New coach has need for speed

There is plenty that’s new for the Ozaukee High School volleyball team this season.
Not only are the Warriors dealing with new requirements due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they begin the season with a new slate of coaches.
Taking the helm at the varsity level is Vanessa Depies, a former player for Cedar Grove-Belgium who played club volleyball at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
She replaces Paul Jungbauer, who coached at Ozaukee from 2016 to 2019 and now leads Port Washington’s squad.
Depies is 21 and in her first varsity coaching job.
Leading the Warriors’ returning letter winners is senior outside hitter Sydnie Stadler. A three-year starter, Stadler made the Big East Conference first team last season after making the second team two years in a row.
Last year, she led the team in kills and was one of the team leaders in almost every statistical category. Stadler set career highs in kills with 353, kills per set (3.7), aces (80), digs (311), digs per set (3.2) and blocks (13). She put up 11 double-doubles on the year.
After a year of full-time varsity experience mainly as a libero and defensive specialist, junior Nicole Liermann will take over the setting duties.
“I see Nicole as being a leading letter winner, as she has played major roles for the team before, and this season she continues to have an important role and is doing a fantastic job at it,” Depies said.
Senior letter winner Amanda Dieringer will start at right side hitter.
Stadler, Liermann and Dieringer are the team’s captains.
“Right away, I knew who were going to be captains of our team based on their leadership. These girls are always communicating with their teammates, giving 100% effort every day. One of them is in a completely new position and has done excellent in it,” Depies said.
The coach said she is also impressed with Madison Karmasin, who played libero part of last year as well as defensive specialist.
“She has taken her previous varsity knowledge and brought it to this season, stepping into a big role on our team,” Depies said.
Sophomore Evy Geis will start at middle blocker.
“Being the only underclassman can be intimidating on a varsity team, but every day she continues to impress me and her teammates,” Depies said.
Other girls competing for playing time are seniors Lexi Kurlinski and Josie Robinson and juniors Bella D’Amato, Brynn Schueller, Molly Kirmse, Hannah Lemke and Marisa Schmit.
The Warriors lost three starters to graduation, setter Izzy Clark and hitters Naomi Smith and Emma Poeschl.
Depies said one of the Warriors’ strengths this season will be team play.
“They work well together and as a team. We stress putting each other up, not down, during practice, and the girls have really done a great job at that,” she said.
Perhaps Ozaukee’s biggest challenge will be switching to a fast-paced offense.
“Last season, the program never ran a quick play, which other teams in the conference are running and using, which is something I hope we can incorporate,” Depies said.
The Warriors went 5-3 in the Big East and were 15-18 overall.
Last Thursday, the Warriors lost at Random Lake, 20-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-15, 15-9.
Stadler had 28 kills, and Kurlinski had 11. Depies praised Liermann for running her first match as a setter in a 5-1 offense.
On Saturday the Warriors went 0-3 in a home tournament. They lost to Living Word Lutheran, 25-15, 25-19, eventual champion Randolph, 25-15, 25-9, and Kiel, 25-15, 25-19.
Stadler had 14 kills, and Geis had eight. Liermann had 36 assists.
Ozaukee was to host defending Division 3 state champion Howards Grove on Tuesday, Sheboygan Christian on Thursday, Sept. 24, play at Oostburg on Monday and host Reedsville on Tuesday, Sept. 29.