7:15 p.m.; Sept. 30 MARSHFIELD COLUMBUS CATHOLIC, 7:15 p.m.; Oct. 5 OWEN-WITHEE, 7:15 p.m.; Oct. 7 at Loyal, 7:15 p.m.; Oct. 9 at Edgar Invitational, 9 a.m.; Oct. 12 Cloverbelt Conference crossover, TBA; Oct. 14 Cloverbelt Conference Crossover, TBA.
COLUMBUS CATHOLIC DONS
Coach: Kat Egle, ninth year.
Last year’s record: 12-4, 7-0 Cloverbelt Conference East Division champions.
Returning players: Dorci Walker, sr., hitter, 256 kills, 127 digs, 31 service aces, Cloverbelt East Player of the Year in 2020; Jenna Kibbel, jr., hitter, 126 digs, 32 aces, honorable mention all-Cloverbelt East; Courtney Sommer, so., setter/hitter.
Key newcomers: Lily Stratman, jr., setter; Izzy Hoglund, fr., back row.
From Coach Egle: “We have great team chemistry and our team will be strong this year. We are young, but we have Dorci and Jenna that are doing a great job leading the team to be the best that they can be. Our strength will be our team unity and the willingness to work hard each day to get better. We expect great things from Dorci this year. She is a smart player with a phenomenal hit.”
Schedule (HOME IN CAPS): Aug. 24 at Loyal Quad, 4 p.m.; Aug. 27-28 at Menomonie Sprawl (UW-Stout), 8 a.m.; Sept. 9 at Stratford, 7:15 p.m.; Sept. 11 at Auburndale Invitational, 9 a.m.; Sept. 14 GILMAN, 7:15 p.m.; Sept. 16 w/Phillips at Three Lakes, 5:30 p.m.; Sept. 18 at Chippewa Falls McDonell Invitational, 9 a.m.; Sept. 21 at Loyal, 7:15 p.m.; Sept. 23 OWEN-WITHEE, 7:15 p.m.; Sept. 25 at Medford Invitational, 9 a.m.; Sept. 28 at Neillsville, 7:15 p.m.; Sept. 30 at Colby, 7:15 p.m.; Oct. 5 GREENWOOD, 7:15 p.m.; Oct. 7 at Spencer, 7:15 p.m.; Oct. 12 Cloverbelt Conference crossover, TBA; Oct. 14 Cloverbelt Conference Crossover, TBA.
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