Tigers’ Latham named All-CLC first team
Three Resorters earn honorable mention
by Greg Ceilley of The Review staff
Senior setter Kasey Latham of Howards Grove was voted to the 2009 All-Central Lakeshore Conference girls volleyball first team unanimously by the league coaches.
Four of her Tiger teammates also earned All-CLC recognition. Second-team players are senior outside hitter Ali Benning and sophomore outside hitter Bri Morgen. Named honorable mention were sophomore outside hitter Alexis Lindstrom and junior defensive specialist Brooke Schaller.
The Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah Resorters’ all-league selections – each honorable mention – include sophomore setter Beth Merten, junior middle hitter Abbey Neils and sophomore outside hitter Rachel Knowles.
Latham led the Tigers in digs with 138 and assists, 399, in CLC action this past season. She was 91- percent accurate (107-for-118) in serving with 19 aces, and had 26 kills and 13 blocks.
Latham, a second-team pick last year, was named the Tigers’ 2009 “Most Valuable Player.”
“Kasey really developed over her three years on the varsity. She started out as a quiet, shy sophomore and turned into a very emotional, intense senior captain,” said Tiger head coach Brett Damrow.
“I was especially proud the way she came back from her injury [torn anterior cruciate ligament her sophomore year]. She was a joy to coach and enjoyed the game a lot.”
Benning, paced Howards in kills with 129 and contributed 18 blocks and 111 digs. She was an 88- percent server (111-for-126) with 16 aces. Benning, who was also on the second team as a junior, was selected the Tigers’ “Most Improved Player.”
“Ali worked hard to improve her volleyball skills. She developed into a complete outside hitter this year,” Damrow noted.
“She developed all the shots it takes to be a good varsity player.”
Morgen tied for first in serving accuracy on the Tiger team with 95 percent (114-for-120). She had 104 kills, 10 blocks and 128 digs.
“Bri was the only sophomore to make first or second team. Bri earned this award with a lot of hard work,” the coach noted.
“Bri’s club volleyball experience really gave her confidence going into this year. She has a great future ahead of her.”
Lindstrom led Howards in blocks with 21 to go with 89 kills, five assists and 98 digs. She was 88 percent (113-for-128) in serving with 19 aces.
Schaller posted 78 digs and two assists. Merten contributed 15 ace serves, 64 assists and 70 digs during the CLC season. Neils, who was also honorable mention in 2008, had 13 ace serves, 27 kills, 13 blocks and 33 digs.
Knowles totaled four ace serves, 32 kills, five blocks and 22 digs.
Senior setter Julie Raeder of Oostburg and senior middle hitter/defensive specialist Erin Hartnett of Ozaukee are the first-team repeaters. The other unanimous first-team players are Raeder; senior middle hitter Liz Flipse of Oostburg; senior middle hitter/blocker Kristen Slotman, Cedar Grove-Belgium; Hartnett; and senior middle hitter Amanda Dillman of Sheboygan Lutheran.
League champion Oostburg has a CLC-high two first-team picks.
All-CLC Volleyball
FIRST TEAM
Julie Raeder, Oostburg……….………….….Sr.
Liz Flipse, Oostburg…………..………..….…Sr.
Kristen Slotman, Cedar Grove……..…....Sr.
Erin Hartnett, Ozaukee………………….....Sr.
Kasey Latham, Howards Grove…….….Sr.
Amanda Dillman, Sheb. Lutheran……...Sr.
Krista Navis, Random Lake……………....Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Bri Morgen, Howards Grove………..….So.
Kaitlyn Thill, Ozaukee……………….……….Sr.
Rachael Slotman, Cedar Grove…….……Sr.
Christina Jacobson, Sheb. Lutheran…..Sr.
Morgan Mullikin, Oostburg………..……....Jr.
Ellie DeMaster, Sheb. Christian………...Sr.
Ali Benning, Howards Grove……..…….Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Chloe Van Der Weele, Sheb. Luth. ….....Jr.
Megan Patterson, Kohler………..……..….Sr.
Erin Swanson, Random Lake…..…….....Sr.
Melissa Wilcox, Ozaukee……………….….Sr.
Katie Molter, Oostburg………………...…...Jr.
Ashley Turnquist, Cedar Grove……....…..Jr.
Beth Merten, Elkhart Lake-Glen. …...So.
Carissa Gartman, Kohler…………………...Jr.
Amanda Roush, Sheb. Lutheran..……...Sr.
Abbey Neils, Elkhart Lake-Glen. ……...Jr.
Rachel Knowles, E. Lake-Glen. ….…..So.
Alexis Lindstrom, Howards Grove…...So.
Brooke Schaller, Howards Grove….….Jr.
Kelsey Stefanczyk, Kohler…………..…....Sr.
Mel Mader, Stockbridge..………………….._J_r._________________________
