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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
Stratford junior Makayla Krall and sophomore Mazie Nagel were two of the six players that earned unanimous first-team honors on the 2016 All-Marawood Conference South Division Volleyball Team, which was voted on after the season by the conference coaches.
Krall was the Tigers’ captain and led Stratford in blocks and was second in kills this season as the Tigers went 5-1 and finished second to four-time WIAA Division 4 state champion Wausau Newman Catholic.
Nagel led the Tigers in digs, kills and assists, and was second behind Krall in blocks. Both finished in the top 10 in the conference in attack percentage and kills per game.
“Krall is an explosive player both offensively and defensively,” Stratford coach Brooke Kafka said. “She is one of the most determined and hungry players I have met. Mazie has been a powerhouse for our team the past two years. She is a hard-working and driven individual.”
Marathon’s Jenna Dick, and Newman Catholic’s Rylie Vaughn, Mariah Whalen and Julianne Barkholz were also unanimous first-team selections. Marathon’s Amanda Kind was also voted to the seven-member first team.
Stratford senior hitter Andie Zuelke and sophomore setter/hitter Brooke Peterson were among the eight second-team selections, along with Auburndale senior Brooke Anderson and sophomore Cindy Jensen.
“Brooke Anderson was our only senior this year and she did a great job of leading her team by example,” Auburndale coach Peggy Empey said. “She was very hard-working and always had a positive attitude. She was great at reading the hitters and getting herself in the correct position to make a play as our libero.
“Cindy Jensen, a sophomore in her second year on varsity, is a huge presence in the middle front as a blocker and attacker. Her improvement throughout the season was wonderful as she lead our team in kill percentage and blocking.”
Mackenzie Raab and Teryn Lau of Auburndale, and Jadyn Dahlke and Katie Krueger of Stratford were honorable mention choices.
2016 All-Marawood Conference South Division Volleyball Team
First team: *Amanda Kind, sr., Marathon; *Mariah Whalen, Wausau Newman Catholic; *Rylie Vaughn, jr., Wausau Newman Catholic; *Makayla Krall, jr., Stratford; *Mazie Nagel, so., Stratford; Julianne Barkholz, jr., Wausau Newman Catholic; *Jenna Dick, jr., Marathon. (*unanimous selection)
Second team: Karley Fischer, jr., Marathon; Andie Zuelke, sr., Stratford; Cindy Jensen, so., Auburndale; Brooke Balz, jr., Marathon; Makenzie Krach, so., Wausau Newman Catholic; Brooke Peterson, so., Stratford; Brooke Anderson, sr., Auburndale.
Honorable mention: Chrysten Linzmeier, Wisconsin Rapids Assumption; Kara Milkey, Wisconsin Rapids Assumption; Mackenzie Raab, Auburndale; Teryn Lau, Auburndale; Elizabeth Boehm, fr., Marathon; Breck Wcisel, sr., Wausau Newman Catholic; Lauren Fech, sr., Wausau Newman Catholic; Erin Gast, sr., Northland Lutheran; Halley Englebrecht, sr., Northland Lutheran; McKayla Behselich, Pittsville; Lydia Sanken, so., Pittsville; Katie Krueger, sr., Stratford; Jadyn Dahlke, so., Stratford.