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UWMC volleyball coach, players earn conference honors

by Bryon Graff

WAUSAU (WAOW) - First, the UW-Marathon County volleyball team wins the Western Division of the Wisconsin Collegiate Conference.  Then the postseason honors roll in.

Matt Greenberg is named the WCC's coach of the year.  Amanda Urmanski is voted the league's setter of the year.  Urmanski is joined on the WCC's all-first team by Lisa Blume and April Roble.  Katie Weinzatl earns 2nd team honors.  Jenn Timm is honorable mention.

In a UWMC press release, Greenberg commented on each player.

Greenberg: "I'm extremely happy for the five players who received All-Conference recognition this year.  It's rare to have five players recognized as well as have three players on the All-Conference First Team.  They've all worked very hard and are very deserving of these honors." 

Lisa Blume is a dynamic player both offensively and defensively.  She's a player that we would go to anytime we needed a point and she would deliver.  Coming from a strong Marathon high school program that went to the State Tournament last year she joined the team with high expectations and delivered for us time after time.  She lead her high school team to the State Tournament and did the same for us this year on the collegiate level. 

April Roble is a DC Everest graduate and two-time All-Conference recipient.  After having been named to the All-Conference team last year she worked hard to get even better.  This year she's focused on running a faster attack out of the middle; making the slide attack a larger part of her game; and, perhaps most noticeably adding a strong jump serve to her repertoire.  She was the strongest middle hitter in the WCC this year and I'm happy to say that she is now looking to play volleyball at UW-Eau Claire next year.

Amanda Urmanski , a former Edgar high school student, has played a very important role in our success this year.  We went through the season without having a back-up setter on the team and that only adds to the value that she had for us.  When you have only one setter on the team, you're stuck with what you have, but we were fortunate to have been "stuck" with her.  She was the strongest setter in the conference and is very deserving of this honor.  At the beginning of the year, we talked about team and personal goals.  Amanda didn't have this in mind as a goal because it's the big hitters who are usually recognized for these honors.  Well, lets give credit to Amanda and the other coaches for seeing beyond the front row players and acknowledging her value.

Katie Weinzatl, out of Prentice high school, was the glue this year.  She lead by example both on and off the court.  As a Captain, along with April and Amanda, Katie would do whatever the team needed.   She plays the game hard and without fear everyday.  Often going up against  larger blocks, Katie would go hard, challenging the defense every time and usually winning.  On the defensive side, getting bruises on her body was a daily occurrence as she would sacrifice herself to keep a ball from hitting the floor.

Jenn Timm, Tomahawk high school, is another example of a player getting the recognition from coaches, that she deserves, even though she doesn't play a glamorous position.  At Libero, the team certainly recognizes her importance though because she sets the foundation from which all else happens.  She's the spark that ignites the fire.  Not only does she start most of the great plays that end in a dynamic kill, but she constantly frustrates the other team by refusing to let their attacks hit the floor.  Jenn showed up each and every day as though there was no place in the world that she would rather be and that kind of attitude rubs off on the whole team and we're all better for it.

On winning WCC coach of the year honors, "I'm honored to have been recognized by my peers and am proud of the players who worked so hard this year.  All eleven student/athletes deserve a lot of credit for the role that they played on this team as well as all of the people who have worked to make this volleyball program a successful one.  Our athletics program is primarily student funded and thanks to the help of a dedicated staff we're able to have had great success this year which will continue for many years to come.  We want UW-Marathon County to become a place where our top local volleyball players come to play collegiate volleyball."

- Head Coach Matt Greenberg

The Huskies went 5-0 in the Western Division of the Wisconsin Collegiate Conference and finished runner-up at the conference tournament.

Online Reporter: Bryon Graff