This story is sponsored by: The Marshfield Tiger Booster Club
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
Marshfield seniors Anna Ripp and Stephanie Rhodes capped off terrific careers by reaching big milestones and being named unanimously to the first team of the All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Volleyball Team for the second-straight year.
Ripp, the Tigers’ setter, became the program’s first player to reach the 2,000 assist mark for her career. Rhodes, an all-around player, led Marshfield in kills and digs, and surpassed 1,000 kills for her varsity career late in the season. Ripp was also named to the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association all-state team as an honorable mention selection for the second year in a row.
“Anna has been a tremendous leader for us this season both on the court and in the weight room,” Marshfield coach Dawn Sadowska said. “Our offense got faster throughout the season and that was due entirely to Anna’s ability to accurately time her sets with all of our hitters.
“Stephanie has been a dependable all-around player for us this season. She was a critical part of both our offense (serve receive to attacking) and our defense (blocking and digging) as her statistics throughout the season prove.”
Conference champion D.C. Everest had three unanimous first-team picks – Regan Stefan, Natalie Mohring, and Jenna Rombalski. Merrill’s Morgan Wardall also was a unanimous first-team pick. Ally Miklesh of Stevens Point and Katie Zelinski of Merrill round out the eight-person first team.
Seniors Alexa Aumann, a hitter, and Maureen Cassidy, the team’s libero, were among the seven second-team selections for Marshfield, which finished 7-5 and in third place in the WVC standings.
“Alexa came into her own this season, showing everyone her versatility as we ran her both as an outside hitter and a middle hitter,” Sadowska said. “She was a force in both positions and was able to attack a number of different sets. Mo (Cassidy) has been a defensive player since she was a sophomore, but became our libero this season. Specifically, Mo’s defense and leadership in the backrow stood out in every match. Mo’s specialty was digging tips that most liberos could not defend.”
Senior middle hitter Jamila Ougayour was Marshfield’s lone honorable mention selection.
2016 All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Volleyball Team
(*unanimous selection)
First team: *Regan Stefan, sr., outside hitter, D.C. Everest; *Jenna Rombalski, jr., outside hitter, D.C. Everest; *Natalie Mohring, jr., setter/outside hitter, D.C. Everest; *Stephanie Rhodes, sr., outside/middle hitter, Marshfield; *Anna Ripp, sr., setter, Marshfield; *Morgan Wardall, jr., middle hitter, Merrill; Katie Zelinski, sr., right side hitter, Merrill; Ally Miklesh, jr., setter, Stevens Point.
Second team: Skylar Rickstad, so., libero, Wausau West; Alexa Aumann, sr., outside/middle hitter, Marshfield; Caroline Hehir, sr., setter, D.C. Everest; Madeleine Burch, sr., middle/right side hitter, Stevens Point; Maureen Cassidy, sr., libero, Marshfield; Taylor Cichy, sr., libero, Merrill; Ieden Sheehan, jr., setter, Wausau West.
Honorable mention: Paige Brandenburg, so., outside hitter, Wausau West; Lexie Higgins, jr., middle hitter, D.C. Everest; Maddix Bonnell, jr., outside hitter, Merrill; Jordan Murphy, jr., setter, Wausau East; Teilyn Schubring, jr., libero, D.C. Everest; Jamila Ougayour, sr., middle hitter, Marshfield; Kelsie Belfiori, so., defensive specialist, Merrill; Sydney Salewske, sr., defensive specialist, Stevens Point; Lauren Luoma, sr., libero, Wausau East; Mya Hoernke, sr., setter, Wisconsin Rapids.