Young Ozaukee volleyball team to rely on effort, smarts
Despite losing three varsity starters and a solid defensive player, the Ozaukee High School volleyball team has talented athletes returning this season, beginning with last year’s leading hitter and defender in Sydnie Stadler.
A junior outside hitter, Stadler is a two-time second team All-Big East player. A year ago, she led the Warriors in kills with 240, aces with 63, serve receives with 364 and digs with 245.
The Warriors also return senior setter Izzy Clark, who dished out 370 assists a year ago and added 124 kills. She will run a 5-1 and direct the offense, according to coach Paul Jungbauer.
“Izzy has been working hard in her four years in our program, and this has led her to the opportunity to run a 5-1 this year,” Jungbauer said.
Also returning to the starting lineup will be senior hitters Naomi Smith and Emma Poeschl.
“Naomi led our team in efficiency last season and was second on our team in blocks and third in kills,” Jungbauer said.
For the season, Smith had 117 kills, 17 blocks and 20 aces.
Poeschl had 30 kills and 40 digs last season, but has impressed Jungbauer this year as she moves from right side to outside hitter.
“Emma Poeschl has improved drastically from last year to this year,” Jungbauer said. “She has been working hard on becoming a smarter hitter and reducing the number of unforced errors.”
Other letterwinners returning are junior hitter Amanda Dieringer and senior defender Alyssa Laabs.
The Warriors have four seniors, five juniors and four sophomores.
“Our biggest challenge this season will be our youth,” Jungbauer said. “Our other challenge will be our lack of size. We will rely on our relentless pursuit to the ball on defense to keep rallies alive and will have to play smart and aggressive on offense, limiting our unforced errors offensively.”
Jungbauer will look to one of the youngsters to provide defensive leadership.
“I would say the biggest surprise has been sophomore Nicole Liermann,” Jungbauer said. “Nicole has gone to numerous camps this summer and has earned the starting libero position to start the season.”
Other players include juniors Lexi Kurlinski, Josie Robinson and Kayla Hamm and sophomores Bella D’Amato, Madison Karmison and Molly Kirnse.
The Warriors lost Abby Miller, Cayleigh Ebersold, Abby Paulus and Emily Janowski to graduation.
Howards Grove is expected to again be the Big East Conference’s powerhouse.
“They have a special team with young, but experienced players and are extremely capable of beating any team in the state, large schools included,” Jungbauer said.
Ozaukee went 3-1 at the St. Francis Invite Aug. 27. Last Friday, they swept Mishicot and Kiel in the Reedsville tournament. They beat Two Rivers, 2-1, and lost to Chilton, 2-1.
Ozaukee hosts Oostburg to open Big East play on Thursday, Sept. 35 It plays at Sheboygan Lutheran on Sept. 10.
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Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.
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