MONROE — The Cheesemakers finished the 2019 volleyball season 8-22 overall and just 1-6 in Badger South play. Then six seniors graduated, including second-team all-conference hitter Cassi Gersbach and honorable mention setter Lily Frehner.
“We graduated many of our starters, so the team will look a bit different this year,” said 7-year Monroe coach Heidi Witt.
While that leaves a lot of Swiss Cheese holes to fill, Monroe gets one player back that was missing from last season: Zoeey Pond. A front row hitter, Pond was coming off an all-conference season as a sophomore in 2018 but was injured at the start of the 2019 season and unable to play. In the offseason, Pond signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Waldorf University next season. The pandemic pushing back the season from the fall of 2020 to the late winter/early spring of 2021 has aided in healing time.
“She will be back on the court in uniform and she is stronger than ever,” Witt said.
Also back for Monroe are seniors Katie Hayes, Alyse Maurer, Barrett Foulker, Maddie Leck and Emma Stricker, as well as junior hitter Lydia Butler.
Hayes played as a hitter last season, but will switch to setter this year. “She has been working hard on this position and improving her footwork,” Witt said. Maurer was honorable mention all-conference as a libero, and Witt said the team expects “the same intense defense out of her this year.”
Butler has improved her skills across the board, Witt said, including her confidence. “Lydia’s a very strong player.”
Newcomers include juniors Taylor Broge (OH), Elly Wild (MB) and Kyla Ziolkowski (OH), as well as sophomore Taylor Jacobson (H).
“(Broge) is improving on her skills and will be a big asset this year. Wild is comfortable in the middle and will be a strong blocker for the team. (Ziolkowski) is still finding which hitting position suits her best. Jacobson is versatile, a strong player and possibly all-around outside hitter,” Witt said. “The talent in this group could potentially take us further into the postseason. I feel we have great team chemistry already within all levels, which was evident when we were able to have some open gyms.”
Witt said her squad’s biggest strength will be its strong leaders and desire to get out onto the court and play after being delayed nearly six months.
“Our schedule looks a bit different this year as we are playing teams from both the Badger South and the Badger North,” Witt said. “With as crazy as this year has been, I think all of the coaches and teams can agree that we just want to play. It is not about who will be at the top or the bottom. It is about seeing these girls play the sport they love.”
