AAA Section 4 Preview

Section 4AA

2009 Champ: Stillwater Area (27-6)

Teams: Cretin-Derham Hall, East Ridge, Henry Sibley, Hill-Murray, Mahtomedi, North St. Paul, Roseville, South St. Paul, Stillwater Area, Tartan, White Bear Lake, Woodbury

The Call: It looks as though the obvious choice would go to Stilwater Area, a young team that went deep in the State Tournament last year. If all things work out according to plan, it should be the Ponies to lose. They will be pushed by Hill Murray and East Ridge. The team with the most intrique is the North St. Paul Polars who have the goods to get it done. The Polars very well may be there this year, but the veteran can-do leadership of the Ponies of Stillwater could be too much for this section. Cretin-Derham Hall is always lurking as well.

Cretin-Derham Hall (17-10) After an impressive run to the State Tournament in 2008, their first in a decade and 6th overall, the Raiders ran into a buzz saw. Much of that team returned for 2009 and were run out of dodge by Eastridge in the Section Semi-Finals. With the disappointing loss came the loss to some key players. They do have some returning players that will help fuel a run in 2010. Kelly Foley, who is a 6-1 middle and a pair of outside hitters in Dani Kulhanek and Emma Sievers will keep the Raiders in the mix for coach Rick Kuehlwein.

Eastridge (16-12) An over .500 record and a section semi-final upset over the veteran CDH Raiders last season is a solid piece of work for the first year school. Since it was their first season, the entire roster returns for a second go of it. They will have to do so with a new coach as Katie Plummer took a job at Northwood University (FL). They are fueled by a pair of All Suburban East Conferenece outside hitters Dale Hoefel (272 kills, 219 digs) and Felicia Ulrich (381 kills). The Raptors were stopped in the Section Finals by Stillwater ending a productive first season. The Raptors have the potential to be a trendy pick in the Section 4AAA.

Henry Sibley (6-16) The Warriors are in a bit of re-tooling mode this year as they are replacing two All Classic Suburban Conference players in Elyssa DeTorre and Sara Nikolai. Stepping in to lead the team will be a pair of senior middle hitters in Jessie Kreuser and Jill Gangl. Another senior in the lineup is Kayla Cusey who is an outside hitter. They are looking to improve on last season and have the ability to accomplish that.

Hill Murray (22-6) The champions of the Classic Suburban Conference had a terrific season and will definetly feel the after shocks of a few key players that graduated. Setter Grace Cross, Libero Kelsey Koemptgen and outside hitter Beth Annoni have moved on. All three were All Conference last year. There is no reason to be discourged in the Pioneer Nation as and additonal group of All Confernece players return to the fold including a pair of junior outside hitters in Claire VanDyk (227 kills, 212 digs) and Jocelyn Youngdahl (245 kills, 85 blocks). Don't forget abut senior and Honorable Mention middle hitter Ceci Garcia as she will offer the Pioneers depth. Consider this team a legitimate contender for the Section 4AAA crown this year.

Mahtomedi (14-11) A steady 2009 season concluded with a loss to eventual Section champion Stillwater in the Semi-Finals. The Zephyrs were stacked with five seniors last year. The only main cog back in the 2010 version is senior setter Alyssa Anderson. She will be working with 7 other seniors this year. That gives coach Abby Olson reason for optimism as she has a veteran team in her midst.

North St. Paul (16-12) The Polars are incredibly optimistic this season after reeling off an impressive Classic Suburban Conference season. The were 11-3 in the conference and finished tied for second with Simley. They fell in the Section Semi-Finals to Hill Murray in 5 games last season. A total of 10 players return to the court for coach Steve Anderson. All Classic Suburban middle Lisa Loeffler (217 kills), outside hitter Cassie Berelsen (186 kills, 195 digs) and setter Sean Crotty (587 assists spark the offensive atttack. They have a pair of libero's that were All Conference Honorable Mention in Jamie Rubbelke (224 digs) and Julianne Gruenhagen (250 digs). Another All Mention was middle Sophie Jakulske. They will have to up their game a notch to first get past the likes of Hill Murray and then address the Stillwater Area Ponies among others in the section. The Polars have the ingredients to make a run to their first ever State Tournament appearance this year.

Roseville (19-11) Despite going 3-6 in the Suburban East Conference and finishing near the bottom, The Raiders were 16-5 in tournament and non-conference play. A team does not lose a 400 kill senior every year and the Raiders saw Kara Lindtedt graduate leaving a massive void. Four players will team to help fill the void, and two have the same last name as sophomore twins Melissa and Meghan Koop. Ali Farmer is a senior captain who will be looked to as will Megan Stuart