Catholic Central must replace three all-conference performers
By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
Most teams would have all kind of problems if they had to replace three all-conference performers, one of which was all-state.
But those small concerns don’t affect the Catholic Central High School volleyball team too much.
Gone are Maggie Smith, Kelly Gould and Ally Wiemer from a team that won its second straight Division IV state championship last year, but teamwork and talent have fourth-year coach MaeMae Oberhofer thinking three-peat already.
“I like how we’re truly playing as a team,” she said Monday. “We’re very equal players, and we have lots of contributors. We are really quick and strong on defense.”
With only three seniors, Oberhofer said the team is young and will take some time to mature overall, but she likes her crop of returning talent.
Seniors Maddie Joski and Lauren Harris are back as defensive specialists, and hitter Riley Schmidt is another senior. Abby Tweet and Monica Litman are two returning juniors, both outside hitters, who should see significant playing time.
Also, sophomores Sarah Gould (setter), Kelly’s younger sister, and Olivia Sobbe, a middle hitter, will step up and get plenty of court time as sophomores, Oberhofer said.
Other juniors will include Tori Kempken, Jana Krien, Natalie Rach and Mackenzie Kyle. Newcomers who may contribute are sophomores Maggie Hartzell and Sara Hackbarth along with freshman Lindsay Lehman.
“We have nine or 10 kids who should play each night,” Oberhofer said.
With two state titles in two years under their belts, the interest in the program is soaring. For a school with roughly 200 students, the volleyball program has 45 kids in all four grades.
“It’s wonderful,” Oberhofer said. “We have great coaches on all levels.”
Oberhofer said the team will mostly play a 5-1 offense, with Gould as the setter. Oberhofer knows teamwork is the only way the Lady Toppers can back to the sport’s promised land.
“They know they have to play as a team,” she said. “You can’t replace a stud like Maggie Smith. We have to divide the offense up.”
Oberhofer has yet to win conference, and she said it will be tough again to surpass larger schools like Racine St. Cat’s and Kenosha St. Joe’s. But Oberhofer’s goal is to carry on Catholic Central’s rich volleyball tradition.
“We have to keep building the program and honor and respect the tradition of the great teams before us,” she said.
Catholic Central begins Metro Classic Conference action Sept. 12 at Greendale Martin Luther.
2013 Schedule
(HOME MATCHES IN CAPS)
September – 12: at Greendale Martin Luther. 17: RACINE PRAIRIE. 19: RACINE LUTHERAN. 26: at St. Joe’s. 30: LAKE COUNTRY LUTHERAN. October – 3: at Dominican. 10: ST. CAT’S. 15: at Shoreland Lutheran. 19: MCC Tournament.
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