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2009 Recap



Nicolet finished a perfect 7-0 against North Shore opponents last season, including going 5-0 in the end-of-the-season NSC Tournament. The Knights lost just four matches all season, two to State qualifier Burlington and another to Division 1 State champion Muskego in the State quarterfinals. Homestead, who finished tied with Germantown and Cedarburg for second place in the league, reached the Sectional semifinal round with a 3-0 win over the Warhawks before bring swept by top-seeded Watertown. No other squad made it past the second round of Regionals.



2009 Final Standings

2009 All-Conference Teams



2010 Preview



Predicted Order of Finish:

1) Nicolet

2) Germantown

3) Cedarburg

4) Homestead

5) Whitefish Bay

6) Port Washington

7) Milwaukee Lutheran

8) Grafton



Players to Watch:

Carly Lythjohan, Cedarburg

Baily Peterson, Cedarburg

Abby DeValkenere, Germantown

Taylor Johnston, Germantown

Claire Raddatz, Homestead

Krystalyn Goode, Nicolet

Melissa Morello, Nicolet

Cassie Klapoetke, Port Washington

Frankie Carroll, Whitefish Bay



2010 Season Outlook:

Defending conference, Regional and Sectional champ Nicolet head coach Dann Jacobson knows his team is going to have a target on its back this year, as the Knights have enjoyed a great couple of years as of late. Nicolet has won the NLC crown the past two seasons, the NLC tournament crown the past three seasons, lost just one match in the past three seasons and didn't lose a set in 2009. "Every team will be motivated to beat us, just like when Germantown and Cedarburg went on similar runs," Jacobson said. "You always want to beat a team that went to State the previous year." This year Nicolet should once again be favorites as it boasts arguably the two best players in the league, both juniors. Outside hitter Melissa Morello tallied 393 kills and 302 digs last season en route to All-Conference First Team and All-State Second Team honors. Middle hitter Krystalyn Goode, who verbally committed to Michigan, registered almost 2 kills per set and 100 total blocks last season as an All-NSC Honorable Mention. Jacobson did graduate four seniors from last season though, including All-State HM setter Rachel Morello, yet said his squad possesses the intangibles--team chemistry, high volleyball IQ and leadership-- needed to make it a three-peat.



Germantown should be strong this season as well, looking to maintain its second-place North Shore Conference finish at the very least. While the Warhawks lost All-State Honorable Mention Taylor Neinfeldt to graduation, a quartet of returning senior starters is looking to push this year's squad into the top tier of the league. All-Conference Honorable Mention Libero Taylor Johnston and Ally Groth should manage the backrow, while setter Bethany Baxter should be a great anchor to distribute the ball. All-NSC Honorable Mention and 6-3 middle hitter Abby DeValkenere will be a force at the net, but the Warhawks could use some help in the outside hitting positions. If an underclassman can step into that role, Germantown should remain in contention.



Cedarburg may be without long-time head coach Doug Hext this season, but his descendant Suzanne Milanovich has something off which to build, including talent, experience and athleticism. Senior Baily Peterson should look to lead this year's program back to glory, as well as fellow All-Conference Honorable Mention and 5-11 junior hitter Carly Lythjohan. Homestead also has a new head coach in Adam Heitzkey, and will need to replace much of its backrow players, including All-Conference First Team and All-State Honorable Mention Libero Andrea Voss. Offensively, the Highlanders will also be without All-State First Team outside Erica Reetz and a pair of All-Conference Honorable Mention middle hitters. "We will be strong at the outside position as well as our opposite hitter position," Heitzkey said, most likely looking for incoming junior All-Conference Honorable Mention Claire Raddatz to provide an offensive threat in his inaugural season at the helm.



Whitefish Bay will look for All-Conference First Team nominee Frankie Carroll to lead this year's squad into the top half of the league, at the very least improving upon its 2-5 North Shore mark last season. Carroll's athleticism has caused matchup problems in the past, but the Blue Dukes simply must find more offensive weaponry to move up this season. Port Washington has a big hitter in All-Conference Second Team senior Cassie Klapoetke as well, but, like Whitefish Bay, must round out the other six positions to improve on last year's 2-5 league record. The Pirates also open with the top two teams in the league, Germantown and Nicolet that could be an early gauge to see what Port needs to work on as the season progresses.



Milwaukee Lutheran will host one of the most prestigious tournaments in the state on opening weekend, the Milwaukee Lutheran Joust. Robin Wondergem is just a junior this season and may need to already adopt a leadership role for the Red Knights. Grafton went winless last season and lost a pair of All-Conference nominees from that team. Returning is senior Kaily Rathke, who was an All-NSC Honorable Mention last season as the Black Hawks battle to stay out of the North Shore cellar.