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2009 Recap



McDonell Central went a perfect 8-0 in the Cloverbelt West last season en route to an impressive 42-3 overall record and a Division 4 State championship. Other than the Macks, the Cloverbelt West had a rough post season. Altoona finished in second place at 7-1 but was upset in a D2 Regional semifinal by Rice Lake. Third place Regis was also upset in the Rectional semifinals by D3 Sectional semifinalist Elk Mound.



2009 Final Standings

2009 All-Conference Teams



2010 Preview



Predicted Order of Finish:

1) Altoona

2) McDonell Central

3) Regis

4) Fall Creek

5) Stanley-Boyd

6) Cadott

7) Thorp

8) Osseo-Fairchild



Players to Watch:

Payton Eckwright, Altoona

Bethany Reyzer, Altoona

Lexi Brown, Fall Creek

Sarah Schoch, McDonell Central

Karley Wiensch, McDonell Central

Heather Bowe, Regis

Drew Doughty, Regis

Hailey Tzynik, Thorp



2010 Season Outlook:

Altoona played Cloverbelt West bridesmaid after dropping a 3-2 decision to eventual champ McDonell early last season. This season the Railroaders bring back the majority of its team, including three-year starter and All-Conference First Team member Bethany Reyzer. A pair of outside hitters in Payton Eckwright and Kayla Springer should be keys to this year's run, as well as middle hitter Ariel Gillespie-- all three of whom were named to an All-Conference team last year. Head coach Duff Martin also has youth in the works, saying, "we have two or three freshmen who are very strong athletes and I am excited to see where they land and how they perform at the high school level."



McDonell Central might have a target on its back after last year's storied run to the Resch Center. And rightfully so, as the Macks get back their All-Conference First Team setter and floor general Karley Wiensch. Wiensch will have some new faces at the attacking positions though, as right side hitter Christi Schoch and outside Ashley Zumbrock are no longer around. Head coach Kat Roessler is confident in her defense and serve receive, as well as the team's overall chemistry. Roessler has some solid middles returning as well in Sarah Schoch and Jenn See who had good showings at State last season. If the Macks can put the pieces back together this season, they should vie for not only a league title, but also another trip to the D4 State tournament.



Regis head coach Jimmy Burg might not be much older than his athletes, but the UW-EC student has his Ramblers poised to make a run at the 2010 Cloverbelt title. "Athleticism, team chemistry and an overall well-rounded group" highlight this year's Regis team, Burg said. A dominant middle last season, Heather Bowe was the only sophomore named to the First Team All-Conference squad. Senior Libero Drew Doughty and senior middle hitter Amy Zawacki should be good compliments to Bowe, but Regis will need to replace both starting outside hitters from last season.



After the graduation of Second Team setter Christie Cline, Fall Creek appears to be looking into a 6-2 offense this season, with three solid sets of hands on the roster in juniors Lexi Brown and Kelsa Rubeck and sophomore Nikki Sedgeman. Also graduated is Honorable Mention opposite hitter Jessica Gilbertson, most likely replaced by Brown or seniors Jenna Ische or McKenna Walbeck. Whichever rotation the Crickets run this season, they will have a few quads and triangulars to warm up for the big showdown against McDonell and Regis the second week of September.



Stanley-Boyd finished just above .500 with a 5-3 mark last season, but will need to replace All-Conference First Teamer Carissa Potaczek, Second Teamer Tonia Paradies and Honorable Mention Alaina Warminski. Luckily for the Orioles, they kick off the season against Cadott, Osseo-Fairchild and Thorp, the three teams picked lower than them in the preseason predictions. Cadott should look to senior Andrea Bourget to lead the Hornets this season, but will need support to break the top tier of the Cloverbelt West.



Thorp and Osseo-Fairchild brought up the rear in the league last season just above Gilman, who moved to the Eastern division this year. The battle for the basement could be between these schools this year, but the Cardinals have an Honorable Mention returning from last year in senior Hailey Tzynik, giving them the slight edge for the seventh place pick.