Prep Girls Volleyball Preview

Compiled by Jason McMahon
Special to The Capital Times — 9/07/2004 9:52 am

BIG EIGHT

2003 champion: Middleton (15-1).

Longest postseason run: Madison Memorial lost to Watertown in the sectional final.

Returning all-conference players (x-indicates first-team): x-Katie Matykowski, sr., OH, Sun Prairie; x-Kelly Annen, sr., MH, Madison West; x-Lauren Brown, jr., MH, Madison La Follette; x-Kelly Sorensen, sr., OH, Madison Memorial; x-Casey Demos, sr., MH-OB, Janesville Parker; x-Kristin VerVoort, sr., OH, Middleton; Jane Sytsma, jr., MH, Memorial; Sarah Brown, sr., MH, Sun Prairie; Claire Tauschek, sr., S, Middleton; Molly Arndt, sr., S, Janesville Craig; Krista Henshue, jr., S, Madison West; Alicia Schneider, sr., MH-OB, Parker; Rachel Jasinski, jr., OH, Sun Prairie; Melissa Ernst, jr., OH, Middleton.

Notes: Middleton had a 60-match conference winning streak snapped last year by Sun Prairie, and was later knocked out in the regional final by Memorial. Yet with almost the entire starting lineup back from a team that won a fourth consecutive Big Eight title, coach Franco Marcos admits that his Cardinals are the favorites to snag another title. "I'm still cautiously optimistic," Marcos said. "The game has changed. ... With rally scoring, you really don't know what to expect." ... Parker's Demos has committed to play college ball at Division I Birmingham Southern. ... Both Memorial (Joe Frontier) and La Follette (Paul Schlomer) have new coaches.

BADGER NORTH

2003 champion: Portage (12-0).

Longest postseason run: DeForest lost to Watertown in the sectional semifinal.

Returning all-conference players (x-indicates first-team): x-Rachel Chapman, sr., OH, Portage; x-Kayla Johnson, sr., MH, Portage; x-Brittany Staffeil, jr., OH, DeForest; x-Jessica Endres, sr., S, Waunakee; x-Megan Ostrowski, sr., S, Portage; Lindsey Craker, sr., Reedsburg; Breanna Groskreutz; jr., Reedsburg; Erica Weickgenant, sr., Baraboo; Rachel Silvers, sr., Baraboo.

Notes: Defending champion Portage is the consensus pick to repeat. The Warriors lost only one starter to graduation, though it was a big loss - all-conference outside hitter Megan Mills, who took her talents to the University of Wisconsin. ... DeForest is hungry to regain the title that the Norskies claimed in 2001 and 2002, and may have the best player in the conference in junior outside hitter Brittany Staffeil, an honorable mention all-state selection as a sophomore. "If she can lead us and stay healthy, there's not a better kid in the league than her," longtime DeForest coach Doug Pickarts said. ... Reedsburg stretched Portage out to five games on Tuesday before falling; the Beavers and Waunakee may be able to sneak into title contention. ... Matt Statz takes over as coach at Mount Horeb.

BADGER SOUTH

2003 champion: Monona Grove (11-1).

Longest postseason run: Edgewood advanced to the Division 2 state semifinals, where the Crusaders fell to eventual champion Waupun.

Returning all-conference players (x-indicates first-team): x-Jessica Kieser, jr., S, Verona; x-Caitlin Grundman, sr., S, Edgewood; x-Liz Benzschawel, sr., MB, Edgewood; Maria Anderson, jr., Monona Grove; Sam Schmitz, sr., McFarland; Callie Hainzinger, jr., Verona; Maggie Nowicki, sr., Edgewood.

Notes: Edgewood, which had the same conference record as 2003 champion Monona Grove, is the unanimous pick among coaches to win this year's crown, despite returning only two starters. The Crusaders also are seeking their fifth consecutive state berth. ... The Silver Eagles return three starters for their title defense. ... Edgewood will host a 16-team invitational on Oct. 9 that will include eight teams that finished in the top 10 in the final Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association rankings last season.

CAPITOL

2003 champion: Wisconsin Heights (11-1).

Longest postseason run: Wisconsin Heights and Lakeside Lutheran each were ousted in regional finals.

Returning all-conference players (x-indicates first-team): x-Stephanie Meier, sr., Wisconsin Heights; x-Katie O'Connell, sr., Wisconsin Heights; x-Barb Wick, sr., Wisconsin Heights; x-Nicole Thom, sr., Lakeside Lutheran; x-Ashley Gorder, sr., Waterloo; x-Sarah Leistico, sr., Waterloo; Kim Haack, sr., Wisconsin Heights; Whitney Sellnow, sr., Lakeside Lutheran; Kim Weihert, sr., Waterloo; Hailey Trimborn, jr., Lake Mills; Danielle Anton, sr., Marshall; Hannah Ellis, jr., Cambridge; Breah Kleven, jr., Cambridge.

Notes: Defending champ Wisconsin Heights is the team to beat, with Lakeside Lutheran as the chief threat. But Lake Mills may also factor in the race, and Marshall and Waterloo have shown early that they can't be overlooked.

SOUTH CENTRAL

2003 champion: Lodi (12-0).

Longest postseason run: The Blue Devils lost in the sectional semifinals to River Valley.

Returning all-conference players (x-indicates first-team): x-Alyse Karls, jr., S, Lodi; x-Rochelle Ripp, sr., OH, Lodi; x-Jenna Padley, jr., MB, Lodi.

Notes: The Blue Devils have not lost a game in the South Central in the past two years, and won a 24-team tournament in Whitewater last weekend.

SIX RIVERS EAST

2003 champion: Belleville (15-1).

Longest postseason run: Barneveld lost to Shullsburg in the regional final.

Returning all-conference players (x-indicates first-team): x-Dana Thompson, jr., Belleville; Megan Scheele, sr., New Glarus; Jennell Manion, so., Belleville.

Notes: Belleville, Barneveld and Juda are all mentioned as title contenders.

KEY DATES

Sept. 14: Wisconsin Heights at Lakeside Lutheran; Portage at DeForest

Sept. 18: Middleton Invitational; Edgerton Invitational

Sept. 23: Portage at Reedsburg

Oct. 7: Lakeside Lutheran at Wisconsin Heights; DeForest at Portage

Oct. 9: Edgewood Invitational

Oct. 21: Barneveld and Belleville at Juda

Oct. 19, 22-23: WIAA Regionals

Oct. 29-30: WIAA Sectionals

Nov. 4-6: WIAA State Tournament, Resch Center, Green Bay

Compiled by Jason McMahon
Special to The Capital Times — 9/07/2004 9:52 am