August 21, 2017 at 2:25 p.m.
Team preview: RHS volleyball
Behind Wissbroecker, Hodags look to contend in GNC
Team preview: RHS volleyball
"I don't think there's going to be one dominant team, but I would like to hope that we'll be in the mix once we get going," coach Kathy Wawrzynowicz said.
The Hodags have some holes to fill from a team that went 15-21-3 overall last year, and 3-9 in the Great Northern Conference, but Wawrzynowicz believes she has the best player in the GNC with senior hitter Hope Wissbroecker and a strong defense that should keep the team in a lot of matches.
The 6-foot Wissbroecker was a first-team All-GNC selection last year. She was second in the GNC with 252 kills, three behind player of the year Lexi Smith from Northland Pines. But she was more than just a hitter for the Hodags. Her 25 aces were fourth best in the GNC. She also ranked in the top 10 in the conference in digs (160) and blocks (34).
"She's a great back row player. She's so dominant at the net," Wawrzynowicz said. "She played all summer, a lot of sand. That's helped her jumping ability. She's by far my best blocker and my best hitter, one of my best servers."
Wissbroecker is one of three seniors for the Hodags who received all-conference recognition last year. Setter Ally Seefeldt returns after leading the GNC with 299 assists a year ago and libero Stephanie Kuester is back after finishing fourth in the GNC in digs (208). Add defensive specialist/setter Makayla Kuester - Stephanie's twin sister - into the mix and Wawrzynowicz says her team will be stong in the back row.
"We have a lot of defensive players, back row specialists, which are going to help us out," she said.
The question for Rhinelander is who will step up in the front row to take some pressure off Wissbroecker, or lead the attack when Wissbroecker is in the back row. Front liners Kaly Kostrova, Lindsay Juedes and Sarah Brooks all graduated from last year's team.
Molly Wagler has the most experience of anyone else in the front, recording 23 kills in conference play a year ago. Wawrzynowicz said Wagler, fellow seniors Lexie Rick and Cami Buchmann, and junior Brooke Mork are jockeying for front row positions.
"It is key that we develop at least two more hitters, people that can put the ball away and be strong at the net, get up and block," Wawrzynowicz said. "If we don't have that block when she's in the back row, we're really going to be scrambling."
This week will go a long way in determining those roles, Wawrzynowicz said. The Hodags open the season with a four-team invite this afternoon at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium and will travel to Wisconsin Dells for the annual Friendship Tournament this Friday and Saturday.
"It's going to be key, if they want playing time and they want to show me what they have, to perform," she said, noting that at least three starting positions were still up in the air as of late last week.
If the Hodags can get that sorted out, the table is perhaps set for the team to be much more competitive in the Great Northern Conference. Medford graduated all but one all-conference player from last year's undefeated conference championship squad, Tomahawk is not the juggernaut it once was and Northland Pines lost Smith, Wawrzynowicz said, adding that Mosinee and Antigo will likely be two top contenders in the conference race.
"I would like us to at least have a chance to contend for the conference title. Whether that's realistic or not right now, I don't know," she said. "Right now we're not because we're not, as far as blocking and hitting, we're not right up there, but I hope we get there."
The Hodags open GNC play at Raider Hall in Medford next Thursday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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