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2009 Recap



Rib Lake repeated as Marawood North champions last season by finishing a perfect 10-0 in match play. The Redmen, also qualified for their first WIAA Division 4 Sectional since they won the silver ball in 2006, losing to eventual State champion McDonell Central one game from the State Tournament. In Rib Lake's regional final victory, it defeated fifth-place Prentice in four sets. Second-place Phillips was ousted in a Division 3 Regional final by Washburn, while Athens and Abbotsford were both knocked out of the second round.



2009 Final Standings

2009 All-Conference Teams



2010 Preview



Predicted Order of Finish:

1) Prentice

2) Athens

3) Abbotsford

4) Rib Lake

5) Chequamegon

6) Phillips



Players to Watch:

Kira Kalepp, Abbotsford

Taylor Literski, Athens

Tanya Literski, Athens

Heather Schreiner, Athens

Kendra Zierer, Chequamegon

Abbie Anderson, Prentice

Hailey Niemi, Prentice

Vanessa Loertscher, Rib Lake



2010 Season Outlook:

Prentice may have finished a disappointing 3-7 in league play last season, but this year the Buccaneers are refreshed and should be primed to battle it out for 2010 Marawood North league laurels. Returning All-Conference First Team nominee Abbie Anderson averaged 4.2 kills per set in conference play while hitting at a .396 clip. Fellow hitter and All-Marawood Second Teamer Haily Niemi added 2.9 kps of her own, giving Prentice an impressive 1-2 offensive punch. Honorable Mention setter Lauren Arndt should be the floor general once again this season and will have a strong middle returning in Courtney Carlson as well. The Bucs do need to get more production out of a Libero or defensive specialist though, as Anderson and Niemi were also the team's digs leaders. If a stronger backrow can emerge, Prentice should be a tough squad to beat.



Athens has a great sister combo in Tanya and Taylor Literski, and when wonder twin powers activate, good things happen for the Bluejays. Tanya, a Second Team setter, averaged 7.4 assists per set last season while Taylor, a Second Team middle hitter, is the top returning kills leader in the conference with 4.3 kills per set. Senior Heather Schreiner, Athens' sole representative on the First Team last season, will once again roam the outside and middle positions, looking to improve on her 2.6 kills and team-high 153 digs last season. With such an experienced core of returning players, Athens should give Prentice a run for its money as the two favorites to win this year's Marawood North race.



Abbotsford will be another squad that should vie for the league title this season, as it welcomes back three of its four All-Marawood honorees from last season. While leading defensive specialist Jen Oelrich has departed, Second Team All-Conference and Abbotsford kills hitter Kira Kalepp should be ready to take over this season from the right side/middle locations. Honorable Mention Becca Schreiber's time on the floor was pertinent, as the outside hitter led the squad with 180 digs last year while playing all-around. Middle hitter Tayler Viegut was also an Honorable Mention and should play a key part in the experienced Falcons' 2010 campaign. Rib Lake may have survived last season's Marawood North race unscathed, but this season it has plenty of holes to fill, including those left by a trio of First Team nominees last season. Head coach Barb Anderson knows it may take a few matches to get going, but said, "we will be very inexperienced and through time I am hoping to surprise some teams." Seniors Vanessa Loertscher will most likely be a leader this season, with Honorable Mention nominees Courtney Geisler and Hilary Thums doing all they can to defend their title. Anderson added her team "has a willingness to work hard and this core group of young girls played a lot of volleyball this summer," which can only help the Redmen in 2010.



Chequamegon has some key players returning from last year's winless campaign, including senior setter Kendra Zierer and Libero Shawna Bonney--both Honorable Mentions. Now all the Screaming Eagles need is to find some offensive weapons to put the ball down, as they ranked a distant last-place in team kills last season. Phillips managed a 7-3, second-place finish last season in the Marawood North, but was hit hard by graduation this spring. Third-year head coach Colin Hoogland said, "we have an immense lack of experience and lack of height, but an eagerness to learn." Learn quick the Loggers must, otherwise it could be a long season for a team that made a Division 3 Regional final last season.