Bonduel volleyball team optimistic under new coach

Bowler, Tigerton, Clintonville gearing up for action
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

BONDUEL — The high school volleyball season opened Monday, with teams conducting their first practices of the fall.

Bonduel, Bowler and Clintonville all are hoping to bounce back from down seasons, while Tigerton tries to reload after a deep postseason run.

Bonduel

Despite coming off a sub .500 season in 2018, Bonduel enters the fall with optimism.

The Bears, who compete in the Central Wisconsin Conference-East Division, will be under the direction of new coach Abby Reinke and have several young players vying for playing time alongside several experienced upperclassmen.

Mandi McClone (middle hitter) and Megan Zeitler (hitter, setter) will serve as team leaders as they enter their senior seasons.

“It’ll be pretty exciting because we are a young team. And with a young team, you have a lot of potential,” said Zeitler on the upcoming season. “Some teams look down on you, but we could surprise a lot of teams this year because we have some good hitters and spikers.”

Juniors Halea Sporisky (setter, right side) and Joanie Wudtke (libero) and sophomores Brenna Hertzfeldt (hitter) and Allaina Robaidek (hitter) all return with starting experience for the Bears.

Dual-sport athlete Kylie Hoffman (hitter) also has varsity experience heading into her sophomore season.

“We have a lot of potential. There’s a lot of incoming freshmen and younger sophomores that can get up and hit the ball and are all-around good players,” said McClone. “Just working with them on the little things. With them being younger and being on the court, letting them know that varsity volleyball is a totally different atmosphere and making them feel comfortable and not get worked up.”

Reinke replaced Kimberly Strayer as the team’s coach.

Reinke wants her squad to be more focused on team success than achieving individual greatness. “I also strongly believe in building a competitive atmosphere in practice as I think it makes players work a little harder.”

“I am very passionate about what I believe young adults can learn from athletics,” said Reinke. “I also had a big passion for volleyball in high school, and it has grown over the years. I am hoping to be able to share that passion and love, both for volleyball and athletics in general, with my players.”

The Bears will open the season by hosting an invitational Tuesday. Bonduel will compete in Division 3 for postseason play.

Bowler

Returning several starters and experienced players, Bowler hopes for a strong season in the CWC-North under coach Brad Brei.

Leading the way will be senior Kayla Pecore (hitter), who made the honorable mention all-conference team last year.

Ireland DeRoos (hitter), Brooke Thiex (setter, hitter) and Alyssa Strassburg (setter, hitter) round out a strong senior class that has started in the past for the Panthers.

“We are all very excited and hope we can accomplish big things this season. One big expectation we are working on is positivity and teamwork — working as one and not against one another.” said Pecore. “To accomplish this, I guess we would have to learn to put our differences aside on and off the court and learn to bring one another up.”

Senior Kyla Kroening (hitter), juniors Skye Breitrick (setter), Tynea Johnson (defensive specialist, setter), McKayla Putnam (hitter, setter) and Lilly Wisnefske (hitter) and sophomore Morgan Paiser (hitter) also have varsity experience.

Bowler will host a triangular Tuesday for its first matches of the season. The Panthers will compete in Division 4 during the playoffs.

Clintonville

Clintonville, coached by Stephanie Pinno, is looking to turn things around after a tough 2018 season.

The Truckers lost three impact players from that team, but do return their lone all-conference selection. Lizzy Weatherwax was an honorable mention pick and will serve as the team’s libero in her senior season.

“I would say that the team’s goals and expectations this year would be to always play each point to the best of our ability. To not get down on ourselves when there is a mistake and to play to win. Not play to not lose,” said Weatherwax. “We can meet these goals and expectations by always talking to each other and encouraging all our teammates throughout each play.”

Senior Lindsy Carpenter (setter, right side) and junior Autumn Steede (middle) also bring back starting experience for the Truckers.

Clintonville will start the regular season in a North Eastern Conference clash at Oconto Falls on Sept. 5. The team will be in Division 2 for the postseason.

Tigerton

Tigerton is coming off a memorable season that ended with the team winning a regional championship. But after the graduation of Monika Minniecheske, the CWC-North player of the year, and three other all-conference players, the Tigers will need to retool their lineup.

The only three returning players with significant varsity experience are juniors Savannah Swartz (middle), Ladia Block (outside) and Adrienne Brady (setter, right side).

“Hustle, hustle and hustle some more to outsmart and outplay the taller opponents. The team will have to put every effort into each play to be successful,” said coach Holly Meverden.

“The girls will need to also step into the leadership roles that are now open, whether it be at practice and or matches.”

Tigerton will compete in the invitational at Bonduel to open the season. The Tigers are also in Division 4 for postseason play.

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