Replacing eight players means there’ll be some big changes in store this season for the Waupaca volleyball team.
Second-year coach Bret Rodenz is still getting a feel for his team this week after the Comets hosted a four-team scrimmage Aug. 20 with Weyauwega-Fremont, Iola-Scandinavia and Antigo.
“We had two days of tryouts and three practice days and here we are,” he said after the three-hour scrimmage. “We’re still finding positions. We have a lot of young girls. There will be some young girls playing, but we have a lot of good seniors that are returning as well. It’s trying to find the right chemistry with who’s playing next to who. It takes a long time in volleyball.
“We lost eight players from last year,” he added. “The chemistry was there for so many years. Now, we’re trying to throw a new mix in. That’s our weak spot right now.”
Although there were some breakdowns during the scrimmage, there were also some positive signs, according to Rodenz.
“We saw good things,” he said. “When we started passing the ball, we played like I know we can play. We really have to focus on communicating on the court. The girls at least stayed in the game even with my frustration. As a coach, you always want to fix things right away and you can’t, you have to wait for practice. That’s a tough thing for me to do. I try to fix it right away. I don’t know who got down more, the girls or myself, but the girls stuck with it. They came around at the end. We had some great blocking. Our downfall today was passing and that’s something we’re going to be working on.”
Returning players for the Comets include seniors Nicole Donaldson, Kallie Webb and McKenna Plunkett,
“As far as juniors and sophomores, there’s a lot of great talent,” Rodenz said. “It’s trying to harness it in where I need it.”
One of those players is sophomore Sydney Brooks, the team’s tallest player.
“It’s nice to have someone in there who’s over 6 feet tall,” Rodenz said. “She has potential and skill and we’re going to work with that. It’s great to have height in any sport, but it’s especially important in volleyball because you have that presence at the net. Instead of building around one person, we have a lot of skill at different positions. We’re trying to see who’s chemistry is best next to each other.”
The Comets compete with Appleton Xavier, Berlin, Clintonville, Fox Valley Lutheran, Freedom, Little Chute and Ripon in the Eastern Valley Conference. Rodenz expects Berlin to contend for an conference championship.
“They have almost everyone returning,” he said. “They went deep in the playoffs last year. They have a great coach and a great program over there. You have a successful season or two and builds fan support.”
Waupaca will see the Indians Tuesday, Sept. 11, in the Comets’ home opener.
“I don’t want to say it’s a rebuilding year because that would be incorrect,” Rodenz said. “It’s going to be a year of challenges because we lost so many people from last year. I’m looking forward to see who’s going to step up. They know I’m looking for a leader.”
Waupaca will open the season at 4 p.m. today (Thursday, Aug. 23) at a quadrangular in Amherst with the Falcons, Rosholt and Almond-Bancroft before heading to another quadrangular at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, in Bonduel.
In the meantime, the Comets are back on the court this week practicing.
“We really have to focus on our confidence on the court,” Rodenz said. “It’s going to be a good season regardless of our record. I’m hoping that we’ll do well. This is my second year, so I’m still learning as a coach. We have a lot of potential, whether it be this year or next year. I’m focusing on this year. I think we have the players, it’s getting them to play to their ability.”
Waupaca Comets
Volleyball
2012 Schedule
Varsity
Thursday, Aug. 23 – at Amherst Quadrangular, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 28 – at Bonduel Quadrangular, 5 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 30 – at Winneconne, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 8 – at Appleton West Invitational, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 11 – vs. Berlin, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 13 – at Clintonville, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 15 – at Wausau Newman Invitational, 9 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 17 – at Weyauwega-Fremont (Dig Pink match), 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 20 – vs. Little Chute (Homecoming), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 22 – at Abbotsford Invitational, 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, Sept. 27 – at Appleton Xavier, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 4 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 6 – at Bay Port Invitational, Howard, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 9 – at Ripon, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 11 – vs. Freedom (Parents’ Night), 7 p.m.
Junior Varsity
Thursday, Aug. 30 – at Winneconne, 5:15 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 8 – at Appleton West Invitational, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 4 – Waupaca Quadrangular, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 8 – at UW-Oshkosh Invitational, TBA.
Tuesday, Sept. 11 – vs. Berlin, 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 13 – at Clintonville, 5:15 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 15 – at Bay Port Invitational, Howard, 9 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 17 – at Weyauwega-Fremont (Dig Pink match), 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 20 – vs. Little Chute (Homecoming), 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 27 – at Appleton Xavier, 5:15 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 1 – Waupaca Quadrangular, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 4 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, 5:15 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 6 – at Kettle Moraine Invitational, Wales, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 9 – at Ripon, 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 11 – vs. Freedom (Parents’ Night), 5:15 p.m.
Freshman
Thursday, Aug. 30 – at Winneconne, 5:15 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 8 – at Wautoma Invitational, 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 11 – vs. Berlin, 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 13 – at Clintonville, 5:15 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 17 – at Weyauwega-Fremont (Dig Pink match), 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 20 – vs. Little Chute (Homecoming), 5:15 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 24 – Waupaca Invitational, 5 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 27 – at Appleton Xavier, 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 4 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, 5:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 9 – at Ripon, 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 11 – vs. Freedom (Parents’ Night), 5:15 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13 – at UW-Oshkosh Invitational, TBA.