By Dan Truttschel
Sports Correspondent
With every new season, there always are adjustments for teams to overcome.
The Big Foot volleyball team is no different than the rest, as the four-time defending Rock Valley Conference South Division champions face a number of challenges.
But the goal remains the same, regardless of who fills the roster – and that’s to stay on top of the heap.
Big Foot lost several key seniors from a year ago, but returns three seniors will significant varsity experience in 2013.
“(Graduation) definitely left a hole, especially the setting role, which is the quarterback of the volleyball team,” Big Foot coach Jen Koplitz said. “Not having your quarterback makes a difference.
“But overall, I think we’re going to be tough again this year. We have a lot of kids back, so that’s good.”
Even with the new faces to work in, neither Koplitz, her assistant coaches or the girls themselves have shown a desire to settle.
Instead, they are motivated to forge a new path – but with the same end result.
“It’s tough to lower your expectations, and we haven’t done that,” she said. “I expect them to do the same things we’ve done the past few years that have made us so successful. They’re working real hard.”
In the past three seasons, the Chiefs have posted records of 42-4 in 2012, 40-5-2 in 2011 and 26-9-1 in 2010. Big Foot made the school’s first ever WIAA State Tournament appearance in 2011.
Trio leads the way
Koplitz will lean heavily on her two senior co-captains, Mackenzie Long (libero) and Amy Schryver (outside hitter), who are entering their fourth varsity seasons, along with Mikaela Lagerhausen (middle blocker-setter), who is in her third year with the varsity.
Long and Schryver each were first-team, All-RVC selections a year ago.
“They have high expectations,” Koplitz said. “They come with a lot of energy. They work really hard. They know what it takes to be winners, and they’re not going to settle for less than that.”
Joining that trio on the varsity area seniors Brandy Zillmer (outside hitter) and Kristen Glade (opposite-setter); juniors Ally Mazur (setter), Rachel Heidenreich (outside hitter-middle blocker) and Morgan Hoey (outside hitter-defensive specialist); sophomores Morgan Courier (middle blocker) and Julia Gilstrap (opposite); and freshman Kennedy Hehr (outside hitter).
Koplitz likes her team’s ability to keep the ball in play, a skill it will need to overcome a relative lack of height.
“I think we’ll have pretty good ball control,” she said. “We’re not very big. I don’t think offensively we’re going to be able to dominate, but I think we’ll be able to keep the ball in play.”
Now it’s a matter of putting the new faces with the returning ones to form one cohesive unit – and like many coaches at this early point of the season, Koplitz isn’t satisfied her team is quite where it needs to be.
“We’re not very smooth yet offensively,” she said. “We need to learn how to play together. We need to see where everyone fits. We still have a lot of question marks after two weeks of practice.”
Eying fifth title
The first goal at the top of the Chiefs’ list is a fifth straight RVC title.
In the South Division, Koplitz sees Brodhead and Parkview as two of the main contenders. Palmyra-Eagle, the only team that pushed the Chiefs during a conference season that saw it not lose a set, suffered heavy graduation losses and appears to be rebuilding.
“(Winning another title) is definitely our first hurdle,” Koplitz said. “I think once the end of the season comes, we’ll definitely be contenders for the regional championship again.
“But like I told the girls, we have a big ‘X’ on our backs. People are looking to knock off Big Foot. We’re going to have our work cut out for us.”
