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Submitted by Shane Kleiman for WisSports.net



2009 Recap



Since 1995, the Scenic Bluffs Conference has been won by either Hillsboro or Royall. In 2009, those two teams finished first and second in the conference standings with Royall sporting a perfect 14-0 record and Hillsboro 12-2. Those two teams also matched up in the Division Four regional final, with Royall winning in four sets. Royall eventually lost to Highland in the sectional final match. In Division Three, six-seed Brookwood upset three seed Necedah in regional quarterfinals before falling to Westby in regional semifinals.  



2009 Final Standings

2009 All-Conference Teams



2010 Preview



Predicted order to Finish:

1) Hillsboro

2) Royall

3) Wonewoc-Center

4) Cashton

5) New Lisbon

6) Necedah

7) Brookwood

8) Bangor  



Players to Watch:

Sarah Weibel, Cashton

Cassidy Mayberry, Hillsboro

Julie Stekel, Hillsboro

Jordan McGuire, New Lisbon

Hailey Brown, Royall

Megan Conley, Royall

Steph Kopenhafer, Wonewoc-Center

Jordan Lehman, Wonewoc-Center



2010 Season Outlook:

After five straight State tournament appearances from 2003 to 2007 (including a runner up finish in 2007), Hillsboro has missed out on the reaching the Resch Center the past two years. Seniors Julie Stekel (First Team Scenic Bluffs All-Conference defensive specialist) and Taylor Peterson (First Team All-Conference outside in 2008) played on the 2007 state runner up team. The Tigers also return key players in First Team All-Conference senior setter Cassidy Mayberry, Honorable Mention All-Conference senior setter Jenna Miller, and junior middle hitter Brittany Dziki. However, they must replace two First Team All-Conference players in defensive specialist Savannah Mayberry and middle hitter Jordan Mattison.



A paragraph in itself could be written just about Royall senior middle/setter Hailey Brown. Brown, two time Scenic Bluffs Conference Player of the Year was also named to the WVCA s Third Team All-State in 2009 as well as committing to play volleyball next year at Upper Iowa University. She has lead Royall in kills, blocks, aces over the past two seasons, collecting 582 kills and 505 assists during that time. The Panthers return four other players who played in a majority of the games last season. Junior middle Megan Conley and junior defensive specialist Ali Kolodzinski were both named Honorable Mention All-Conference, while senior opposite Lexi Murray and junior defensive specialist Emma Zmolek also return. While "middle attack and a winning tradition," are strengths for Royall, head coach Craig Baeseman will need to deal with "consistency in ball control and inexperience on the outside." The Panthers have to replace three First Team All-Conference players in setter/right side Shelly Retzlaff, libero Morgan Harris, and outside Rachel Williams, as well as Honorable Mention All-Conference outside Kalli Zmolek. 



Wonewoc-Center returns eight of the twelve players listed on their 2009 roster, including a pair of First Team All-Conference players in juniors Steph Kopenhafer and Jordan Lehman as well as junior Honorable Mention All-Conference Miranda Bulin. Last year, head coach Rusty Chute struggled with not having a "true stand-out setter last year and it took a while to find the right combination." While the Indians struggled with setting, their defense and hustle kept them in matches last season and they began to see glimpses of good play at the end of last year once they found the right combination of players. If they find the right combination of players sooner, look for them to be right behind Hillsboro and Royall in the conference race. 



Cashton returns at least five players who were contributors in 2009, including First Team All-Conference senior all around Sarah Weibel, a pair of Honorable Mention All Conference players in Brittany and Whitney Hanson, senior setter/ all around Jessica Hurtz, and senior Ari Oium. Coming off a disappointing season in which New Lisbon finished 4-21 and in seventh place in conference, there has to be definite optimism for the Rockets in 2010. They return all seven of last year s starters, led by a trio of Honorable Mention All-Conference selections in junior middle Leah Nicksic, sophomore setter/opposite Samantha Olson, and senior all around Jordan McGuire. Also returning is senior front row player Brenna Georgeson, senior setter Paige Neitzel, junior all around Emily Georgeson, and senior Kiley Costello.



Necedah loses all four of its representatives on the Scenic Bluffs All-Conference lists, but returns six players who were on last year s roster. Brookwood finished in the middle of last year s conference standings and loses First Team All-Conference setter Molly Berendes as well as Honorable Mention selections. Look for junior Stephanie Leis to possibly take over the setter position as senior Kelly Buchholz returns in the front row. Bangor loses five seniors off of their 2009 roster, including three who were named Honorable Mention All-Conference. However, the Cardinals return six players from last year s roster.