Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

2009 Recap



Merrill, which in 2010 will return to the Wisconsin Valley Conference, capped off an undefeated GNC season that included a sweep of second place Tomahawk. The Hatchets, meanwhile, surged to its first ever Division 2 State tournament last season by taking out a tough Hayward squad in the Sectional final, 3-1. Tomahawk had a rough go in the State semifinal however, getting swept by eventual champion Catholic Memorial. Antigo finished 8-4 in the GNC, but was swept in the first round of the D1 tournament by former WVC foe Wausau West. Fourth-place Medford may have managed just a 4-8 league record, but earned a D2 sectional berth last season with a win over Rice Lake in the Regional final.



2010 Preview



Predicted Order of Finish:

1) Tomahawk

2) Mosinee

3) Antigo

4) Medford

5) Rhinelander

6) Lakeland

7) Northland Pines



Players to Watch:

Hannah Griffiths, Antigo

Kayla Harris, Mosinee

Alyssa Rusin, Mosinee

Taylor Wissbroecker, Rhinelander

Kaitlin Doughty, Tomahawk

Kellan Flynn, Tomahawk

Sydney Lakatos, Tomahawk

Kaylyn Olson, Tomahawk



2010 Season Outlook:

The Great Northern Conference in 2010 should be the Tomahawk Hatchet show, as 11 letter-winners, including all seven starters, return from last year's Division 2 State tournament team. Head coach Jen Pfannerstill also has high expectations for this year's team, knowing they have defensive stability, offensive firepower and overall experience to make another deep playoff run. "After making school history at the state tournament, being focused to get a step further is where we are at," Pfannerstill said. First Team All-Conference and GNC Player of the Year Kaitlin Doughty, who was also an All-State Honorable Mention last season, racked up over 500 kills and should once again be the team's go-to on offense in her senior season. Yet the support is there for the Hatchets. In the other outside hitter position, classmate Sydney Lakatos averaged an impressive 2.96 kills per set and incoming junior Kellan Flynn was a force in the middle leading the Hatchets with 76.5 total blocks last season as a pair of Second Team All-GNC nominees. Setter Kaylyn Olson should also provide experienced leadership as the floor general, as it will take a very good squad to take out the Tomahawk steam train in the Great Northern Conference this season.



Mosinee should be much improved from last year's disappointing 3-9 finish in the GNC that included an early upset loss to rival Lakeland in the Division 2 regional semifinal. The Indians get back athletic All-Conference Second Team nominee Alyssa Rusin, who tied as league leader with 134 total kills in GNC play. Also back is HM Kaitlin Harris, who should also look to step into a leadership role as the other go-to hitting outside this season. Antigo may have graduated Suzy Solin and Heather Kakes, but the Red Robins return several letter-winners from last year's third place 8-4 finish. Honorable Mention Hannah Griffiths led the team in blocks last season hitting middle and registered a .444 hitting percentage. She and fellow HM Kim Linder will need to step up this season, and with Merrill out of the picture, could contend for a second place finish in league play.



Medford took a few lumps during the regular season last year, but managed a pretty impressive post-season run, including a tight 3-2 Sectional semifinal loss to Hayward. This year head coach Dave Vaara is without its two top hitters, but hopes to rely on his solid setting, serving and defense to potentially make a run at the upper tier of GNC teams. "Middle Blocking and hitting is a question mark," Vaara said. "With all new kids they will have to prove themselves." Rhinelander will surely save some gas money by moving into the Great Northern Conference this season, and its volleyball team could flourish as the largest school in the league. The Hodags, who led the Wisconsin Valley in team blocks in 2009, will look for some youth to lead this season as incoming sophomore Taylor Wissbroecker earned an Honorable Mention All-WVC nomination last season.



Lakeland had just one athlete grace the All-Conference squads last season in Carol Falesch, but unfortunately for the Thunderbirds, she graduated. It might take some magic from the new but experienced head coach John Pierpoint to yank Lakeland from the bottom half of the conference. Northland Pines has been in a similar boat lately, but did upset Medford last season at the last GNC Tournament in Minocqua to earn its only match victory of the season. The Eagles could use any momentum they can get this year, as they may struggle to climb out of the GNC cellar.