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

2009 Recap



Auburndale torched the Marawood South competition last season, finishing 7-0 in match play and 21-1 in set play. The Apaches also blew through their Division 3 Regional, sweeping State-ranked Colby in the final. Second-place Marathon got a rematch in the Sectional semifinals, but Auburndale was able to squeak past the Red Raiders in a five-set thriller before knocking out Roncalli 3-1 in the Sectional finals. While it was the first ever trip to the State Tournament for the Apaches, they were swept by perennial powerhouse Cuba City in the semifinal round. Newman Catholic may have finished the regular season in third place, but the Cardinals blazed their way through the Division 4 sectional, dropping only one set in the Sectional semifinal to Valley Christian. The Newman girls were the cardiac kids in the D4 State semifinal, coming back from two sets down to earn a 3-2 win over Highland before dropping a hard-fought 3-1 decision to McDonell in the State final.



2009 Final Standings

2009 All-Conference Teams



2010 Preview



Predicted Order of Finish:

1) Auburndale

2) Marathon

3) Stratford

4) Edgar

5) Newman

6) Assumption

7) Pittsville

8) Northland Lutheran



Players to Watch:

Liz Breu, Auburndale

Lindsay Gotz, Auburndale

Kayleigh Kundinger, Auburndale

Alexis Vruwnik, Auburndale

Emily Ditmann, Edgar

Hannah Imhoff, Edgar

Alex Boehm, Marathon

Andrea Michalske, Newman Catholic

Aleena Cook, Stratford



2010 Season Outlook:

Auburndale's historic run to the Resch Center last season included dominating nearly every match against similar-sized schools. This year, the Apaches lose an outside hitter in Kelli Isaacson, as well as All-Marawood South First Team Libero Reba Berger, but there should be no cause for alarm along Highway 10 as four returning starters made an All-Conference First or Second Team last season. Those four starters should pack one heck of an offensive punch this fall as Second Team senior middle hitters Lindsay Gotz, Auburndale's kill-leader last season, and Liz Breu will provide stability in the front row. Outside Alexis Vruwnik, also a Second Team nominee, tallied just short of 200 kills and over 250 digs last season and will most likely be accompanied by Kari Willfahrt in the other outside position. Senior setter Kayleigh Kundinger was the team's floor general last season and earned First Team All-Marawood South status. This year she and her experienced classmates should be just as dominant as the Apaches not only look for their eighth straight Marawood South championship, but also could be early favorites to make a return trip to the Resch Center.



Marathon finished second in the league last season and came within three points of earning a Sectional final berth. The Red Raiders actually lost quite a bit from last season, including five starters. Head coach Carla Elliott is optimistic though, knowing she has strong outsides that hit the ball hard. One of those powerful outsides was All-Conference First Team member Alex Boehm, who along with classmate Morgan Dirks, should be solid anchors on offense. Marathon might have early issues getting Boehm and Dirks the ball though, as Second Team setter Jacee Anderson graduated. Elliott knows that it will take a very good team to beat Auburndale in conference play this year, but if the Raiders can put the missing pieces together, they might just surprise the heavy favorites.



Stratford was the only team to take a set from Auburndale last season and this year it wants more than just one. The Tigers return All-Conference Honorable Mention setter Amber Schneider as well as HM hitter Aleena Cook from a team that finished 4-3 in the league. Stratford better put their team together fast though, as it battles Marawood favorites Auburndale and Marathon back-to-back in early September. Edgar may have finished with a sub-.500 record in the Marawood South last season, but considering the strength of the conference, the Wildcats may have been better than their record suggested. This year they will once again try to hang with the top teams in the league. Returning seniors Emily Dittman and Hannah Imhoff should be improved offensive weapons--and need to be for the 'Cats to climb the conference ladder.



Newman gets the benefit of playing mostly larger schools during the conference season, then drops to Division 4 come tourney time. This year, the Cardinals might have a bit tougher time repeating as D4 Sectional champs though as its top three hitters were lost to graduation. Second Team All-Marawood setter Andrea Michalske picked up experience on the big stage, but this year's starting hitters did not. Fellow Catholic school Assumption boasts a pair of strong hitters who earned Honorable Mention status last season. Both seniors, hitter Carly Swank and hitter/setter Rebecca Sigler could lead this team to an improved position in the league, but could use a bit more support on the defensive side of the ball.



Pittsville was Marawood South champ in 2000, '02, '03 and '05, yet has struggled as of late getting back into that upper tier of the conference standings. The Panthers should look for returning All-Conference Honorable Mention hitters Britni Dammann and Margo Rosandick to lead this team back to the promised land. Northland Lutheran has had some solid teams in the past, earning a 3-seed in both the 2005 and 2008 Division 4 Regional. This season the Wildcats welcome back hitter Hailey Blauert and setter/setter Alyssa Blume for their senior seasons as they make a case for a respectable seed come playoff time.