MONROE - With Alicia Kuester's ability to adjust on the run in a position switch in volleyball this season it's not hard to understand why the Monroe High School senior wants to follow a career path to become a nurse, another role that requires quick adjustments.
Kuester made the switch from middle hitter to outside hitter for the Monroe volleyball team this year. She has taken the move in stride and has thrived in her new role as an outside hitter. At 6 foot, Kuester, has offered the Cheesemakers some thunder with her hitting at the net. She leads the Cheesemakers in kills this year with 138, an average of 7.2 per match.
This marks Kuester's third year playing on the varsity. She has found a home as an outside hitter. Hammering down a powerful spike can always be a momentum changer.
"I feel like I can be more aggressive with my hitting," Kuester said. "I'm more aggressive hitting the ball on the outside. I feel like I get more opportunities to do that."
Monroe (10-9, 1-2 Badger South) snapped a 21-match Badger South Conference losing streak last week when the Cheesemakers clipped Oregon in five sets. From Kuester's perspective, the win was long overdue. It's the first conference match the Cheesemakers have won since October 2012.
"It's a big relief," she said. "People were not seeing the improvement we were making as a team the last few years because our record didn't show it with the wins and losses. It feels pretty good to win a conference game. It shows that we have improved by a lot. In the future, we will keep it in our minds that we can win a conference game."
Kuester and senior Chloe Schroeder both play club volleyball for the Intensity team in Argyle in the winter. The team includes some of the top volleyball players in Green and Lafayette counties. The Intensity played six tournaments last winter where Kuester took advantage of the extra time to hone her skills.
"I'm playing with the best volleyball players in the area year round and looking to get better," Kuester said
When she was a freshman, Kuester recalled being more passive. She has learned to be more vocal with teammates during pressure-packed points.
"My freshman year I was quiet and hesitant on the court," she said. "This year I'm more aggressive and more of a leader now."
Kuester is a three-sport athlete at Monroe. She also plays basketball in the winter and runs track and field in the spring.
Kuester said her favorite sport is volleyball. With sports and schoolwork, she said she doesn't have much time for hobbies.
"Sports take up most of my time," she said. "When I do have extra time I spend it with family and friends."
Kuester is considering attending Edgewood College or the University of Wisconsin-Madison next fall to pursue a nursing degree. Volleyball may still be in her future.
"I'm still deciding if I want to play volleyball at Edgewood or go to the University of Wisconsin-Madison," Kuester said. "School is my top priority right now."
Finishing off a volleyball season strong remains on her mind, too.
"We have the potential to do well in the rest of our conference games," Kuester said. "I think we have a lot of potential. We have showed we can compete with all the other teams."
Kuester made the switch from middle hitter to outside hitter for the Monroe volleyball team this year. She has taken the move in stride and has thrived in her new role as an outside hitter. At 6 foot, Kuester, has offered the Cheesemakers some thunder with her hitting at the net. She leads the Cheesemakers in kills this year with 138, an average of 7.2 per match.
This marks Kuester's third year playing on the varsity. She has found a home as an outside hitter. Hammering down a powerful spike can always be a momentum changer.
"I feel like I can be more aggressive with my hitting," Kuester said. "I'm more aggressive hitting the ball on the outside. I feel like I get more opportunities to do that."
Monroe (10-9, 1-2 Badger South) snapped a 21-match Badger South Conference losing streak last week when the Cheesemakers clipped Oregon in five sets. From Kuester's perspective, the win was long overdue. It's the first conference match the Cheesemakers have won since October 2012.
"It's a big relief," she said. "People were not seeing the improvement we were making as a team the last few years because our record didn't show it with the wins and losses. It feels pretty good to win a conference game. It shows that we have improved by a lot. In the future, we will keep it in our minds that we can win a conference game."
Kuester and senior Chloe Schroeder both play club volleyball for the Intensity team in Argyle in the winter. The team includes some of the top volleyball players in Green and Lafayette counties. The Intensity played six tournaments last winter where Kuester took advantage of the extra time to hone her skills.
"I'm playing with the best volleyball players in the area year round and looking to get better," Kuester said
When she was a freshman, Kuester recalled being more passive. She has learned to be more vocal with teammates during pressure-packed points.
"My freshman year I was quiet and hesitant on the court," she said. "This year I'm more aggressive and more of a leader now."
Kuester is a three-sport athlete at Monroe. She also plays basketball in the winter and runs track and field in the spring.
Kuester said her favorite sport is volleyball. With sports and schoolwork, she said she doesn't have much time for hobbies.
"Sports take up most of my time," she said. "When I do have extra time I spend it with family and friends."
Kuester is considering attending Edgewood College or the University of Wisconsin-Madison next fall to pursue a nursing degree. Volleyball may still be in her future.
"I'm still deciding if I want to play volleyball at Edgewood or go to the University of Wisconsin-Madison," Kuester said. "School is my top priority right now."
Finishing off a volleyball season strong remains on her mind, too.
"We have the potential to do well in the rest of our conference games," Kuester said. "I think we have a lot of potential. We have showed we can compete with all the other teams."
