Ryan Loren|The Monroe News
You can't go home again.
That's one idiom that doesn't ring true.
These are better: Home sweet home ...Home is where the heart is ...There's no place like home.
Volleyball teams around the Monroe County Region identify more closely with the second group. Four of the area's six new coaches are returning home.
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St. Mary Catholic Central's Cassie Haut, Jefferson's Kylie Ely, Summerfield's Dawn Perry,and Whiteford's Janie Bunge are all back where they started.
"It's exciting," said Haut, who graduated SMCC in 2015."I love that I get to be a part of all the traditions againjust from a different perspective. Coaching is something I always wanted to do, and where better to start than a place I already have roots?"
Jefferson's Kylie Ely has the same approach.
This is her first year as a head coach. She graduated from Jefferson in 2002 and jumped at the chance to return to her alma mater.
"I love it," Ely said. "I want to bring back what Jefferson did for me when I was in school. Just the intensity, the fire, the drive. I want to bring that back.I want the girls to come alive."
Ely's assistant, Abbey Moran, also is a Jefferson grad ('08) along with the school's two junior varsity coaches. The coaching staff adopted the motto "Team Over Self" to encourage the girls to bring Jefferson volleyball back to its roots.
"We all want to show them what Jefferson gave us," Ely said. "... It's different nowadays, but the girls have to want it. If they want it, big things will happen."
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Perry is back in Petersburg. Shestarted her coaching career just a few months after graduating Summerfield in 2014. She has coached the district's eighth grade team for the past seven years.
"I love volleyball," Perry said. "I think it's more my obsession with the game that drove me to coaching. The relationship with the girls is the most fun to me. Since it's a small town, everyone knows everyone. I've been coaching people I know and names I know. It's fun to watch them grow as people too and not just volleyball players."
She loves being back home.
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"It's exciting," she said. "It's comfortable."
Bunge is a 2015 graduate of Whiteford. She played collegiatevolleyball at Grand Rapids Community College, Wayne State University, and Concordia Ann Arbor.
"Teaching and coaching at Whiteford has always been a goal of mine," Bunge said. "It's something I wanted to do, but I didn't expect it to happen this quickly. I'm really excited to back at Whiteford and part of an amazing community and school."
Monroe's Angela Tedora and Gibraltar Carlson's Bill Hennemanalso are starting with new teams, but neither coach isnew to the Region.
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Tedora has coached freshmen, junior varsityand varsity at Monroe. She spent the last six seasons with the Trojans' JV program. Henneman coached four years at Jefferson and a year at Airport. He took last year off but returns this season as a Marauder.
Previews for all 15teams around the Monroe County Region follows.
AIRPORT
Coach: Kim Windham, second year.
2020 Record:15-12.
Returning Starters: Seniors Julia Mills, Lauren Pitock, Kali Wickenheiser, Avery Palmer; sophom*oreJade Mittendorf.
Other Players:Juniors Emmalin Whitwam, Savannah Barkley,Maddison Bruck; sophom*oresRaeAnn Drummond, Rachel Weaver, Jocelyn Jondro, Jillian Jondro.
Season Outlook: Airport returns one of the strongest players in the area in Mills, who lost time on the court last year to injury but is back healthy this season. She will be deployed in a variety of ways this year asa hitter, a setter, and a key defensive player. Wickenheiser and Pitock also provide offense, and Palmer shares setting duties.
Coach's Comment:"We have some nice playersreturning this season.The girls have been workinghard and we are hoping as a program to build off what we accomplished at the end of the season last year."
FREEDOM TO FLY: Airport football opens up playbook for 2021
BEDFORD
Coach: Jodi Manore, 37thyear.
2020 Record: 35-7.
Returning Starters: SeniorsEmily Lake, Kailey Rollins.
Other Returning Players: SeniorsKatelyn Armstrong, Shae Heuker; juniorsTaylor Destatte, Hannah Fausze, Rylee Haberland; sophom*oreJaelyn Hall.
New Players: JuniorMegan Weaver; sophom*oresKadie Morse, Macy Madalinski,Camille Strickland; freshmen Alivia Brown, Victoria Gray, Kaylin Schroeder.
Season Outlook: Lake and Rollins arefrontrunners to lead the attack, but nothing is set in stone. Every player will be given the chance to earn a starting spot. Hall is another talented hitter, Schroeder and Brown are setters, and defensive specialists Weaver, Armstrong and Haberland have the chance at libero.
Coach's Comments:"Because of our inexperience and the tough schedule we play, I would expect some struggles in the beginning. As we improve we have high goals for the end of the season. ... We are very young, but will be working to realize our potential and exceed expectations. They are hard working and want to continue the Bedford tradition."
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DUNDEE
Coach: Shayna Draeger, fourth year.
Returning Starters:Seniors Emma Lloyd, McKenna Salley, Kayla Turner, Mylee Salenbien, Kelsie Schmidt; sophom*ore Kennedy Irwin.
Other Players:Seniors Alyssa Zanger, Brooke McBee; juniors Kaylee Spaulding, Ally Beaufait, Keira Woodzell, Macy Salenbien; sophom*ores Briley Bordine, Katie Beaufait.
Season Outlook:Dundee has an experienced group with seven seniors. Lloyd is a four-year starterand was the anchor of the defense last season as well as the team's top server. Mylee Salenbien, Irwin, and McBee arego-to options on offense, with Schmidt also playing all six rotations. Woodzell takes over as the Vikings' setter.
Coach's Comment:"With sevenseniors, we have great leadership and experience.They are all hard workers and are hungry for the LCAA title.I am excited to see how this team does. ... I have high expectations for them and I know they have higher expectations for themselves."
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ERIE MASON
Coach:Shelia Cuschieri, fourth year.
2020 record: 8-13.
Returning Starters: Seniors Hailey Blomgren,Olivia Doom; juniors Angela Sweeney,Cameron Zaleski.
Other Players: Seniors Makenna Ballantyne,Selena Natho; junior Meara Facey; sophom*ores Jenna Wright, Jada Sipert,Audrey Trainor.
Season Outlook:Ballantyne returns after dealing with injuries last season and will split setting duties with Wright. Those two willset up returning outside hitters Sweeney and Zaleski, who will play all the way around. Blomgren returns at libero, while Doom will transition into a flex role.
Coach’s Comment: “This group has a lot of potential. Everyone knows their role and what is expected of them. This team's work ethic is strong. They have really impressed me so far and I am liking what I see.”
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FLAT ROCK
Coach: Mackenzie Kaiser, fourth year.
2020 Record: 11-3 in Huron League.
Returning Starters: Seniors Matajia Cerroni, Abigail Goldobin, Kayla Giroux.
Other Players: SeniorEmma Smith;juniors Alexis Knight, Makayla Bunce, Zoe Zemnickas, Breeya Kryk, Kendall Kuderick, Peyton Mysliewic; sophom*oreAva Graves;freshmanMaddie Stager.
Season Outlook: Giroux was an All-Region hitter last year but is rehabbing from a knee injury and won'tbe back untilOctober. Cerroni and Goldobin will lead the attack with Knight at setter. Smith and Stager also are expected to contribute. The Rams will need its youth to step up after graduating six seniors. Emma Smith will playlibero.
Coach’s comment: "We are looking for some leadership out of our seniors this year to bring the younger girls under their wings and show them the ropes of our program. I am confident that this team can pull together and continue building on the foundation that our previous teams worked to build."
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GIBRALTAR CARLSON
Coach: Bill Henneman, first year.
2020 Record: 8-4.
Returning Players: Seniors Nadia Papalas, Jen Ferguson, McKenna Wiseman;juniors Skylar Zaranka,Megan DeSantis.
Other Players: JuniorsAva Romej, Jolee Breach, Abby Schenavar, Gloria Llakmani, Halle Evans, Kaydin Fowler, Mackenzie Richardson.
Season Outlook:Papalas returns at setter where she was named All-Regionlast year. Zaranka and DeSantis will play all around again this season and lead the offense. Newcomers Breach, Schenavar and Romej also will slide into the rotation.Carlsonstill is looking for somebody to take the reigns at libero.
Coaches Comment:"We have been focused on lots of things from verbiage and expectations, to court awareness and position specific responsibilities. ... This is an older team, with all juniors and seniors, and the maturity is obvious. This is a dedicated bunch of players and we have some solid leaders in the gym in our senior class."
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IDA
Coach: Ashley Begeman, second year.
2020 record: 4-20.
Returning Players: Seniors Taylor Parker, Kelsey Black, Krista Schroder, Katherine Hovest; juniors Alyssia Satkowski, Kaylee Stein, Kylie Grieser, Kylee Burkey.
Other players: Juniors Aleigha Hunt, Ryleigh Eyler, Natalie Motylinski; freshman Ellie Jones.
Season outlook:Parker made the move outsidelast year and led Ida in kills and digs. Her offense will be critical again for the Blue Streaks, whograduated just two seniors. Stein will playoutside and Satkowski in the middle.Black is back at setter,and Grieser will be used in a utility role. The competition for libero is still wide open.
Coach’s comment: “With more experience under our belt, we are looking to significantly improve from last year. We have a solid group of returning players that will equally contribute to our hopeful success. ... I plan on seeing a major improvement this season and I'm excited to see what we can do."
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JEFFERSON
Coach: Kylie Ely, first year.
2020 Record: 1-13.
Returning Players:Seniors Kirsten Vanisacker, Brooklyn Costas, Lily Liptow, Meg Masserant, Sydney Masserant, Reanne Roberts, Abby Roberts; juniors Mya Salazar, Ellie Hintz.
Other Players: Seniors Carly Grassley, Angelina Hammond; junior Emmi Liptow; sophom*ore Clare Boggs.
Season Outlook: Vanisacker returns at setter and will be tasked with quarterbacking an experienced group. First-year coach Kylie Ely is excited to start her tenure with nine seniors. Reanne Roberts, Meg Masserant, Grassleyand Salazar will lead the attack. Sydney Masserant returnsat libero.
Coach's Comments:"I think we are going to surprise a lot of people. ...Our overall objective is to be better in every aspect of the game, and when we do that the wins will come."
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MILAN
Coach: Kathy Bradshaw, second year.
2020 Record: 7-11.
ReturningStarters: Seniors Delaney Higgins, Lauryn Obey, Vanessa White, Nya Matley; juniors Allie Millina, Amanda Gregorio, Sylvia Koch.
Other Players: Seniors Ryan Demond, Emily Bremmer, Hailie Bielski; juniors Julia Satarino, Markeyla McCray; sophom*ore Courtney Nye.
Season Outlook:Higgins made the All-Region team last yearand is one of the top returning hitters in the county. Newcomer Courtney Nye takes over in the middle, moving returner Nya Matley to the right side. Millina returns at setter and Obey continuesas libero. Koch and Gregorio also will contribute.
Coach's Comment: "Our team hasa lot of experiencethis year and I am very excited. These girls are hard workers and have a lot of desire to win. Adding these new juniors and sophom*ore just makes us stronger. ...I feel like this team has great potential to go a long way."
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MONROE
Coach: Angela Tedora, first year.
2020 Record: 12-11.
Returning Starters:SeniorsMackenzie Tucker; juniorAnna Tedora.
Other Players: SeniorsGabriella Anderson, Kamryn Bice, Abbie Rorke, IsabellaSeger-Wagasy; juniors Sydney Button, CamerynJenkins, Merin Merkle, Brynn Reece;sophom*oreAlana Aulph; freshmanMary Tedora.
Season Outlook: CoachAngela Tedoraexpects the team to have numerous threats this season. Mackenzie Tucker and Anna Tedora are both three-year returners. Tucker is the Trojans' top hitter, along with Bice, Buttonand Wagasy. Anna Tedora is at libero. Aulph will start at setter with Reece also contributing.
Coach's Comment:"The 2020 season graduated four seniors starters, which will allow for players to step-up and earn new roles. I have witnessed the growth of our upperclassmen over the past three years and believe we have a well-balanced team with numerous options. I also expect our underclassmen to see significant court time. They are a driven group and I am excited to see them work together this season."
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NEW BOSTON HURON
Coach: Jennifer Reaume, second year.
2020 Record:5-13.
Returning Starters: Senior Kelsey Trombly; juniorGabby Cumbo.
Other Players:SeniorsMegan Scott, Aleighna Johnson; juniors Allison Hollingshead, Miranda Jasinski, Olivia Messina, Madeline Dulecki, Quinn Drysdale; sophom*ores Regina Thomas,Erin Newman; freshman Ellen Town.
Season Outlook: Trombly will be a leader on the court and one of the team's top hitters along with Messina, Jasinski, Newman and Town. Cumbo is the team's setter and another leader on the court. Hollingshead will get the first shot at libero. A lot of the starting roles are still undefined.
Coach's Comment: "Most of our team last year were seniors, so we are rebuilding, but I believe we will definitely improve on our record this year. ... Even though we are a fairly young team, I think we will be competitive. This group is eager to learn and they are really pushing each other to perform at practice."
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SMCC
Coach: Cassie Haut, first year.
2020 record: 39-2.
Returning Starters:Seniors Kate Collingsworth,Audrey Cousino,Ava Kuehnlein.
Other Players: SeniorColleen Castiglione; juniorsKyleigh Cobb,Lauren Conant, Ava Sconochia,Mackenzie Niedermeyer,Sofia Archer,Raelyn Turner,Emma Dobberstein; sophom*ores Jillian Anderson, Ashley Ruhlig; freshmen Mckenna Payne, Jessica Costlow.
Season Outlook:SMCCgraduated seven seniors from last year's state championship team, including its top four hitters, libero, and a setter. Collingsworth returns asstarting setter, but there are a lot of other holes to fill. Haut is in no rush to assign roles. "We have a lot of moving pieces," Haut said. "It's finding where those pieces fit. We already have a lot of standout players, but it's about figuring out what works best for the team."
Coach’s Comments:"We may have a young team, but they have passion, energy and work ethic. They embrace the traditions here and what it means to wear the SMCC jersey."
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STATE LINE
Coach: Gina Yglesias, sixth year.
Returning Players: Seniors Gretchen Heissenbuettel, Marissa Heaton; juniors Grace Cheedie, Anna Cox, Alexandra Feltner, Ava Feltner, Rachael Kerekes; sophom*ores Emma Gorny; freshman Aliyah King.
Other Players: Freshmen Andrea Nowak, Leah Woll.
Season Outlook:Kerekes and Gorny will be the primary hitters for the Patriots. The team will run two setters withHeissenbuettel and Cox sharing the duties.
Coach's Comment: "I'm excited about our season. We have a super aggressive team. Can't wait to see what they can accomplish this year."
SUMMERFIELD
Coach: Dawn Perry, first year.
2020 record: 12-5.
Returning Starters: Seniors Ashlee Albain, Elaney Fisher; juniors Kailee LaPlante, Sophia LaRocca.
Other Players: SeniorSydnee Redlinger; juniors Addison Ciacelli, Julia Feitz, Megan Pease; sophom*ores Ava Fisher, Faith Secor.
Season Outlook:LaRocca will be the primary returning threat for the Bulldogs. She plays all six rotations with strong offense and defense. Feitz and LaPlante are also talented hitters. Fisher will play libero and Ciacelli slots in atsetter. Summerfield finished second in the TCC last year and won a District title.
Coach's Comment:"It's exciting to watch them absorb all the newelements that we have been throwing at them all summer, and we hope to see theirlevel of play continue to advance. I have no doubts that we will be a threat all season long."
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WHITEFORD
Coach: Janie Bunge, first year.
2020 Record: 8-11.
Returning Players: Seniors Anna VanBrandt, Berlynn Keller, Zoe Bauman, Ellie Simmons, Makenna DeBarr; juniors Aly VanBrandt, Madelyn Thomas, Jessica Ulery, Alaina Andrews, Allison Spradling, Ava Hillard, Mackenzie Ulery
Other Players: Junior Alyssa Ulery; sophom*ores Karlei Conard, Kenzie Gray.
Season Outlook: Whiteford has 15 on its varsity roster, including two sophom*ores, eight juniors and five seniors. Gray, a 5-foot-11 sophom*ore, had a great summer and is rapidly improving. Andrews returns as the setter. Aly VanBrandt is the libero. Triplets Jessica, Alyssa and Mackenzie Ulery have all looked good.
Coach's Comment:“Every time they play, someone else surprises me. I really want the girls to be pushing each other and fight for spots. The more we play, the better we will be."
NEW PLAN: Whitefordalters approach to football practice
