New coach says young, talented team set for strong season
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
The numbers may be small for the East Troy girls volleyball team this fall – but there’s no lack of talent.
And that could lead to yet another successful run deep into the postseason.
East Troy returns four girls who garnered All-Rock Valley Conference honors a season ago, including co-Player of the Year in senior outside hitter Briana Scuric.
For first-year head coach Scott Nagorski, who replaces Jeremy Weis, the goal for his new squad remains the same.
“I will have a young but talented roster with only one senior,” Nagorski said. “We will be looking to come together and grow with an eventual goal of building toward the state tournament.”
Weis, who guided East Troy to two Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 2 State Tournament appearances, including a title in 2013, took over at Muskego for longtime coach Karen Anderson, who moved on to Homestead.
Nagorski comes to East Troy with varsity coaching experience at both Whitefish Bay Dominican and New Berlin West, along with club level roles with the Midwest Penguins.
With just nine girls on the roster – and the one senior in outside hitter Katie Zewiske – Nagorski knows there’s going to be some room for growth.
And he’s counting on Zewiske and Scuric, this year’s co-captains, to lead the way.
“Katie Zewiske leads quietly by example,” Nagorski said. “She always comes in with a positive attitude and (is) ready to work. She is always looking to improve and (is) offering encouragement to her teammates.”
Scuric, who has verbally committed to NCAA Division I Northern Illinois, takes on more of a vocal role, Nagorski said.
“She will not be outworked by anyone and is a fantastic example of what it takes to be an elite athlete,” he said. “She also possesses a positive attitude toward the team and is always offering up an encouraging word.”
With both girls, Nagorski knows he has solid leadership in place.
“My expectation is that the combination of these two leaders will keep the team together and focused on their ultimate goal, the state tournament,” he said.
Joining Scuric after they were voted to All-RVC teams a year ago are junior libero Mati Jakscht, a firs-team pick, and junior setter Isabelle Martino and junior middle blocker Julian Friedrichs, who were second-team selections.
Also on the varsity roster are junior defensive specialist/libero Taylor Schmitt, sophomore middle blocker Nicole Miller, sophomore setter Emily Wendt and freshman right-side Katie Winkler.
Nagorski said one goal he has this year is the development of the entire program, with the help of the varsity girls.
“I have asked the varsity to work to bond the entire program together,” he said. “They have each taken a player from JV1 and JV2 to mentor and guide through the expectations of the program. We will sometimes jell together for portions of practice for them to connect through warm ups or drills.”
RVC outlook
To say the Trojans have dominated the RVC for nearly a decade would be an understatement.
The numbers don’t lie.
East Troy enters 2017 looking for its eighth straight conference title. According to records obtained on wissports.net, the Trojans are 70-5 since the 2009 season – the last time they finished anywhere but first when they were third in the standings.
How this year’s race will shake out is a question that’s about to be answered, Nagorski said.
“Since I am new to East Troy and the RVC, I am not sure how the teams rank, other than to know I should expect some very good competition,” he said.
Nagorski is excited to be at the helm.
“With the tradition of the program and a core of very talented athletes, it puts me in a very enviable position,” he said.
“The transition has gone well so far. It has probably been easier for me since I am the one inheriting a talented, hard-working group of players. The players on the other hand have had to adjust to a voice and style which is different than what they have been accustomed to, but they have been very open to what I am trying to accomplish.”
Assisting Nagorski is longtime varsity assistant Linda Dodge and first-year JV1 coach Katie Powers.
East Troy opened its season last week with a Bronze Division title in the always challenging Joust Invitational at Homestead.
The Trojans finished 5-2 overall, including victories over Homestead and Burlington to finish ninth. East Troy also posted wins over Newman Catholic, West Bend West and Greendale, with losses to Waterford and Appleton North.
The Trojans are idle until Saturday, Sept. 9, when they travel to the Brookfield Central Invitational at 9 a.m.
