Wega-Fremont volleyball team out to defend conference championship

By Greg Seubert

This year’s version of the Weyauwega-Fremont volleyball team includes some familiar names and a few new faces.

The Indians won the Central Wisconsin-8 Conference championship last year and will compete in the CWC-8 this season with Amherst, Bonduel, Iola-Scandinavia, Manawa, Pacelli, Shiocton and Wittenberg-Birnamwood.

“We are looking at several returning starters and a handful of newbies,” coach Rena Tomaszewski said. “We will bring nine seniors to the roster, four of whom were starters on last year’s conference championship team.”

The Indians also have some holes to fill.

“Jordan Krause, a four-year varsity player, was our starting setter in a 5-1 offense for two seasons and is now playing at the collegiate level for Madison Edgewood,” Tomaszewski said. “Megan Young, also a four-year varsity player as a front-row gun, is now playing at the collegiate level for the Menlo College Oaks in California.”

Also gone from last year are defensive specialist and setter Miranda Potratz and left-side player Taylor Miller.

“We’ll miss these ladies a great deal, but we also know that we have the players to fill their void so that we can continue to be a successful team in 2015,” Tomaszewski said.

Those players include Alyssa Goode, Karissa Akey and Rachel Knorr.

“We expect Alyssa to be a starting right-side hitter for us this season,” Tomaszewski said. “She finished last season with 13 assisted blocks. She could also fill in a role at the left side this season as well as right.”

Akey made the all-conference first team last year as a junior.

“Karissa was the co-best server last season and will serve multiple roles this season as a middle blocker and left-side hitter,” Tomaszewski said. “She is considered one of the top players in the conference and we expect great leadership from her, as usual.”

She also expects big things from Knorr, who had 37 block kills last season.

“Rachel has put in a tremendous amount of time this offseason,” she said. “Her progression through the summer from last season will have heads turning. She is developing her signature swing and will be a fantastic asset on the net, making it difficult for attackers to get the ball to our side of the court.”

Other returning players include first-team all-conference player Courtney Gorges and Jordan Rucks.

“Courtney returns as the team’s lead libero,” Tomaszewski said. “She put up 268 digs and 491 service receptions last season and always sets her goals high. Ball control is key and we will look to Courtney to be a significant role player in controlling our offensive system.”

Like Knorr, Rucks also put in a tremendous amount of time during her offseason to become the lead setter, according to Tomaszewski.

“She has great leadership skills on and off the court, so we expect her to use those strengths to keep us in contention for getting deep into the playoffs,” she said.

The roster also includes seniors Ryanne Benz (middle and right side); Mikaela Hintz (middle and left side); and Rabecka Danke (right and left side).

“These three seniors will be key to our success this season,” Tomaszewski said. “They are typically not going to be in the starting lineup, but will provide exactly what we need to work against in practices to become a stronger team and stronger players as well.”

Caragan Volz will also become the school’s first fall season dual-sport athlete, as she is out for cross country and volleyball.

“Her priority sport will be cross country, so we’ll have to take her when we can get her,” Tomaszewski said. “Cara has great defensive skills, so we are expecting to see her benefit the team deep into the playoffs once she finishes what we hope to be a stellar cross country season.”

Other returning varsity players include team captain Becky Schroeder, Hannah Sroka, Hailey Krause, Genna Knorr and Andi Ponto.

The Indians open the season Aug. 25 at the New London Invitational and will begin CWC-8 play Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Manawa.

W-F Volleyball 2015 Schedule

Varsity
Tuesday, Aug. 25 – at New London Invitational, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – at Winneconne, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – at Manawa, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 10 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 15 – at Bonduel, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 17 – vs. Pacelli, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 22 – at Iola-Scandinavia, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 29 – vs. Shiocton, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 3 – at Wrightstown Invitational, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6 – at Amherst, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 10 – CWC-8 pool play, TBA, 10 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 13 – vs. Wild Rose, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 15 – vs. Gillett, 7:30 p.m.

Junior Varsity
Tuesday, Aug. 25 – at Omro triangular, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – at Winneconne, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – at Manawa, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 10 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 15 – at Bonduel, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 17 – vs. Pacelli, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19 – W-F JV Invitational, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 22 – at Iola-Scandinavia, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 24 – at Manawa quadrangular, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26 – at Stratford JV Invitational, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 29 – vs. Shiocton, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6 – at Amherst, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 13 – vs. Wild Rose, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 15 – vs. Gillett, 6 p.m.

C Team/Freshman
Tuesday, Aug. 25 – at Omro triangular, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – at Winneconne, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – at Manawa, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 10 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12 – at Wautoma Freshman Invitational, 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 15 – at Bonduel, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 17 – vs. Pacelli, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 22 – at Iola-Scandinavia, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 24 – at Manawa quadrangular, 4 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 28 – at Waupaca Freshman Invitational, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 29 – vs. Shiocton, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6 – at Amherst, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 15 – vs. Gillett, 6 p.m.