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2009 Recap



Middleton ran the table in the Big Eight last season at 9-0 and won four of its five regular season invitationals last season, including the Big Eight Conference Tournament championship in late October. The Cardinals also earned a State semifinal berth last season before dropping a 3-1 match to runner-up Kaukauna. Three of Madison La Follette's six losses last season came to the league champs, including a five-game thriller in the Sectional Final. Verona finished tied with La Follette at 7-2 and was ousted from the sectional semifinal by Middleton.



2009 Final Standings

2009 All-Conference Teams



2010 Preview



Predicted Order of Finish:

1) Madison La Follette

2) Verona

3) Middleton

4) Madison West

5) Sun Prairie

6) Janesville Parker

7) Janesville Craig

8) Madison Memorial

9) Madison East

10) Beloit



Players to Watch:

Paige Demos, Janesville Parker

Christina Daggett, Madison La Follette

Crystal Graff, Madison La Follette

Vic Ili, Madison West

Margo Meteyer, Madison West

Kasey Williams, Middleton

Grace Anbouba, Verona

Jillian Bauer, Verona



2010 Season Outlook:



In a virtual deadlock between preseason favorites, Madison La Follette gets the nod because of one sole factor-- Crystal Graff. The incoming senior, who will attend the University of Wisconsin in 2011, earned last year's Big Eight Player of the Year honors over fellow NCAA Division I-bound athlete Molly Toon as well as a First-Team All-State nomination. Graff should once again be the go-to on a Lancers team that this season may have some fresh faces seeing quality court time as three All-Conference nominees graduated. If head coach Mark Rushton can patch the holes on the outside and setting positions, the Lancers could find themselves in the Big Eight drivers seat. He'll need to do so quickly though, as La Follette opens Big Eight play with league contenders Madison West and Verona.



While La Follette might lack a tested squad this early in the season, Verona boasts more than enough experience to toss its name into the hat of preseason favorites. The Wildcats may have been young last season with three starting sophomores, but they managed an impressive 7-2 record and second place Big Eight finish. This year the trio of All-Conference nominees will be back, including First Team nominee Jillian Bauer and Second Teamer Grace Anbouba. The Big Eight-tested Wildcats are arguably the most well-rounded team coming back this season and have definitely enough firepower to secure the 2010 Big Eight crown.



Middleton saw three First Team, one Second Team and an Honorable Mention All-Conference nominee graduate last spring. Incoming junior setter Kasey Williams will need some help with replacing one of the most potent offenses in the state last season if the Cardinals hope to repeat as Big Eight champs. Madison West surprised La Follette in last season's Big Eight regular season finale to earn a fourth-place finish with a 6-3 league mark. The Regents welcome back both its captains from last season in All-Conference First Team honoree and junior setter/right side hitter Vic Ili and Second Team nominee Margo Meteyer and could once again play spoiler in this year's Big Eight race.



Sun Prairie head coach T.J. Rantala has high hopes for this year's Cardinal squad. She will be without a pair of All-Conference members from last season though, as Paige Albi and Emily McCourt were the team's only representation from the post season awards last year. Janesville Parker senior Paige Demos will be back and looking to help the Vikings improve on their disappointing 1-8 finish last season. After beating Beloit the first match of the year, Parker lost eight straight Big Eight games, getting swept four out of its last five contests. Parker must avoid similar slumps to contend with the big girls of the Big Eight.



Janesville Craig staggered its way to a 3-6 record last season, but got big help from now-graduated Kelsey Kennedy. Senior Michelle Straw, the lone Honorable Mention representative on the 2010 roster, might carry a big load this season for the cougars. Madison Memorial rode a bit of a roller coaster last year on its way to a 4-5 mark. New head coach Annie Cook will need to find more consistency from the Spartans and look for senior Chloe Theissen's leadership to climb the Big Eight ladder.



Madison East also has a new coach in Sharon McLaughlin and, like Cook at Memorial, might have her work cut out for her. The Purgolders won just three matches last season and lost its only pair of All-Conference members to graduation. Beloit is unfortunately working against history as the Knights have been the lowest seed in its regional (or sectional, since 2008) since the WIAA began seeding its post season tournament in 2002. In an otherwise top-heavy Big Eight, Beloit will need to just go out, play hard and let the volleyball gods work out the details.