Weyauwega-Fremont’s volleyball team will open the season tonight (Thursday) in Little Chute for a triangular with the Mustangs and Oconto Falls.
Rosters have been filled after two days of tryouts, according to coach Rena Tomaszewski.
“The varsity roster consists of a handful of experienced and talented seniors and several talented sophomores,” she said. “Leading the team are captains and seniors right-side hitter Rachel Knecht, middle hitter Danielle Johnson and outside hitter and serving specialist Kaitlyn Akey. Also in the senior crew are middle hitter Dacia Goetsch, right-side hitter Kirsten Dailey, outside hitter Brittaney Billington and setter Katelyn Wieters.”
Sophomores filling out the roster of 12 are outside hitters Bailey Kapitzke and Danielle Austreng; setters Kelsey Akey and Sydney DeSantis, who will share time at junior varsity and varsity; outside and right-side hitter Mariah Hulbert, also playing JV and varsity; middle hitter Maggie Knecht; and libero Teal Tomaszewski.
“We’re expecting some pretty big things from the team this season,” Tomaszewski said. “There is some great leadership in our seniors and talent and volleyball knowledge in our sophomores. They have some pretty serious goals written down and they are challenging themselves and each other every day to make it deep into the tournament series.”
Three other seniors will share time at JV and varsity: defensive specialist Alyssa Wild and outside hitters Amanda Miller and Jenna Prillwitz. Senior Bailey Drews will play JV as an outside or right-side hitter.
“We have a substantially large number of seniors this season,” Tomaszewski said. “We’d like to point out that we are proud that they have remained with the program. They are all exceptional young ladies who can contribute in many ways to the success of the program.”
The JV roster also includes junior middle hitter Taylor Drews; and three sophomores in setter/hitter Anna Forslin, outside hitter Lauren Akey and newcomer Jennifer Hunkins at middle blocker.
A very talented group of freshman are also part of the program, according to Tomaszewski.
“We gained two newcomers from Christ Lutheran in West Bloomfield in Taylor Kester and Hailee Gorges and two more from St. Peter Lutheran School in Weyauwega in Morgan Wilson and Kori Looker. We are unfortunately missing out on Morgan’s promising talent this season, as she is recovering from a bruised bone in her knee with some stress to her ACL. We are really looking forward to her being at full strength for the team next season.”
Other freshmen include setter Katie Ponto, libero Natalie Keller, setter/hitter Jade Schroeder, middle blocker Cheyenne Stuebs, outside Cheyenne Cumber, setter Brandi Dain, setter/hitter Kelsey Gilbert, defensive specialist Sadie Kaminske, outside Alyssa Miller, setter Rebecca Payton and outside Jamie Seward.
Tomaszewski expects Amherst and Stevens Point Pacelli to be the teams to beat in the Central Wisconsin 8 Conference.
“We are certain that conference will be a battle this season and I’m expecting to see strength again this season from Amherst and Pacelli,” she said. “Neither of those teams lost many seniors.”