T-Bird volleyball team must replace several players

By Greg Seubert

Karly Honken gets under the ball.

Iola-Scandinavia’s volleyball team opened the season Aug. 27 by splitting matches with Port Edwards and Assumption.

The Thunderbirds swept Port Edwards 25-10, 25-18, 25-19 and lost two of three to Assumption 25-24, 12-25, 10-25.

“We had a great start to our season in our first match against Port Edwards,” coach Jessica Wennesberg said. “Our passing was dead-on, which allowed us to run some new plays and to challenge ourselves.”

Kaylin Ellioff led the T-Birds with four kills and two block solos; Emily Kroseberg had nine assists; Alexis Hitchcock had 18 digs in her first match as a varsity player; and setter Kendall Johnson served 100 percent on the night and added five aces.

“I saw great things in our first set against Assumption, who always prove themselves to be good competitors early in the season,” Wennesberg said. “We fought and communicated well to come from a six-point deficit to win 25-24. The next two sets, I felt like we simply turned off. We had great set-ups, but didn’t execute.”

Micaela Jobke led the team with six kills from the outside. Kroseberg had seven assists, while libero Jayden Podgorny finished with 33 digs.

“A loss this early isn’t always a bad thing,” Wennesberg said. “We are learning from it and still exploring the best positions for our players to be at to make us as strong as possible.”

The T-Birds compete in the Central Wisconsin-8 Conference with Amherst, Bonduel, Weyauwega-Fremont, Manawa, Pacelli, Shiocton and Wittenberg-Birnamwood.

“We lost highly skilled seniors in every position from last year and will miss their play and leadership,” Wennesberg said. “However, we have many returning players who saw a lot of playing time at the varsity level last year and who participated in club volleyball in the off-season.”

The roster includes 11 seniors and two juniors.

“These ladies have been a pleasure to work with thus far,” Wennesberg said. “They are close friends who naturally support each other and try to draw out the best from each other.”

Wennesberg is counting on a big season from Ellioff, a senior.

“I expect great things from our returning middle blocker,” she said. “Kaylin led our team in kills and block solos last year and has spent a lot of time refining her skills since last season.”

Kroseberg, also a senior, is back as the T-Birds’ lead setter.

“She was new to the position last year, but quickly made it her own,” Wennesberg said. “Her knowledge of the game and leadership make her a great asset.”

Jobke, a senior outside hitter, has had a great start to the season, according to Wennesberg.
“I’m excited to watch her, as she is playing so strong and confident,” she said. “Senior McKenna Prahl is sure to play another pivotal role in our success this season. She is a strong outside hitter and talented blocker. Senior Jayden Podgorny is our new libero. She proved that she has earned the position by her play in our first competition from Port Edwards and Assumption.”
Wennesberg expects the CWC-8 to be very competitive this season.

“I see our conference as a dog fight,” she said. “All teams have lost strong seniors from last year, yet have a lot of young talent as well. No match will be easy. We’ll have to fight for everything and will need to find a way to win. All in all, I feel we have a lot of talent and that we have to potential to compete at a very high level this season.”

Iola-Scandinavia Volleyball 2015 Schedule
Varsity
Thursday, Aug. 27 – vs. Port Edwards, Assumption, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – vs. Tigerton, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 10 – at Shiocton, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12 – at Auburndale Invitational, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 15 – vs. Amherst, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 17 – at Manawa, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19 – at Fox Valley Lutheran Invitational, Appleton, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 22 – vs. Weyauwega-Fremont, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 29 – at Bonduel, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6 – at Pacelli, Stevens Point, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 10 – CWC-8 pool play, TBA, 10 a.m.
Thursday, Oct. 15 – vs. Rosholt, 7:30 p.m.

Junior Varsity
Thursday, Aug. 27 – vs. Port Edwards, Assumption, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – vs. Tigerton, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3 – vs. Amherst, Manawa, Pacelli, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 10 – at Shiocton, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 15 – vs. Amherst, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 17 – at Manawa, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19 – at Weyauwega-Fremont JV Invitational, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 22 – vs. Weyauwega-Fremont, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26 – at Stratford JV Invitational, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 29 – at Bonduel, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 3 – I-S JV Invitational, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6 – at Pacelli, Stevens Point, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 15 – vs. Rosholt, 6 p.m.