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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
Stratford tied Wausau Newman Catholic for the conference title and reaped the rewards with six selections to the 2017 All-Marawood Conference South Division Volleyball Team.
Stratford went 10-1 to earn its first-ever Marawood South championship and went all the way to the WIAA state tournament, which was also a first in program history.
Juniors Mazie Nagel and Jadyn Dahlke were unanimous first-team selections for the Tigers, junior Brooke Peterson and senior Olympia Garrigan were second-team picks, and senior Madisyn Daul and junior Blaire Lindner earned honorable mention status.
Nagel topped Stratford with 507 kills and 405 digs, and Dahlke led the Tigers with 88 service aces and 678 assists, and added 114 kills and 224 digs.
“Mazie is both the offensive and defensive kill leader for our team and strives for the best, and doesn’t rest until she achieves it,” Stratford coach Brooke Kafka said. “Jadyn has proven herself as an asset both offensively as a hitter and defensively. She is a very determined individual, which has shown in her achievements this season.”
Peterson was second on the team with 671 assists and had 213 kills, Lindner had 145 kills, Garrigan had 80 aces, and Dahl had 223 digs.
“Olympia proved her ability early in the season and has brought a lot of personality to our team,” Kafka said. “Olympia often put a spark in the team with her serving abilities. Brooke has really shown her ability to keep the other team guessing. She is a smart setter and has proved to be an effective hitter as well.”
Auburndale junior Mackenzie Raab was a second-team selection, and the Apaches had two honorable mention picks in seniors Rachael Bolder and Hannah Bolder.
Raab led the Apaches with 495 assists, and was second on the team with 74 aces and 305 digs.
Rachael Bolder had 168 kills and 326 assists, and Hannah Bolder led Auburndale in kills with 177.
Newman Catholic, which also advanced to the WIAA state tournament, had six all-conference players as well, including first-team picks Mackenzie Krach and Player of the Year Rylie Vaughn.
2017 All-Marawood Conference South Division Volleyball Team
(*denotes unanimous selection)
First team: Chrysten Linzmeier, sr., Wisconsin Rapids Assumption; *Elizabeth Boehm, so., Marathon; *Jenna Dick, sr., Marathon; *Rylie Vaughn, sr., Wausau Newman Catholic; *Mackenzie Krach, jr., Wausau Newman Catholic; *Mazie Nagel, jr., Stratford; *Jadyn Dahlke, jr., Stratford.
Second team: Mackenzie Raab, jr., Auburndale; Bailey Imhoff, so., Edgar; Brooke Balz, sr., Marathon; Lauren Shields, so., Wausau Newman Catholic; Grace Ende, jr., Wausau Newman Catholic; Brooke Peterson, jr., Stratford; Olympia Garrigan, sr., Stratford.
Honorable mention: Claire Preuss, sr., Wisconsin Rapids Assumption; Ellie Schill, sr., Wisconsin Rapids Assumption; Rachael Bolder, sr., Auburndale; Hannah Bolder, sr., Auburndale; Daria Hoesly, jr., Edgar; Gabbi Keim, fr., Edgar; Karley Fischer, sr., Marathon; Stephanie Draeger, sr., Marathon; Julianne Barkholz, sr., Wausau Newman Catholic; Linnea Svennes, sr., Wausau Newman Catholic; Madisyn Daul, sr., Stratford; Blaire Lindner, jr., Stratford.
Player of the Year: Rylie Vaughn, Wausau Newman Catholic.