High hopes for Resorters

ELKHART LAKE – There’s excitement in the air regarding the 2009-10 Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah girls basketball team.

The Resorters will look to pick up where they left off at the end of last season when they put together a strong postseason run. Elkhart won a Division 4 regional crown and gave powerful Randolph quite a battle before falling in overtime, 46-45, in the sectional semifinals.

“We return a good nucleus of players from last year’s sectional team. We return most of our scoring,” said Resorter head coach Don Kulow.

“We need to find depth at all positions and more scoring off the bench. The young ladies are working hard and are very excited about the season and what it holds.

“They also realize it will take hard work at practice to become a better and more complete team. I like the team’s chemistry and attitude,” said Kulow who enters his 17th season as the Resorters’ head coach.

Elkhart was 10-13 overall last season (5-11 in the Central Lakeshore Conference).

Kulow welcomes back five letter winners, including three starters – junior guard Stephanie Knepfel, senior forward Kate Vollrath and her sister, junior center Anna Vollrath. Kate was an All-Central Lakeshore Conference second-team forward and Anna, honorable mention, last season.

Kate Vollrath was Elkhart’s top scorer in 2008-09 with an 11.2 points-per-game average. Anna Vollrath led in rebounding with a 6.1 average and blocked shots, 53 (2.3 per contest).

Knepfel paced the team in steals and assists with at 1.7 and 1.9 averages, respectively. The other returning letter winners are senior center Chelsea Watry and junior forward Chelsea Watry. Kulow pointed out the team’s strengths and weaknesses.

“We have a nice mix of veterans and newcomers, and have nice size inside,” he said.

“Areas of concern are small numbers this year, so conditioning of our players is key (nine players on varsity). The defense needs to get better if we want to challenge in the conference and beyond.”

Kulow likes his squad’s flexibility and bench. “We can start a big lineup or go smaller with quickness,” he observed.

With the personnel Elkhart has, Kulow is confident the team can play half-court and full-court games.

“Each player on the bench has to be ready to contribute and accept their roles on the team. I like the players I have off the bench because each brings something different to court.”

Kulow noted the players he expects to lead the way. “Kate Vollrath and Chelsea Warty. They will give us leadership we need,” he said.

“The younger players on the junior varsity and varsity look up to them.

“Stephanie Knepfel and Anna Vollrath are in their third year on the varsity, so they know what to expect. Steph players much bigger than her size and can play point or shooting guard. She will never back down from bigger players and will challenge them.

“Anna is our presence inside. She gives our perimeter player the option of being aggressive – knowing she is inside to help defend. Add Abbey Neils to the mix. She will play multiple positions for us, then we become very versatile,” Kulow said.

Kulow thinks Oostburg is the favorite to win the CLC title,.

“I think we all look at Oostburg as the favorite with key players returning from last year’s [season’s] state team,” the veteran coach said.

The Flying Dutchmen, a 2009 Division 3 state qualifier and league runner-up, returns two All-CLC players in seniors Julie Raeder and Amanda Huibregtse.

“Cedar Grove is also a top team in the conference. They have size and with the addition of Hannah Kaul [transfer from Ozaukee] could be a very strong team and could be a challenger,” Kulow said.

Kaul, a senior, was an all-league second-teamer in 2009.

“Heidi [Georgeff; formerly Heling] has done an excellent at Howards Grove. They lost players to graduation but have many good players returning.”

Howards is the reigning CLC champion, having gone 16-0 in the league last season. The Tigers have two All-CLC players back – senior Ali Benning (second team) and sophomore Alexis Lindstrom (guard).

Kulow said the keys to a successful season include: the players understanding their roles on the team, stepping up and challenge each other in practice, becoming a better defensive team, finishing shots, and limiting and creating turnovers.

His top goals are constant improvement, staying positive and giving the best effort possible.

ELKHART LAKE-GLENBEULAH GIRLS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Varsity & JV
Dec. 1 – at Living Word Luth. (Jackson)
Dec. 3 – at Oostburg
Dec. 8 – Kohler, here
Dec. 11 – Howards Grove, here
Dec. 17 – at Sheboygan Lutheran
Dec. 22 – at Sheboygan Christian
Dec. 29 – Kiel, here
Jan. 8 – Cedar Grove, here
Jan. 14 – at Stockbridge
Jan. 16 – at Random Lake
Jan. 19 – Ozaukee, here
Jan. 22 – Oostburg, here
Jan. 25 – Reedsville, here
Jan. 28 – at Kohler
Feb. 2 – at Howards Grove
Feb. 5 – Sheboygan Lutheran, here
Feb. 11 – Sheboygan Christian, here
Feb. 16 – at Cedar Grove
Feb. 19 – Stockbridge, here
Feb. 25 – Random Lake, here
Mar. 1 – at Hilbert
Mar. 5 – at Ozaukee