Stratford volleyball strives to peak when it matters

MARSHFIELD – If defense wins championships, the Stratford High School volleyball team is in great shape.

“When our hitting percentage is not great, we’re winning games from our defense and we’re staying in games because of our defense and it’s giving our offense opportunities to continue that practice that they need against big hitters and against stronger defenders,” said Head Coach Brooke Kafka in a recent interview with Hub City Times. “[It is] the leadership that our returning players have brought to us, and ironically, it’s a lot of defense that they bring for us, and it’s really held us in games.”

Stratford has had an up-and-down season to this point, as the Tigers incorporate younger players into a program anchored by several key returning seniors this year.

“We have a lot of girls new to our roster this year and new to the varsity-level game in general. And we actually have some young players this year,” said Kafka, now in her 16th season coaching the Tigers. “We’ve got a couple sophomores that are actually getting quite a bit of time on the court. We have a freshman who’s sharing time with the JV team with us, and then several juniors and seniors that are just fresh to the varsity court, even fresh to the practice court of the varsity level. So, it’s great that our returners have been constants for us, and they’re really doing a nice job modeling what it looks like to play at that next level. Our youngers are just eager to learn every day in practice and they’re pretty reflective after games about what they’re going to focus on to work on in the next practice. So I guess we feel pretty comfortable about where we’re at because we knew this was going to be another big growth year for us.

“We have Dakota Knetter. She is one of our returning setters,” Kafka added. “Last year as a junior, she really pushed herself to take one of those new open positions from previously-graduated seniors and she did a really nice job for us last year. She’s one of those steady players that has been helpful to integrate our new players into the program. She’s really helping run that offense and working with her setters about how we build those connections. She’s one of our senior captains as well.”

Maddy Kroening is another of Kafka’s key returning senior players.

“She kind of started out as a split player last year between the JV and varsity, and quickly stayed with varsity for the remainder of the season. She, like last year, continues this year to kind of step in as needed on the right side,” Kafka said. “We use her for a nice block and she’s really been a good role model for some of our youngers, too, that are kind of in that role of split time.”

Senior Lexi Wiesman is new to the varsity squad this year.

“She’s also stepped up on the right side for us. She brings a lot of excitement to both practice and games. Puts up a nice block for us on the right side as well.”

Bri Sherden, another of Stratford’s six varsity seniors, is one of the few six-rotation players on this year’s team.

“Her, along with some teammates, really bring a lot of defense for us. But she’s a great offensive player. She’s a little girl that can jump and she’s really coming into a new level of confidence this year.”

Four-year varsity starter Carly Pankratz is back as Stratford’s libero.

“She just hit her one-thousandth dig the other night, so we just celebrated that for her,” Kafka shared. “She covers a lot of court. She’s a constant on our team. Another team captain, great role model and crucial for our team’s success for sure.”

The remaining senior is back-row player, Lila Yoder.

“This year you can use two liberos, but we need both her and Carly on the court at the same time, so she’s not in a libero jersey, but she’s that next girl that takes care of the back court,” Kafka told us. “Quiet demeanor with some power behind her. She and Carly and Brianna really take care of our back row defensively, and she’s really stepped up this year as a senior as well.

“Sam Frick (junior) joined us at playoffs last year. She’s one of our middle hitters primarily,” said Kafka. “She actually started her first day of volleyball her first day of her freshman year. Hasn’t spent a lot of time on the court, but soaks it up fast and wants to learn. And she’s our kill leader this year so far.”

Kloey Paschel is one of three sophomores on this year’s team.

“We’ve pushed her into the setting role,” Kafka told us. “She’s been getting some opportunities as a six-rotation player, setting from the back row and playing right side in the front row. Her passion is volleyball and she wants to learn and she’s really doing a nice job stepping up to that next level.”

Sierra Kreft has spent most of her time in the middle.

“Another one eager to learn, eager to know what it’s like to play at that next level, always trying to better herself. She’s got a calm demeanor, but she plays to win the game.”

Brye Shaw fills in on the left side when needed.

“Tiny little girl that can jump out of the gym. Just trying to get her to understand the logistics of the game and understand that next level of varsity play and she’s doing a great job.”

“Emma Mews and Reese Spindler and Meg Marten, who are all juniors, are just kind of waiting for their opportunity to shine, kind of playing behind some other players and taking advantage of the times that they do get out on the court,” Kafka told us.

Freshman Peyton Leonhardt is also on the varsity roster, but gets most of her playing time at the JV level.

“In general, we just have a team that is adaptable and they can play a lot of positions and they have a lot of skills, so we can switch things up when we need it,” Kafka added. “So we really rely on our practice time to kind of see who’s going to step out on the court for us that next day.”

The Tigers started out with 42 girls and cut that down to 33 for three teams, including fourteen on the varsity roster.

Kafka’s coaching staff includes varsity assistant, Abby Moeller.

Rachel Wussow coaches the JV1 squad, while Jenny Chapel oversees the JV2 team.

Stacia Oppman serves as a program assistant as well.

Norah Hoefs serves as team manager.