2011 Rochester volleyball preview

August 26, 2011 at 5:56 PM

LOURDES EAGLES

Head coach:Brian Lund, sixth season (54-80 career record).

Assistant coaches:Kayla Moehnke (junior varsity), Ryan Freidhoff (freshmen). Student manager:Anne Doyle.

Last season:Lourdes finished 1-12 in the HVL Conference and 6-25 overall. The Eagles got their sole conference win early in the season at home against LaCrescent, 3-0. The rest of the season was punctuated by losing streaks of five, six and seven straight matches. Lourdes was the No. 9 seed in the Section 1AA West tournament and went 1-1, with a 3-1 win over No. 8 seed Pine Island, and a 3-0 loss to No. 1 Stewartville.

Outlook:Coach Lund has reason to believe that the Eagles will compete at a higher level in the 2011 season, with seven experienced players back from last season. Five seniors on the team are all second-year varsity players; Becca Garry, Katie Greve, Danielle Freetly, Natalie Cors and Jenni Otto.

What the head coach says:"I am looking forward to see what we can do this year as a team. We are a little height challenged but they love to compete."

ROSTER

Seniors:Becca Garry, Katie Greve, Danielle Freetly, Natalie Cors, Jenni Otto. Juniors:Kimberly Rink, Michaela Wermers, Sarah Seymour, Kelly Bier, Samantha Macken. Sophomores:Georgianne Younger, Sara Hobday.

SCHEDULE

Aug. 30 — Waseca

Sep. 6— *at La Crescent

Sep. 8— *at Pine Island

Sep. 13— *Goodhue

Sep. 15— *Winona Cotter

Sep. 20— *Kasson-Mantorville

Sep. 22— *Byron

Sep. 27— *Triton

Sep. 29— *at Zumbrota-Mazeppa

Oct. 1— at Century tournament

Oct. 4— *at Hayfield

Oct. 6— *at Lake City

Oct. 8— at Cannon Falls tournament

Oct. 11— *Stewartville

Oct. 13— *at Cannon Falls

Oct. 18— *Kenyon-Wanamingo

Oct. 21-22— Exchange Club tournament

Oct. 24— Section 1AA first round, TBD

MAYO SPARTANS

Head coach:Deb Frederick, eighth season (131-45 career record).

Assistant coaches:Amy Petersilie, Ross Zoet. Student managers:Mary Szynalski, Mitchell Joyce.

Last season:Mayo finished 8-1 in the Big Nine Conference and finished second to Owatonna, which beat the Spartans 3-2 in the next-to-last regular season match at Owatonna. Mayo got its revenge with a 3-1 win over Owatonna in the Section 1AAA title match at Mayo Arena; the Spartans won their second section crown in three years. Mayo went 0-2 at the state tournament, with a 2-0 loss to Centennial in the opener and a 3-2 loss to East Ridge in the consolation round. Mayo finished 24-7 and reached 20 wins for the seventh time in eight years.

Outlook:Coach Frederick will be rebuilding after graduation claimed five starters, the same five who started together for three seasons. It's not a complete overhaul because two starters are back in senior outside hitter Hannah Theisen (46 blocks), and junior middle hitter Rachael Doll (74 blocks). The new setter will be freshman Nora Holtan.

What the head coach says:"I am very excited to start the season. My varsity roster has potential and they are ready to step in and compete. This is a strength for the Spartans, a deeper bench than past years. Our weakness is the new group of athletes on the floor this season. Competing together will make them stronger as the season continues.

ROSTER

Seniors:Melissa Conger (RH), Lexi Grafe (DS), Hannah Theisen (OH). Juniors:Lexie Patterson (RH), Alexandra Herman (LI), Rachael Doll (MH), Miranda Christenson (MH), Andi Elvert (DS), Brooke Anderson (OH) . Sophomores:Shelby Stewart (LI), Mary Goergen (RH), Ashlee Halstead (MH). Freshmen:Nora Holtan (S).

SCHEDULE

Sep. 1— at Zumbrota-Mazeppa

Sep. 8— *at Austin

Sep. 10— at Shakopee tournament

Sep. 15— *Albert Lea

Sep. 17— at Jackson C.C. tournament

Sep. 20— at Northfield

Sep. 22— *at Owatonna

Sep. 27— at Farmington

Sep. 29— *at Mankato East

Oct. 3— St. Charles

Oct. 4— *John Marshall

Oct. 6— *Mankato West

Oct. 11— *at Faribault

Oct. 13— *Century

Oct. 18— *at Winona

Oct. 21-22— Exchange Club tournament

Oct. 26— Section 1AAA first round, TBD

* Indicates Big Nine Conference match

CENTURY PANTHERS

Head coach:Bob Koerner, 14th season (150-164 career record).

Assistant coaches:Sara Ayres (varsity assistant), Jenna Hay (B squad), Libby Ettinger (freshmen), Brittany Johnson (assistant).

Last season:Century finished 6-3 in the Big Nine Conference, tied for third with Faribault and Mankato East. The Panthers won the Exchange Club tournament, beating Mayo in the title game. Century was the No. 4 seed in the Section 1AAA tournament and lost 3-2 in the quarterfinal round at home against No. 5 seed Faribault. Century had match leads of 1-0 and 2-1 but couldn't close out the Falcons. Century finished 17-9 overall. There were nine seniors.

Outlook:Coach Koerner has a new staff of assistant coaches and many new players so it may be a challenge to match the success of the last two seasons when the Panthers went 39-16, with a first Big Nine crown in 2009. Four returning starters give provide a foundation to build on, seniors Catherine Plevak (133 kills, 103 blocks), Anna Wagner (103 kills, 70 blocks) and Alyssa Smith (295 digs), and junior Danielle Priestley.

What the head coach says:"During the first week of practice the team played pretty good defense. We have a number of new faces on the varsity team this year so we have been working on transitions and providing reps for all the players. Given the number of new players, time playing together and ball touches will be our emphasis as we work to become a cohesive unit."

ROSTER

Seniors:*Catherine Plevak (MH), Anna Wagner (MH), Alyssa Smith (DS), Paige Hazelton (OH), Rachel Zuroski (MH), Taylor Czaplewski (DS), Hannah Kuisle (OH), Paige Olson (OH). Juniors:Deleonne Clark (OH), Danielle Priestley (RH), Katie Daley (OH), Jennifer Bong, Nellie Brushaber, Rachael DuBall, Selma Dzamalija, Kamryn Harms, Jarika Touhimaa, Andrea Wiesner. Sophomores:Michala Feigal, Olivia Rieck, Jordyn Lange. Freshmen:Morgan Hazelton.

* Indicates captain

SCHEDULE

Aug. 26 — at Lakeville South

Sep. 1— Northfield

Sep. 3— Century tournament, at NVC

Sep. 6— at Hastings

Sep. 8— *Faribault

Sep. 13— at Red Wing

Sep. 15— *Owatonna

Sep. 17— at Jackson C.C. tournament

Sep. 20— Farmington

Sep. 22— *at Winona

Sep. 27— *at Mankato West

Sep. 29— *John Marshall

Oct. 1— Century tournament, at NVC

Oct. 6— *at Austin

Oct. 11— *Albert Lea

Oct. 13— *at Mayo

Oct. 18— *Mankato East

Oct. 21-22— Exchange Club tournament

Oct. 26— Section 1AAA first round, TBD

* Indicates Big Nine Conference match

JOHN MARSHALL ROCKETS

Head coach:Amir Dzamalija, fifth season (49-49 career record).

Assistant coaches:Cara Rude, Mark Ziemann.

Last season:John Marshall finished 1-8 in the Big Nine Conference and 9-18 overall. The Rockets' only conference win was 3-0 over Albert Lea, which went winless in the Big Nine. JM went 2-2 at the Exchange Club tournament and finished sixth. JM was the No. 8 seed in the Section 1AAA tournament; the Rockets opened with a 3-0 win over No. 9 seed Austin, and then lost 3-0 to No. 1 seed Owatonna.

Outlook:Coach Dzamalija is expecting better things from this JM team after losing just one player to graduation from last season. Five starters are back, along with two others with ample varsity experience. The Rockets are still youthful because the five returner starters are all juniors, led by 5-foot-11 outside hitter Brianna Atkins, whom Dzamalija considers one of the most talented players in the conference.

What the head coach says:"It will be again very talented team but mostly juniors. I hope experience from last year will make a difference for this season. We will show strength this year in better general knowledge of the game, and definitely there is always room for improvement in defense."

ROSTER

Seniors:Jade Spalding (OPP), Molly Reynolds (DS/L). Juniors:Katelyn Rushton (MB), Kristin Erickson (MB), Brianna Atkins (OH), Haley Lenz (LI) Brook Posivio (OH/L), Brianna Posivio (S), Amber Dunagan (S). Sophomores:Abi Prizler (OH), Maddie Jordan (MB). Freshmen:Kalli Fautsch (S/OP). Eighth-graders:Nicole Fautsch (OPP), Jamie Ruden (OH).

SCHEDULE

Aug. 30 — Kenyon-Wanamingo

Sep. 6— at Wabasha-Kellogg

Sep. 8— *Mankato East

Sep. 9— at Apple Valley tournament

Sep. 10— at Apple Valley tournament

Sep. 12— Northfield

Sep. 15— *at Mankato West

Sep. 17— John Marshall tournament

Sep. 22— *Faribault

Sep. 29— *at Century

Oct. 4— *at Mayo