BOYS VOLLEYBALL PREVIEWS: A new era brings a new outlook

WestoshaCentral-web

Falcons, Panthers leave SEC for brand new Southern Lakes Conference

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

When the Southern Lakes Conference added boys volleyball after last season, it marked the end of an era for Westosha Central and Wilmot Union high schools in the Southeast Conference.

The two schools enter the season joined by Burlington, Union Grove and Racine St. Catherine’s.

With familiar competitors in a different conference, along with St. Cat’s, coaches at Westosha Central and Wilmot both stated it will bring a new twist to the 2016 season.

“It will be interesting, obviously it is the first year of Southern Lakes,” said Falcons coach Wayne Schultz. “We will play a round robin schedule within the conference.”

While the Falcons have the longest running program in the conference, Wilmot is one of the newest, entering their third full varsity season.

“I think our conference is wide open, anyone can win it, really,” said Panthers’ coach David Reidl.

Muff, Muhlenbeck lead Falcons
Schultz enters the season counting on 6-foot-2 junior setter Connor Muff, who notched 852 assists last year, and 6-foot senior outside hitter Drake Muhlenbeck and his 281 kills from a year ago.

“Connor has become one of my leaders, in fact, he is our team captain now. He is a leader on and off the court,” Schultz said. “(Drake) is playing at a new level and is playing great volleyball for us.”

The two, along with several newcomers, expect to replace first-team all-SEC performers Jordan Easthon and honorable mention picks George Capelli and Mike Majors and Gary Welter. Sliding into their positions are two junior middle hitters, 6-foot-4 Mason Welter and 6-foot-5 Jason Olson.

While they have size, Schultz noted they also have the agility, and has shown promise at the start of the season.

“Mason Welter and Jason Olson are doing a great job up the middle, they are young, athletic and quick,” he said.

Adding to the mix is 5-foot-8 junior libero Jack Polick, 6-foot-2 junior outside hitter Matt Bruszas, senior 6-foot libero Brett Niederer, 6-foot-2 sophomore outside hitter Alex Salerno, 5-foot-10 senior Jacob Voigt along with senior 5-foot-10 setter Parker Krumm and 6-foot junior outside hitter Colin Mast.

While Polick stands at 5-8, he makes up for it in energy, according to Schultz.

“Jack is high energy, athletic, he is a little bit on the small side,” he said. “But he thinks big.”

Salerno, meanwhile, looks to be an outside hitter for the Falcons this year and Krumm “come ready to play,” Schultz said.

WilmotLarge-web

Wilmot’s Rovik one of SLC’s ‘best athletes’
With the loss of Evan Orre and Brett Muzzy to graduation, David Riedl looks to Sam Rovik and Alex Tenhagen to take a more formidable role on the Panthers squad this year.

Last year, Rovik earned second-team all-SEC honors while Tenhagen led the squad in assists.

“Sam is probably one of the best athletes in the conference, probably one of the best in the state, and he is just getting accustomed to a new role,” Reidl said.

Meanwhile, Tenhagen has come back stronger, and “could be a more effective setter this year,” Reidl said.

The duo, along with a six others, leaves little margin of error, according to Reidl.

“We are a team where everyone needs to do their job, we all need to stay together,” he said.

Joining the team is junior Justin Paasch, sophomore libero Kevin Kessel, junior Brandon Keller, junior outside hitter Cameron Wischnowski, sophomore Quntin Girardi and junior Ethan Dahlen.

“We don’t have a deep team,” he said.

As the Panthers look ahead, Reidl believes the team could compete for the SLC title.

“We can compete,” he said. “You don’t need to play for long time to do what you need to do.”


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