Rondeau, Andersen netting more honors
Awards list looks familiar
Repeat performances.
That was one of the themes of this past girls volleyball season.
Catholic Memorial spent the entire season ranked No. 1 in the Division 2 state coaches poll and then didn’t drop a set in the postseason on the way to winning its third straight state title. It marked the 10th time in WIAA history that a program won at least three straight championships.
The following week the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association announced its all-state team and Catholic Memorial’s Maddy Rondeau and Lake Country Lutheran’s Brooke Andersen were first-team picks for the second straight year.
Those two players are part of the Journal Sentinel’s all-area team. Here is the complete squad.
FIRST TEAM Lexi Alden, sr., OH, Catholic Memorial: The Maryland recruit led the Crusaders in kills for the third straight season, this time averaging 3.6 per set with a .338 hitting percentage on a team loaded with options. She finished with a schoolrecord 1,495 kills. She also led the team with a 94.8% serve efficiency and was third in total blocks (64). Brooke Andersen, jr., OH, Lake Country Lutheran: The Lightning played a tougher schedule this season and Andersen, an Iowa State recruit, met the challenge. She totaled 5.3 kills per set with a .375 hitting percentage and continued to be a deft passer when playing in the back row. She was also more active in serve receive and digs than her first two seasons. Amanda Dahlman, sr., L, Kettle Moraine Lutheran:
The four-year starter claimed team MVP honors after leading the Chargers to an undefeated mark in the East Central Conference and a berth in the sectional final before losing to eventual Division 2 champion Catholic Memorial. She averaged 4.2 digs per set, 21⁄2 better than her closest teammate, and made just 20 errors out of 415 chances in serve receive. Mia Grunze, jr., OH, Waterford: The Southern Lakes player of the year can finish a play with the best of them — she hit .349 and averaged 4.4 kills per set – and more than holds her own in defense and passing. The Ohio State recruit averaged 10.3 digs per set and was No. 2 on the team in serve receive. Maddy Rondeau, sr., S/RS, Catholic Memorial: She’ll run track in college, but Rondeau’s ability to fill multiple roles was key for the three-time Division 2 sate champion. She set for three rotations and managed 5.5 assists per set while registering 1.8 kills and 3.1 digs. She also set the tone for the team’s play as its first server. Miranda Wucherer, jr., S/RS, Brookfield Central: If it seemed like the Greater Metro player of the year was all over the floor, it’s because she was. In addition to registering a team-high 3.7 kills per set and a .297 hitting percentage, the Northern Kentucky recruit also ranked second on the squad in assists (3.6 per set) and aces (71 total) and third in digs (2.3). Coach of the year: Chris Polowy, Brookfield East.
Under Polowy’s leadership, the Spartans turned a young team that was predicted to finish behind DSHA, Menomonee Falls and Brookfield Central into the school’s first conference champion. The Spartans went undefeated in the league during the regular season and won a regional title before losing to DSHA in the sectional final. With only one senior on the roster, East will be one of the teams to watch next season.
SECOND TEAM Mackenzie Robertson, sr., OH, Menomonee Falls: The Air Force recruit, a state champion as a freshman, capped her career by leading Falls to the Division 1 state semifinals. She averaged three kills per set and was a much greater factor in the team’s serve receive than past seasons. Katie Rolfe, sr., MB, DSHA:
Her hot play down the stretch helped the Dashers get back to state after a mid-season slump. Rolfe’s 3.4 kills per set and .312 hitting percentage were teambests for the squad’s regular hitters and her 94 blocks were No. 2 on a team that bowed out in the state quarterfinals. Katie Schoessow, jr., L, Mukwonago: The Indians took second in the Classic 8, in part because of her ability to cover a lot of ground in the back row. Her 14.7 digs per set represented 31% of the team’s total. Nicole Shanahan, sr., MB, Oconomowoc: The Raccoons remained one of area’s top teams despite a huge turnover of players from last season with the help of Shanahan. She narrowly missed leading the team in kills (2.9, .327 hitting percentage) while posting a team-best 2.3 blocks per match. Elle Van Grinsven, sr., MB, Wisconsin Lutheran: The Loyola Chicago recruit became a six-rotation player this season and then claimed the Wisconsin Little Ten player of the year honor. She led the Vikings in kills (3.6 per set) and digs (8.4) and well as total blocks (81) and aces (67). Ivey Whalen, sr., MB, Catholic Memorial: recruit wasn’t The flashy Northwesternbut was efficient very hitter effective.— her She percentagewas an was .379 — while serving as an intimidating defensive presence. Her 130 kills were 29 more than anyone else on the team.
THIRD Mackenzie TEAM Eford, sr., MB, Nicolet:.407 for the She Northhit an Shore impressive champion an averagewhile postingof 4.3 per 195 set. blocks, Abby Hamilton, jr., OH, Hartford: The Orioles went 22-12 with the help of Hamilton, who averaged 3.1 kills and 7.4 digs per set. Kayce Litzau, soph., S/RS, Greendale: She registered a team-high 2.2 kills with a .379 hitting percentage and 5.1 assists per set to help the Panthers reach state for the second straight year. Makenzie Mroczenski, sr., OH, New Berlin Eisenhower:
The UW-Milwaukee recruit averaged 3.7 kills and 1.9 blocks per set and posted a .396 hitting percentage. Kaeley Mueller, sr., OH/RS, Westosha Central: On a balanced Falcons squad, she averaged 2.8 kills and 4.8 digs per set to help the team win its second straight Southern Lakes title. Grace Novotny, jr., L, DSHA:
In a lineup that featured many combinations during the season, Novotny was a constant for a Dashers squad that overcome some mid-season struggles to reach state. She averaged 4.2 digs per set.
FOURTH TEAM Tayler Alden, fr., S, Oconomowoc: She ran the Raccoons’ attack like a veteran and helped the team go undefeated in the Wisconsin Little Ten and reach the sectional final in Division 1. She averaged 10.4 assists per set.
Clare Honan, West: sr., The MH, Holy Wauwatosa Cross recruit played every rotation, posting team highs in kills (4.3 per set) and total blocks (98) for a team that finished 28-12. Hannah Kuehl, jr., MB, Kettle Moraine Lutheran: The two-year starter was the Chargers’ go-to hitter, finishing with 293 kills, 95 blocks and .333 hitting percentage for the East Central champion. Sam Penzkowski, sr., OH, Racine Case: The two-time Southeast Conference player of the year finished with a teambest 273 kills and led the Eagles to their first league title in more than 30 years. Natalie Perrault, sr., L, Oconomowoc: The four-year varsity performer had her most productive season, posting 4,4 digs per set, almost one better than last season, for the Wisconsin Little Ten champion. Kayla Tsui, sr., OH, Grafton:
The Black Hawks won the conference tournament and 36 matches with the help of the North Shore player of the year. Tsui averaged 3.5 kills with a .299 hitting percentage and 7.9 digs per set for the conference tournament champion.
HONORABLE MENTION Tayler Alden, fr., S, Oconomowoc; Taylor Allen, sr., MH, Brookfield East; Abby Arena, jr., OH, West Allis Hale; Katie Arnold, sr., RH, DSHA; Chyna Bachhus, soph., OH, University School; Grace Baumann, sr., jr., OH/MS, West Bend West; Makenna Berry, jr., L, Brookfield East; Amber Bischel, fr., L, Germantown; Sarah Blair, sr., L, Westosha Central; Kaley Blake, fr., S, Burlington; Gretchen Bruhn, jr., OH, Brookfield East; Maddie Buratti, sr., L, Kenosha Tremper; Kara Conley, sr., S/RH, Nicolet; Madeline Decker, sr., OH/MH, Kenosha Christian Life; Erin Dietzler, sr., OH, Mukwonago; Amanda Garvens, jr., Grabowski,OH, Oconomowoc; Jessica Morgan Gramins,jr., L, Greendale;sr., OH, Sussex Guenveur, Hamilton; soph., AshleyOH, Menomonee fr., Falls;OH, Arrowhead;Aubrey Hamilton, Alayna Mukwonago; Jansky, Ellee soph., Jansen,OH, sr., S, Watertown;sr., S, Racine HannahCase; Cassidy Johansen, Moraine Johnson, Lutheran;jr., S, Kettle Cecilia Kohl, sr., S/OPP, Milwaukee King; Angelina Lewand, sr., OH, Kenosha St. Joseph; Abi Marcquenski, sr., MH, Westosha Central; Brianna Merkel, sr., S/RS, Franklin; Cori Meyers, jr., OH, Nicolet; Mckenna Micech, sr., S, Menomonee Falls; Taylor Mielke, sr., OH, Arrowhead; Ari Miller, soph., MH, Kettle Moraine Lutheran; Kailynn Mongan, sr., DS, Germantown; Riley O’Connell, jr., S, Cedarburg; McKenna Packer, soph., MH, Sussex Hamilton; Greta Paszek, jr., RH, Arrowhead; Maya Roberts, sr., RH, Watertown; Brianna Scuric, soph., OH, East Troy; Laura Shoopman, soph., OH/RS, Westosha Central; Brooke Siebert, sr., OH, Pewaukee; Gabrielle Strasser, jr., OH, Greenfield; Reba Thomsen, sr., S/RS, Burlington; Chloe Tome, soph., Wauwatosa East; Alyssa Turzenski, sr., OH, Burlington; Julia Van Fleet, sr., L, Muskego; Keri Walker, soph., S/MH, Living Word Lutheran; Marissa Zepecki, sr., S, Brookfield Kaitlyn Zingsheim, Central;sr., MH, Catholic Memorial.
Editor’s note
Our area girls volleyball player of the year, along with athletes of the year from all WIAA sports, will be announced as part of our inaugural high school sports awards show next spring. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Awards will be held at 8 p.m. May 17 at the Pabst Theater. The show will feature various awards, entertainment and a special appearance from a celebrity guest. We will provide more details about the event in the coming weeks and months.