Hawks volleyball team enjoys successful season

Shawano’s volleyball team defeated Green Bay East 3-0 on Sept. 14, extending their winning streak to eight and improving their overall record to 21-1.

In the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association coaches’ poll on Sept. 12, the Hawks were ranked No. 10 in Division 2.

“The early successes of the team this year are from having some varsity experience and depth. We have 12 returning players from last year’s team, and we are building off of last year’s success,” coach Dan Trudgeon said. “Last year, we ended the season 26-13 in the regional finals. We have almost all of our starters returning this year, and each of them have another year of maturity and athletics under their belt.”

Shawano collected five victories at its home invitational Sept. 9, taking first place against a tough Oconto Falls squad.

The Hawks went 3-0 in pool play and then went on to beat Wausau West in the semifinals and Oconto Falls in the finals. The Hawks dropped only one set the entire day, and that was in the championship match.

“Leah Nordin was our kills and blocks leader on the weekend, with 35 kills, five solo blocks and seven block assists,” Trudgeon said. “Coral Cook dominated from the serving line with 10 aces on the day and also had 33 kills.

“Teagen Thompson led the defensive effort with 33 digs. Amelia Klement and Ella Stuber split the setter duties on the day. Amelia had 61 assists in seven sets, while Ella had 36 in four sets.”

Trudgeon said Cook and Natalie Bystol have surprised him the most this year.

“The levels of confidence and consistency they have shown this year so far surpass what they were able to bring to the team last year,” he said. “This is not taking anything away from other returning players who have major roles. Our middles, Abby Bystol and Leah Nordin, have extended their aggressiveness at the net and have added many different attacks to their tool belt early on this season.”

Trudgeon said the biggest challenge this year is the size of the team.

“At 15, we have many different personalities that we are working with day in and day out,” he said. “Keeping the ‘team first’ mentality and striving to push each other every day to get a little bit better are the goals this season. We want to be playing our best as a team at the end of the season, no matter who is playing on the court.”

Shawano opened its season with four wins at the Friendship Tournament in Wisconsin Dells on Aug. 25. The team went 2-1 against Royall and then 2-0 each against Cedarburg, Fall River and Rio.

On Aug. 26 at the Adams-Friendship Invite - Friendship Tournament, the team won five more, again 2-1 against Royall and 2-0 against Peshtigo, Sheboygan North, Lake Mills and Cedarburg.

The Hawks’ only loss on the season came Sept. 2 at the Marshfield Invite. Shawano won 2-0 against Mondovi, Antigo, Abbotsford and Ladysmith, losing 2-1 to Marshfield.

Shawano defeated Sturgeon Bay 3-2 on Sept. 5 and blanked New London 3-0 on Sept. 7 before recordings the five wins at their own invite and the victory over Green Bay East.

The Hawks were scheduled to host Winneconne on Sept. 19 and host Menasha on Sept. 21.

Their remaining regular season schedule has the team traveling to Green Bay West on Sept. 28, hosting West De Pere on Oct. 3, traveling to Seymour on Oct. 5 and hosting Xavier on Oct. 10.

kpasson@newmedia-wi.com