Local players earn Big East honors

Cedar Grove-Belgium and Ozaukee high schools didn’t have standout volleyball seasons, but a few players’ performances caught the eyes of opposing Big East Conference coaches.

Ozaukee sophomore Sydnie Stadler and Cedar Grove-Belgium senior Bailey Cooney each made the Big East second team. Rocket Olivia Robertson earned honorable mention.

This was the second straight season Stadler, an outside hitter, made the second team.

She finished seventh in the conference in kills per set, ninth in kills with 379 and 14th in digs with 461. In addition, she served 108 aces.

“Sydnie was our best all around player this season. She played in 97 sets and predominately played all six rotations,” coach Paul Jungbauer said.

Last year, Stadler played club volleyball and was in camps across the country.

“Sydnie continues to work hard in the offseason. I look forward to seeing Sydnie continue to progress as a player, and we will have lofty goals for her as a junior next season,” Jungbauer said.

Cooney, a defensive specialist, played left back and had 351 digs for the Rockets.

“Even though she played 2.5 less rotations per game, she only had 140 less digs then our libero,” coach Chris Holzer said.

“Bailey was the vocal leader on the court. She put her body on the line every game and had some amazing digs this year.  She worked very hard to improve, and her hard work paid off for her this year.”

Robertson, a junior outside hitter, had 194 kills and 60 errors on 455 attempts. She had 78 digs, seven blocks and six blocking assists.

“Olivia was our main attacker for the year. She consistently hit well, and minimized her mistakes to less than one per game,” Holzer said.

“She was the player who would be the first in the gym and the last to leave and had an incredible work ethic.”

Ozaukee finished 5-7 in the Big East and tied for eighth place of 14 teams. The Warriors were 14-22 overall. The Rockets were 4-8 in 11th place in the conference and 12-21 overall.

Howards Grove won the conference with a 14-0 record and had four members on the first team.