Lady Chiefs ready for tough conference schedule
Pictured are the five seniors that lead the Wisconsin Dells High School varsity volleyball team into the season. In front are Markee Schultz (left) and Lucia Goree. Behind from left are Skye Solava, Kinsey Mace and Becky Madsen
By Jim den Hollander
If pre-conference matches are any indication, the Wisconsin Dells High School varsity volleyball team will once again be a conference contender this season. Last season, the Chiefs beat everyone except the Wautoma Hornets and match ups with that team will likely be key again this season. But the Chiefs enter this season with some championship experience, undefeated in three straight seasons of junior varsity competition and led once again by a solid group of seniors. Markee Schultz, Skye Solava and Kinsey Mace are all entering their third season with the team while Lucia Goree is a second year team member and Becky Madsen played a big part in the past two JV titles. After bouncing back from an opening game defeat to win its season opening match at Madison East, the Chiefs put together an impressive 5-1 record in marching to the Gold Division semi-finals of the Friendship Tournament at JustaGame Fieldhouse last week. Schultz and Mace, a pair of athletic seniors with a ton of varsity experience already, carry the role of co-captains into the season. Mace will be a primary setter and right-side hitter as will junior Kristin Oines. Schultz will be among the big guns at the net, playing leftside hitter, a position that will be shared by fellow returnees, juniors Nicole Gantz and Tess Myklebust along with sophomore Truday Stanton. Solava will be able to use her size to advantage as a middle hitter, while junior Katie Piekarski and sophomore Heather Conroy will also play the position. While Mace and Oines alternate between setter and right side, Madsen can also play on the right while Tricia Gussell offers an option at setter. Goree will be the team's primary defensive specialist/libero with help coming from juniors Ashlee Platt and Ashley Brown. Early season defeats have haunted the Chiefs' title hopes later on in previous years, but coming in more prepared and game ready this season could pay off big for the locals. They begin their 10-match conference schedule on Thursday at home to the Westfield Pioneers, get a week off before heading to Nekoosa. WDHS Varsity Volleyball 2008 Conference Schedule Sept. 4 vs. Westfield Sept. 11 at Nekoosa Sept. 16 vs. Adams-Friendship Sept. 18 at Wautoma Sept. 23 at. Mauston Sept. 25 at Westfield Sept. 30 vs. Nekoosa Oct. 7 at Adams-Friendship Oct. 9 vs. Wautoma Oct. 14 vs. Mauston Tournaments - Sept. 13 - at Fall River; Sept. 20 - at Baraboo; Oct. 11 - at La Crosse Logan