Panther girls adjust to new coach, new season

By Dan Truttschel

Sports Correspondent

The 2011 season was a struggle from start to finish for the Wilmot girls volleyball team, as the Panthers won just one regular-season match.

Just two contests into the new year, Wilmot already has equaled that total – and the Panthers are hungry for more.

Wilmot defeated visiting Badger 21-25, 25-13, 25-22, 26-24 in its Southern Lakes Conference opener to give new head coach Kevin Rapp his first varsity win.

Rapp, who has more than 20 years of volleyball coaching experience at a number of levels, was pleased to see his squad achieve success right from the start.

“They played their hearts out,” he said. “It was an evenly-fought battle. Both teams are so close in talent level. With the exception of one game, nothing separated them by more than four points.”

Rapp said he entered the match with a little extra information, as he has coached many of the Badger girls at the club level in the past.

Knowing their tendencies certainly didn’t hurt the Panthers.

“I knew their strengths and their weaknesses,” he said. “My girls executed what I asked them to do.”

Leading the way for the Panthers were Sarah Vozel with 15 kills and 24 digs; Cheyenne Moffatt with 26 assists; and Sawyer Wightman with five aces.

Vozel will be one of the Panthers’ leaders all fall, and she showed that against Badger, Rapp said.

“She’s a heck of an athlete,” he said. “She has an arm swing that most volleyball coaches would love to have on their side.”

Wilmot was back in action Thursday night at Delavan-Darien, followed by a trip to Lake Villa (Ill.) Saturday, Sept. 8, to compete in the Lakes Tournament. The Panthers close out their week Tuesday, Sept. 11, when they host Elkhorn at 6:30 p.m.

Rapp said his first several weeks with the program have gone well, as his new charges have continued to work hard and improve on the court.

And that’s all he can ask for.

“The girls are all excited,” he said. “They saw what last year was like with only one win, and they don’t want to repeat it.

“It’s very exciting for me as a coach to see desire in the players. They’re working harder than they’ve probably ever worked before on a volleyball court.”

Joining Vozel (sr., outside hitter), Moffatt (senior, setter) and Wightman (frosh., defensive specialist) on the varsity roster are seniors Jadyn Berg (outside hitter), Brittany Moore (outside hitter), Jenna Venem (setter), Taylor Tenhagen (right-side hitter) and Jorie Brenner (right-side hitter); and

Juniors Lindsey Gaylor (setter), Lindsey Orre (outside hitter), Angela Nevoso (middle hitter) and Alyssa Schaller (middle hitter); and sophomore Shannon Johnston (libero).

Among the girls who have led to this point has been Tenhagen, Rapp said.

“We’re going to rely on her a lot,” he said. “She’s just a phenomenal athlete and a well-rounded volleyball player.”

Looking forward, Rapp said he knows the SLC is a tough one with defending state champion Burlington and perennial powerhouse Westosha Central yet on the schedule.

Trying to get his program on the same level as those two will continue to be a work in progress, Rapp said.

“We (want) to learn every point we watch them play what it takes to be good,” he said. “I’m going to model my program after what both of (those schools) are doing.

“We have to reach down into the middle schools to get them excited about volleyball and get them playing volleyball a lot more than they currently are.”

Assisting Rapp in his first season is Bailey Racky with the varsity, Rose Gaylor with the JV and Michelle Marschel with the freshmen.

 

 


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