Wednesday, Sep. 03, 2008

Mater Dei volleyball squad still rich in talent

Undergrads ready to succeed seniors who graduated

Wherever Fred Rakers turns at a Mater Dei volleyball practice, he's surrounded by talent.

A gifted core of upperclassmen --including two Division I recruits -- return from last year's club that finished 33-5 after a loss to Althoff in the Class 3A sectional title match. Waiting backstage is an equally proficient crop of sophomores and freshmen, some of whom will be filling prime-time roles for the Knights this fall.

So, despite the loss of a pair of four-year starters in outside hitter Erin Kasson and setter Lindsay Winkeler, many predict the Knights won't miss a beat. They were voted second behind Althoff in the News-Democrat Large-School preseason poll.

"It's not looking too bad," said Rakers, who enters his 33rd season as coach of the Knights. "I think they're scrambling and hustling more than we've had to do this early in the season before. We seem to be a little quicker than we were last year.

"Initially, we won't have the pounding power just because Erin is gone, but other than that, we're getting there. We're just so darn young."

One of three prep volleyball coaches in Illinois history with over 900 career victories, Rakers had to make some excruciating decisions regarding personnel during the preseason.

He hinted more could be on the way if the youngsters blossom the way he thinks they will.

"The freshmen that have come in are really close already," Rakers said. "They've had a lot of good competition already -- not necessarily varsity experience -- but at the level they were playing at, you can equate it.

"I'm sure there are going to be changes as the season goes along. Nobody should get real comfortable. I'm just trying to find the best kids to play."

Mater Dei's three seniors are solidly entrenched in the lineup. Courtney Crocker is back at libero, 5-foot-10 Laura Thole returns at outside hitter and 5-11 Morgan Dall (119 kills, 142 blocks) will man the middle.

Crocker, who had 305 digs and a team-high 40 service aces, has given a verbal commitment to Lipscomb University. Thole, who collected 271 kills, 75 blocks and 333 digs, has committed to Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

"She's really, really matured into a really good volleyball player," Rakers said of Thole. "She can do a lot of things for us. We're going to ask her to do all those things plus a little on the side."

Tabatha Albers, a 6-0 junior, will team with Dall in the middle while sophomore Ali Mueller will see time on the outside. Junior Andria Lampe and 5-10 sophomore Kaley Boeckmann are the right-side hitters.

Sophomore Nicole Strieker and freshman Sam Bedard will run Mater Dei's offense as the setters.

"I think both of them will do well," Rakers said. "The thing I try to is let them know as to why they should be comfortable, I'd like to think we have a nice set of hitters running around them that will protect them if they make a bad set and if they make a good one, they'll put that one away."

Scouting the large schools

Althoff was a unanimous choice as preseason No. 1 in the News-Democrat poll, but Mater Dei edged out Southwestern Conference power Edwardsville for the second spot.

• -The Tigers return a bevy of top-notch players from last year's 33-4 club that won the SWC, but had the misfortune of meeting Collinsville in the Class 4A regional title match.

Edwardsville lost 19-25, 25-23, 23-25 in an epic struggle.

Heading the list of returnees is 6-1 senior outside hitter Kayla Fitterer. The University of Alabama recruit was ranked 81st nationally in www.prepvolleyball.com's Class of 2009 Senior Aces.

Fitterer powered home a team-high 382 kills with 53 blocks and 394 digs. Other big hitters returning for Edwardsville include 5-11 senior Megan Sharpe (238 kills, 88 blocks) and 5-11 senior Claire Kates (141 kills). Senior libero Julie Honegger (580 digs) solidifies the defense.

• O'Fallon continued to make strides under head coach Erin Legendre, finishing third in the SWC. The Panthers return their top two hitters in 5-10 senior Ali Berens (149 kills, 130 blocks) and 5-11 junior Emma Goldschmidt (163 kills, 77 blocks, 225 digs).

• Belleville West rounds out the poll at No. 5. The Maroons return first-team all-area selection Kara Singsank, a 5-10 senior who had a team-high 332 kills and 58 blocks, along with 5-10 senior Chelsea Pfershey (125 kills) and 5-10 junior Emily Magnusen.

Contact reporter Rod Kloeckner at rkloeckner@bnd.com or 239-2663.