Tiger spikers have lofty goals

HOWARDS GROVE – The Howards Grove girls volleyball team hopes to be a force in the Central Lakeshore Conference this season as the Tigers return 10 letter winners, including six full-time or part-time starters.

The Tigers finished runner-up in the CLC overall race with a 14-4 dual record and shared second in the league tournament.

Howards has three 2009 All-CLC players back – junior Brianna Morgen, a second-team pick, and senior Brooke Schaller and junior Alexis Lindstrom who were honorable mention. The other starters returning are Steph Bergman, Hayley Rickmeier and Emily Schuh.

“We are looking forward to being a top contender in the conference. We had six varsity girls play club volleyball last year and numerous others put in many hours of hard work and training this last fall and spring,” said Tiger head coach Brett Damrow.

“Our main strengths for this year are overall volleyball experience. We have a lot of offensively skilled players, including a very athletic setter [Lindstrom]. We should be a strong serving team this year.

“We will need to focus on serve receive, blocking and defensive rotation,” Damrow said.

“Bri Morgen is a junior outside hitter with two years’ varsity experience. She has really put a lot of energy and time into volleyball the past two years,” Damrow noted.

“We are looking forward to Bri continuing to grow as a volleyball player. She still has many areas to grow in but has a great start at becoming one of the conference’s better players to watch.”

“Brooke Schaller is a senior defensive specialist. Brooke has really come into her own. Brooke has very quick feet that allows her to get to many defensive opportunities,” said the coach.

Damrow said he has a talented group of varsity newcomers, led by Britney Finnell who played some varsity last year and looked strong this past summer, according to the coach.

“Our biggest key to success will be serve receive. If and when we pass the ball well, we will be tough to beat. We will be focusing on this and tracking it all year long,” Damrow said.

He mentioned the team’s major goals.

“Our players have come in this season with winning the conference and being regional champions as our top goals.” Damrow said.

“It will not be easy but with a lot of off-season hard work and a strong focus the next couple of months, their goals could become reality.”

Damrow predicts that the top of the CLC will be very talented. Oostburg is the defending overall and tourney champion and returns All-CLC second-teamer Morgan Mullikin. He expects Sheboygan Lutheran, Cedar Grove-Belgium, Ozaukee and Random Lake to be in the upper half of the league along with Howards and Oostburg.

“The CLC has many strong coaches and talented athletes. We hope to battle Oostburg for the top prize in the conference. Whoever comes out on top of the conference will for sure have earned it,” Damrow said.
HOWARDS GROVE GIRLS
VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
Varsity
Aug. 31 – @ Dominican Invite
Sept. 2 – @ Random Lake
Sept. 4 – @ Mukwonago Invite
Sept. 9 – @ Sheboygan Lutheran
Sept. 11 – County Classic, @ Sheb. So.
Sept. 14 – Cedar Grove, here
Sept. 16 – Ozaukee, here
Sept. 18 – @ Pulaski Invite
Sept. 23 – @ Oostburg
Sept. 28 – Kohler, here
Sept. 30 – @ Stockbridge
Oct. 7 – @ Elkhart Lake
Oct. 5 – @ St. Mary’s Springs
Oct. 12 – Sheboygan Christian, here
Oct. 14 – CLC Tourney, here
Oct. 16 – CLC Tourney, here

HOWARDS GROVE VARSITY
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL ROSTER
Seniors – *Brooke Schaller, *Danielle Navis, *Steph Bergman, *Katie Plahmer, *Amanda Jacobchick and *Tracy
Wehrmann.

Juniors – *Brianna Morgen, *Alexis Lindstrom, *Emily Schuh, Britney Finnell. Autumn Kaat, Jazmin Stauss and
Catherine Demmon.
Sophomores – *Hayley Rickmeier.
* = Returning letter winner.