Experience – and plenty of it – has the Weyauwega-Fremont volleyball team optimistic about the upcoming season.
Ten seniors are back for coach Rena Tomaszewski, many of them with a great deal of varsity experience.
They include Tomaszewski’s daughter, Teal, a Central Wisconsin 8 Conference first-team libero as a junior.
“Teal is expected to be at the top of the conference again this season in digs and serve-receive,” Tomaszewski said. “Not many balls get by this kid. She really brings a level of trust to the team when she is in the back court and helps to make our setter’s job easy. Teal puts nearly every ball right where it needs to be and she just knows volleyball.”
Other returning seniors include Danielle Austreng, Maggie Knecht, Mariah Hulbert, Bailey Kapitzke, Kelsey Akey and Sydney DeSantis,
Austreng made the CWC-8 second team last year and joins Tomaszewski, Knecht, Hulbert and Kapitzke as a team captain.
“Dani was a team leader last fall in kills and service points,” Tomaszewski said. “She is a great leader out on the court. She brings strength to the team mentally and physically. Dani is more focused and driven this season to be a better defensive player. We believe that Dani’s hitting percentage will improve this season since she is really working on placing the ball in more areas of the court.”
Knecht is another returning letterwinner.
“Maggie is absolutely the spark of the team,” Tomaszewski said. “She is always getting everyone going simply by what she says out on the court. Add her physical skills and she is definitely going to be a threat this season. Maggie is reading the ball well and has really been hustling at the net. She has great hands and a nice vertical, which will be a nice advantage for the team.”
Hulbert tried setting for the first time as a junior and led the Indians in assists.
“She is the type of player that every team needs on the court, not because of physical skill but because of her determination to win,” Tomaszewski said. “Mariah loves to compete and is always up for a challenge. We’re going to see more great setting from her this season.” Kapitzke made the CWC-8 first team as a junior.
“Bailey finished last season in the top of the charts with kills and ace serves,” Tomaszewski said. “She is a great passer, loves to play defense and has a very strong attack. Plain and simple, Bailey just loves to play volleyball. She learns something every time she is on the court and usually has a surprise up her sleeve that usually ends up in a point or side out.”
Akey is expected to bring up her level of play this season at the setter position, according to Tomaszewski.
“She works hard and her main goal is to become more consistent on her sets,” she said. “We really like the way that Kelsey listens and she is willing to make corrections to become more confident.”
DeSantis played mostly right side for the Indians last year and will probably once again fill that role again this season.
“Syd brings a nice energy to the team and is also one of those players that just likes to compete,” Tomaszewski said. “She will be an even bigger threat when she perfects her signature hit.”
Other seniors likely to see playing time this season are Lauren Akey at left side, defensive specialist Anna Forslin and middle blocker Lizzie Abhold.
“These three girls really have stepped up this year to be fantastic practice players that are pushing the starters,” Tomaszewski said. “When they work this hard, they improve, so you know you’ll see them out on the floor during matches.”
Junior Morgan Wilson is back after recovering from a knee injury.
“Morgan has literally been out of volleyball for two years due to knee injury,” Tomaszewski said. “She has a lot to learn, but she spent most of last fall learning by observing while she did her rehab for her ACL surgery. The best thing about Morgan is that she is so darned determined to succeed. She is going to get better every day and we’re glad to have her back on the court.”
Sophomores Jordan Krause and Megan Young also made the varsity roster.
“Jordan saw lots of court time last fall when she had to step in to the varsity lineup for an injured Wilson,” Tomaszewski said. “Megan really came on strong at the end of the season and is showing great promise as a go-to hitter. When we put these two girls together on the block, it will be very difficult to get anything past them.”
Juniors Kelsey Gilbert and Katie Ponto and sophomore Manni Potratz will also see court time in varsity matches, but will spend most of their time on the junior varsity squad.
“All three are prospects for the starting lineup in 2013,” Tomaszewski said. “Gilbert is really coming along well at the left side, Ponto has been improving every day, is becoming a great court leader and improving her consistency at setting and Potratz should be able to fill a setting position as well as play the defensive spot in the back row.”
The Indians opened the season this week at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Invitational and will compete Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Omro Invitational. The CWC-8 opener is set for Tuesday, Sept. 4, at home against Bonduel.
Tomaszewski expects Stevens Point Pacelli and Wittenberg-Birnamwood to be among the top teams in the CWC-8 this season.
“We are certain that the CWC-8 will see some very exciting matchups and we are absolutely pushing to get that spot back on our banner,” she said. “This is a great group of girls. They have what it takes to make it to the Resch Center in November and they are not willing to let that dream die. We host six home matches in the regular season and we want people to pack the gym for some exciting volleyball.”
Weyauwega-Fremont 2012 Volleyball Schedule
Varsity
Tuesday, Aug. 21 – at UW-Oshkosh Invitational, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 22 – at UW-Oshkosh Invitational, 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 25 – at Omro Invitational, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 28 – at Little Chute Double Dual, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 4 – vs. Bonduel, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 6 – vs. Stevens Point Pacelli, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 11 – vs. Iola-Scandinavia, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 13 – at Shiocton, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 17 – vs. Waupaca (Dig Pink match), 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 18 – vs. Amherst, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 22 – at Medford Invitational, 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 25 – vs. Manawa, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 29 – at Wrightstown Invitational, 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 2 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 6 – at Central Wisconsin Conference Meet (pool play), TBA, 10 a.m.
Junior Varsity
Tuesday, Sept. 4 – vs. Bonduel, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 6 – vs. Stevens Point Pacelli, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 11 – vs. Iola-Scandinavia, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 13 – at Shiocton, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 15 – Weyauwega-Fremont Invitational, 9:30 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 17 – vs. Waupaca (Dig Pink match), 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 18 – vs. Amherst, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 20 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood Quadrangular, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 22 – at Stratford Invitational, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 25 – vs. Manawa, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 29 – at Iola-Scandinavia Quadrangular, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 2 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13 – at UW-Oshkosh Invitational, TBA.
Freshman
Tuesday, Sept. 4 – vs. Bonduel, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 6 – vs. Stevens Point Pacelli, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 8 – at Wautoma Invitational, 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 11 – vs. Iola-Scandinavia, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 13 – at Shiocton, 6 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 17 – vs. Waupaca (Dig Pink match), 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 18 – vs. Amherst, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 20 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood Quadrangular, 5 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 24 – at Waupaca Invitational, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 25 – vs. Manawa, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 2 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13 – at UW-Oshkosh Invitational, TBA.
Middle School
Tuesday, Sept. 4 -at Manawa, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 6 – at Shiocton, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 13 -at Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 20 – vs. St. Peter’s, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 22 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood Invitational, 8 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 25 – vs. Bonduel, 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 1 – vs. St. Peter’s, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 2 – vs. Marion, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 4 – vs. Manawa, 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 8 – vs. Shiocton, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 9 – at Marion, 4 p.m.