Infusion of young talent raises present, future hopes

RIB LAKE VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW

Rib Lake’s varsity volleyball roster has undergone a major transformation since last year, going from being seniordominated to being super young, but the coaches and players are hoping it’s the start of something really good.

Senior Kamy Annala and junior Josie Scheithauer have plenty of varsity experience, but after that it’s a green group of four juniors, a sophomore and seven freshmen who start the new season penciled in to see some varsity time in 2022.

It’s about as close to a fresh start as one can get for second-year head coach Heather Weik, but the good news is the freshman group that will have to step up and fill varsity roles has played a lot of club volleyball together with coaching from Rib Lake volleyball royalty Barb and Jordyn Anderson and comes in ready to compete.

“The first week was great,” Weik said during Monday morning’s practice. “So much hustle, so much positivity, girls are excited to be here. They were working hard to the point where some of them couldn’t even move anymore, but they were still just giving it, so I was really proud of them. It was really nice to see how they all are combining because there is such a big freshman group. They’re all connecting really early. They’re all really working together. Freshman through senior, everybody is really working together nicely and being very welcoming. Kamy is incredible with getting everybody going and Josie too. They get along off the court too, so it’s really nice.”

“We have a very hard-working team,” Annala said. “We have a lot of good freshmen coming up. We’ve connected very well.”

The Lady Redmen got their first taste of competition Saturday with a beneficial scrimmage at Rhinelander and officially tipped off the season Tuesday by going 2-1 at the Loyal Quad. Rib Lake is at the Marathon Invitational this Saturday before hosting Spencer in the nonconference home opener on Sept. 1.

With nearly 30 girls out, 13 of which are freshmen, the Redmen will be able to put together three teams this fall and all three got scrimmage time in Rhinelander, which was quite beneficial.

“That was really helpful,” Weik said. “All three teams went and we were able to hone in on a lot of different skills. Starting off, I told the varsity, their court awareness has impressed me already. They did a great job of serving, even for a young team. This team loves to attack the ball. Even if it’s tight, they’re making something out of nothing and going to get some sort of attack out of it.”

Annala and Scheithauer both bring attacking experience in the front row. Annala can play all-around and emerged last year as a solid weapon from the left side. Scheithauer played a middle position last year but starts this year shifting more to the right side, where she’ll work opposite junior Jennie Pichea.

“I’m hoping their hands can get on a lot of the outside hits,” Weik said. “Jennie can jump and she can put it down. When she gets it right on the net, she can snap it down pretty well.”

“We’re doing a lot better with blocking,” Annala said. “We got quite a few in the scrimmage.”

Annala and Scheithauer admitted it feels a bit strange early on to be thrust into their leadership roles, but they’re excited to have them. Both have two years of varsity experience with Scheithauer also knowing what it feels like to be on the varsity as a freshman.

“I went from looking up to all of those seniors, now they’re all gone and I’m the only senior on the team,” Annala said. “It’s different being by myself as a senior.

“I know how the upperclassmen encouraged me and I want to be able to do that for them,” Scheithauer said.

Freshmen Tessa Weik and Camryn Glenzer get the opening nod as the team’s middles. Weik is described a strong player who also possesses good hands. Glenzer’s twin sister Cora adds punch from the left side. Weik also figures to set from the back row, joining junior Isabella Fallos, who got some late-season varsity time a year ago, as the team’s primary setters.

“They like to swing at everything, even if it’s tight, if it’s off the net and they have such a nice swing on the ball,” coach Weik said of the Glenzers.

“I think this year especially compared to last year, we’re going to be able to put more hard hits down,” Scheithauer said. “And turning their hit into our hit I think will be stronger point for us this year.”

In the back row, the Redmen feel they have a freshman to watch at the libero position in Talia Scheithauer. Weik said Scheithauer and Annala stood out in the scrimmage with their efforts to keep balls in play. Junior Leah Chmielowiec also starts the year with a varsity spot.

“I hope (Tahlia Scheithauer) takes where she’s at now and continues to keep growing and keep fighting for it,” Weik said. “She’s really quick,” Annala said. “On Saturday we were picking up balls that I never thought we’d get back up,” Weik said. Rounding the roster with plans to play mostly JV but also float to the varsity roster are sophomore Addison Gumz and freshman Belle Gumz, Madilyn Blomberg and Avery Niemi.

Weik said she is blessed with two outstanding assistant coaches in Teri Iverson and Jordyn Anderson who bring years of coaching knowledge and experience that will help build a strong foundation for the program’s young players.

Rib Lake went 7-22 at the varsity last fall and 1-4 in the Marawood North and is anxious to see if the young infusion of talent sparks the start of an upward climb in the standings. Phillips is the defending North champion, though the Loggers lost a couple of key pieces, including conference Player of the Year Jada Eggebrecht. Athens and Abbotsford should bring back a fair share of experience from their solid 2021 squads.

“We were super scrappy (Saturday),” coach Weik said. “ I’m really excited to play against some of these tougher hitting teams like Athens just to see where we are. Now that we have a rotation down, it’ll be interesting just to play against some of these tougher teams and be able to pick up some of these hits.”

“I personally want to get a few more wins than last year,” Annala said. “I think we can if we keep improving every day.”

“A tournament run would be fun,” Josie Scheithauer said. “I think it’s possible with this team.”