Citizen Staff/James Wold
Waupun's Bridget Nickel was unanimously chosen first team all-EWC in volleyball this season.
WAUPUN — Waupun senior Bridget Nickel was the lone unanimous selection on the all-Eastern Wisconsin volleyball list for the 2009 season.
Players are ranked 12 to 1 by voting coaches and Nickel received nothing but 12s from league coaches. She was joined on the first team by senior Brandi Dolgner and junior Alexa Finstad.
Nickel’s statistics matched her returning all-state pedigree. She put down 165 kills for a .303 average with just 17 errors to go with 35 blocks.
Nickel had 43 aces with just three errors for a serving percentage of 99 percent. She added 94 digs, or over 6.7 per league match.
"Bridget was a dominant player," Waupun coach Keith Milkowski said. "She pretty much dominated the conference."
Despite missing significant time with a foot injury, Dolgner finished right behind Nickel in the voting. The senior left side played her first few matches in the back row upon her return but still was a difference-maker.
Dolgner was very efficient on the attack as well. She put down 72 kills with just eight errors at a .293 clip.
Dolgner had 12 blocks and 94 digs. She had 24 aces with only two service errors, leading to a 98-percent service rate.
"Brandi missed some matches and played some only in the back row," Milkowski said. "She still made enough of an impact."
Finstad, a junior setter, took over for all-state pick Michielah Navis. Milkowski felt the transition was relatively seamless.
Finstad dished out 361 assists while adding 33 kills at a .363 clip. She put up 17 blocks and 33 digs while adding 18 aces and a serve percentage of 94.
"It wasn't really a surprise to me even if it maybe was a surprise to others," Milkowski said. "She did a nice job.
"She was smooth on the court and didn't make many poor decisions. I was really happy with the way she responded."
Waupun put three more players on the second team. Both middles, senior Jenell Larsen and junior Libby Bresser, along with junior libero Morgan Tenpas, made the list.
Larsen put down 55 kills at a .234 rate. She added 38 blocks and 12 digs.
Bresser put down 57 kills while hitting .201. She added 36 blocks, 25 aces and 12 digs while serving 94 percent.
Tenpas tallied 59 digs in league play.
Eastern Wisconsin Conference
All-EWC Volleyball 2009
First team: Waupun - Bridget Nickel*, Sr.; Brandi Dolgner, Sr.; Alexa Finstad, Jr.; Kewaskum - Erika Heberer, Sr.; Elissa Miller, Sr.; Lauren Gonring, Sr.; Kiel - Katie Freitag, Sr.
Second team: Waupun - Libby Bresser, Jr.; Jenell Larsen, Sr.; Morgan Tenpas, Jr.; New Holstein - Sara Steffen, Jr.; Alayna Muldoon, Sr.; Plymouth - Emily Cecka, Sr.; Sheboygan Falls, Jr.
* - unanimous selection