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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
Champion Stratford had seven players named to the 2018 All-Marawood Conference South Division Volleyball Team, which was voted on by the six conference coaches following the season.
Auburndale had three players named to the team as well, including unanimous first-team choice Mackenzie Raab. Maggie Willfahrt and Teryn Lau each were honorable mention selections for the Apaches.
Stratford had three named to the first team and three more to the second team after claiming the South Division title with an unbeaten record.
Seniors Mazie Nagel and Jadyn Dahlke were unanimous first-team picks, and junior libero McKenna Krall was also picked to the first team for the Tigers.
Nagel led the Tigers in kills and was a key component when shifting to the back row as well.
“Mazie is the team energizer,” Stratford coach Brooke Kafka said. “Her skills and leadership on the court brought our team to a new level the past few years. Mazie is a very passionate player that strives for absolute success.”
Dahlke, who was the team’s top setter and a hitter as well, topped Stratford in assists.
“Jadyn is key to running an effective offense on our team,” Kafka said. “She has made huge strides throughout her career with Stratford volleyball. She may be short in stature, but she brings a big game.
Krall played a big part in the Tigers’ surge back to the WIAA state tournament, where they finished runner-up in Division 3 after losing the state championship match to Lake Country Lutheran.
“McKenna is the most consistent defender I have ever coached,” Kafka said. “Her performance throughout the playoff run was nearly flawless. Her defense kept us alive in many games, including the state championship.”
Raab, a co-captain and four-year starter for the Apaches, led the Marawood South in service aces with 61, had 417 assists, which ranked seventh in the conference, and also was one of the team’s top hitters.
Lau, a co-captain for Auburndale, had 150 kills and 42 aces, and Willfahrt led the Marawood South with 466 digs and had 46 aces as well for the Apaches.
“Mackenzie has great work ethic and is passionate about volleyball,” Auburndale coach Peggy Empey said. “Teryn also has great work ethic and pushes herself to always be better. Maggie constantly was talking to her teammates about what she sees.”
Stratford’s three second-team selections were sophomore hitter Lauryn Nagel, senior setter Brooke Peterson, and senior hitter Blaire Lindner. Senior hitter Callie Lehman was an honorable mention choice for the Tigers.
In addition to Raab, Nagel, Dahlke and Krall, other first-team selections were Elizabeth Boehm of Marathon, and Mackenzie Krach and Lauren Shields of Wausau Newman Catholic.
2018 All-Marawood Conference South Division Volleyball Team
First team (*unanimous selection): *Mackenzie Raab, sr., Auburndale; Elizabeth Boehm, jr., Marathon; *Mackenzie Krach, sr., Wausau Newman Catholic; Lauren Shields, jr., Wausau Newman Catholic; *Mazie Nagel, sr., Stratford; *Jadyn Dahlke, sr,. Stratford; McKenna Krall, jr., Stratford.
Second team: Bailey Imhoff, jr., Edgar; Linnea Svennes, jr., Wausau Newman Catholic; Evelyn Gabriel, jr., Wausau Newman Catholic; Grace Ende, sr., Wausau Newman Catholic; Lauryn Nagel, so., Stratford; Brooke Peterson, sr., Stratford; Blaire Lindner, sr., Stratford.
Honorable mention: Calli Statz, jr., Wisconsin Rapids Assumption; Kendall Schill, jr., Wisconsin Rapids Assumption; Maggie Willfahrt, jr., Auburndale; Teryn Lau, Auburndale; Daria Hoesly, sr., Edgar; Gabbi Keim, so., Edgar; Kyli Blume, jr., Marathon; Bradyn Free, jr., Marathon; Stevie Samuels, Wausau Newman Catholic; Elise Johnson, Wausau Newman Catholic; Callie Lehman, sr., Stratford.