Muskego — At first glance, it appears that the Muskego girls volleyball team could have a tough time of it this season.
After all, the Warriors are without six graduated seniors who led the way to the WIAA Division 1 state championship last fall, including longtime standouts Katie Ellerson, Rachel Neuberger and Sarah Mlachnik.
What does not graduate, however, are qualities like team tradition and philosophy.
"This will be a different team than last year, but our goal is the same - to be competitive and get back to state," coach Karen Anderson said. "(These players) are young, hard-working and willing to do everything they can to outwork everybody else.
"We have always been concerned about the team. Everyone works to make everyone else better. Everybody says that, but we don't just say it, we think it and we do it."
In her nine years as coach, Anderson has taken six teams to state, with championships in 2005 and 2009 and a runner-up finish in 2006, so she knows a bit about reshaping teams into winning units.
Also, although many of the stalwarts from the past couple of years are gone, the Warriors do have some veteran players.
One of those is versatile senior Hannah Blanchard, who can play at every position, according to Anderson. Blanchard is in her fourth year on varsity.
Senior middle and right-side hitter Jessica Stanton is in her third varsity season. Senior outside hitter and defensive specialist Ashley Alberti is playing varsity for the second year. Those are the lone seniors on this year's team.
Juniors are setter and defensive specialist Bianca Borga, middle blocker Laura Felker, outside hitter Lauren Foellings, outside hitter Kaitlyn Hein, defensive specialist Lauren Karlik and libero Chelsea Lallemont.
Sophomores are middle blocker Mary O'Connor and outside hitter Kristyn Paszkiewicz. Freshmen are setter Michelle Fugarino and middle blocker Jordan Wachowiak.
The coach sees a balanced race in the Southeast Conference, with Muskego, Oak Creek, Franklin and Kenosha Tremper all fielding strong squads.
Also befitting a state champion, the Warriors will take part in prestigious invitationals throughout the region.
After all that rugged competition, come early November it will be no surprise if the Warriors wind up back at the state tournament.
MUSKEGO'S JOURNEY
AUG. 27-28: St. Thomas More Joust at Milwaukee Lutheran
AUG. 31: vs. Watertown
SEPT. 2: vs. Franklin
SEPT. 4: Muskego Invitational
SEPT. 11: at Brookfield Central Invitational
SEPT. 14: at Kenosha Tremper
SEPT. 16: at Burlington
SEPT. 21: at Racine Park
SEPT: 24-25: Lynn LaPorte Sprawl at West Bend
SEPT. 28: vs. Kenosha Bradford
OCT. 5: vs. Racine Horlick
OCT. 7: vs. Oak Creek
OCT. 8-9: Mizuno Cup at St. Charles East, Ill.
OCT. 12: at Racine Case
OCT. 16: SEC meet at Kenosha Tremper
OCT. 21 & 23: WIAA regional
OCT. 28 & 30: WIAA sectional
NOV. 4-6: WIAA state tournament at Green Bay
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