All-EWC Volleyball

Senior middle hitter Emily Cecka of Plymouth was named to the 2009 All-Eastern Wisconsin Conference girls volleyball second team.

Also earning All-EWC recognition for the Panthers are junior libero (back-row specialist) Clarice Hnilicka and sophomore middle/outside hitter JoJo Egerer on the honorable-mention squad. Hnilicka was also honorable mention a year ago.

Cecka ranked sixth in the EWC in solo blocks with 27 and 10th in scoring with 116 points. Cecka had a strong all-around league season as she also finished 19th in kills with 60, was a 93-percent server (148 of 159), posted 76 percent in serve receiving, had 19 ace serves, 20 block assists and 59 digs.

“She was obviously our leader on the court this year,” said Panther head coach Peggy Huhn.

“She played all around and really was our go-to person much of the time in the front row. Her back row improved so much this year from last.

“She will be hard to lose and not have next year. I will really look to the remainder of this year’s bench and underclassmen to step up to fill her shoes,” Huhn said.

Hnilicka tied for 17th in the league in digs with 87, was 78 percent in serve receiving and 93 percent (139 of 149) in serving with 13 aces.

“Clarice played every game for me this year. There is rarely a time that I don't have her on the court. Her voice really keeps the play flowing,” Huhn noted.

“Libero is a very hard position – not a lot of glory. You have to dig, dig, dig in order to keep the ball alive.”

Egerer was 100 percent (44 of 44) in serving with one ace and tied for 11th in the league in kills with 67. She contributed two solo blocks, 21 block assists, eight digs and 73-percent serve receiving.

“I was really glad to see JoJo get a nod from the other coaches,” Huhn said. “Halfway through the season, I put her in our setter position – running a 6-2 [offense]. She has great hands – very soft.

“We will see how she does over the off-season and what she chooses to work on. She is so versatile. I think I have put her in every position.

“I can see her setting if she chooses to work on this or I can see her being a dominant force in the front row. It will be very exciting to watch her grow,” Huhn said.

Waupun, which won its third straight conference title, and runner-up Kewaskum dominate the first team with three selections each. Waupun seniors Bridget Nickel and Brandi Dolgner were voted to the first team by the league coaches for the third straight season.

The other first-team repeater is Kewaskum senior Lauren Gonring.

Nickel led the EWC in kills with 165, scoring at 234 and ace serves, 45.

Waupun junior Alexa Finstad, a first-team player, ranked first in assists with 361. Kiel senior Katie Freitag, a first-team choice, and her Raider teammate, Brooke Schneider, shared the lead in solo blocks at 38 apiece.

New Holstein’s Kelly Buechel had a league-high 181 digs.
All-EWC Volleyball
FIRST TEAM
Bridget Nickel, Waupun…………..………..Sr.
Brandi Dolgner, Waupun…………………..Sr.
Alexa Finstad, Waupun………………....…..Jr.
Erika Heberer, Kewaskum…………....…..Sr.
Elissa Miller, Kewaskum…….…..…….…..Sr.
Lauren Gonring, Kewaskum……..……....Sr.
Katie Freitag, Kiel……………………………..Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Libby Bresser, Waupun………………..…....Jr.
Jenell Larsen, Waupun………………….....Sr.
Morgan Tenpas, Waupun…..………...…...Jr.
Sara Steffen, New Holstein…….………....Jr.
Alayna Muldoon, New Holstein………....Sr.
Emily Cecka, Plymouth………..………...Sr.
Brooke Buehler, Sheboygan Falls……....Jr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Hannah Perron, Campbellsport…….…...Sr.
Cassie Quirt, Sheboygan Falls…………....Jr.
George Abfall, Kewaskum……..……….….Jr.
Kim Hennings, Kiel…………….……………..Sr.
Katrina Jacobs, Kiel………..………………..Sr.
JoJo Egerer, Plymouth…………………...So.

Clarice Hnilicka, Plymouth……………...Jr.
Kiley Veldre, Two Rivers………………..…..Sr.
Kelly Buechel, New Holstein……..……....S_r_. _________________________