The Joust: Pre-Season Preview of Pool F
Team 2018 2017 DSHA 5th (5-2) 3rd (5-1) Appleton North 11th (3-3) 7th (4-2) Westosha Central 7th (4-2) 11th (2-4) Greendale 15th (3-3) 5th (6-1) DSHA: 2018 DSHA Team Picture The Dashers will have to replace their…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingTeam | 2018 | 2017 |
DSHA | 5th (5-2) | 3rd (5-1) |
Appleton North | 11th (3-3) | 7th (4-2) |
Westosha Central | 7th (4-2) | 11th (2-4) |
Greendale | 15th (3-3) | 5th (6-1) |
DSHA:
2018 DSHA Team PictureThe Dashers will have to replace their leaders in every statistical category from a season ago. Look for senior Rachel Roberts to step into a featured setting role with the graduation of Anna Myklebust and Elizabeth Organ. Rachel was 3rd in assists a year ago but also 3rd in kills. Junior Jacque Stegmayer will step into the “top threat” role offensively drawing focus from opponents. DSHA is not immune to the loss of talent at graduation but their talented underclassman depth keeps them in contention every year. Beyond Roberts and Stegmayer, it is an open door for who will step in to lead the Dashers this season. The biggest question mark will be who replaces Sara Maslowski as libero. Junior Rylie Gregg may be one to watch throughout pool play. There wasn’t much playing time for her a year ago but the Joust may be the shot she needs.
Appleton North:
In 2018, the Lightning beat DSHA and Greendale in pool play and lost in a 3rd set by 2 against Westosha. Unfortunately for the rest of Pool 7, Coach Scheuerell is bringing back the same roster minus 2 graduating seniors. Setting won’t be a worry with both Taylor Vanden Berg (Wingate University) and Brooke Bolwerk (Minnesota State – Mankato) ready to run the offense. Their kill leader in Lilli Van Handel may have graduated but sophomore Brianna Cantrell was second on the team as a freshman and poised to be the leader. Senior Megan Piton will be roaming the backcourt once again. Look for Sarah Ganser, Olivia Asare, and Bella Van Lannen to round out the impressive North Offense.
Westosha Central:
A year ago, Westosha had a great showing at the Joust but relied heavily on a strong senior class. Laura Shoopman (Oral Roberts) and Sierra Lee led the offense ran by setter Kennedy Muff (Flagler College). McKenna Hall and Alexis Rothwell-Kreb will take over as the senior leaders. Hall played the club season as a Libero for Epic but also contributed 132 kills to the Falcons offense a year ago. If Westosha can find some additional help at the net they could rely on Hall to take over the libero role. There is a lot of unknown with the Falcons line up, but pool play will be a perfect place to start to figure things out before conference play gets under way.
Greendale:
Sarah MattesThe Panthers have been a familiar face at the state tournament since 2015. They open up 2019 with a tough pool and replacing key components to the recent run at State. For the first time in four years they will be without Kayce Litzau (Wichita State) and Nicole Martin (Kentucky Wesleyan). Madey Mochalski will look to run the offense on her own this year. Sarah Mattes as already established herself as Greendale’s top offensive weapon for the 2019 season. Fellow seniors Chloe Wolf and Angela Rinelli will join Mattes in the starting rotation. Keep an eye out for sophomore Emily Ploszay during pool play. Emily was overshadowed by the varsity depth but found the court in 75% of the sets played by Greendale as a freshman a year ago.
Prediction:
Appleton North will repeat last years performance beating DSHA and Greendale in pool play while getting some redemption on Westosha Central. Vanden Berg and Bolwerk have too many options at their finger tips and it will prove to be too much for the rest of the pool. DSHA will look to Saturday and a tough Gold crossover pool against the winners of Pools B and C. Greendale and Westosha both graduated major parts of their offense and defense. Westosha and Greendale’s match will be decided by who ever has the best serve receive. Returning varsity experience will give the Panthers a slight edge in the 3 set match win over Westosha. Focus will be on the senior trio of the Panthers but Emily Ploszay will make an immediate impact in the win. If McKenna Hall wears the libero jersey for the Falcons the advantage may swing back in their favor.
Appleton North | (3-0) |
DSHA | (2-1) |
Greendale | (1-2) |
Westosha Central | (0-3) |