Burlington Boys Volleyball Preview
Youth starts at the top
By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
Ashley Pozel sat on a cushioned folding chair, vigorously writing on a clipboard in preparation for the Burlington boys junior varsity game Wednesday night at Burlington High School.
Her long, curly, blonde hair periodically blocking her view, she was focused and super busy, having to juggle JV and varsity head coaching duties in the same night.
When the former Burlington junior varsity coach took over the varsity head spot after Kayla Uhlenhake left the team in May, she knew it would be a challenge to repeat last year’s state tournament run with all-state star Josh Ketterhagen gone and only two varsity athletes back in the fold.
But Pozel, 23, an English teacher at Burlington High School, didn’t hesitate when asked about her team’s expectations this season.
“We have a brand new team this year,” she said Wednesday evening outside BHS. “The varsity level has more conditioning and is a much higher level, but it’s looking promising.”
“There’s been talk about state, but mostly it’s about improving. The hitting is getting better, and we’re pushing hard. If they stay dedicated, I think we’ve got a shot.”
Pozel, a Racine native, played volleyball at Racine Case High School before playing recreationally at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
A 2014 UW-W graduate, she was hired for beginning of the school year a few months later.
Burlington features two returning contributors from last year’s state team, outside hitter Tanner Swantz and setter Zach DeRosier.
“They’ve really stepped up into leadership roles,” Pozel said. “We’re running a 6-2 and Zach’s setting. Tanner will pass, too. They’re really picking the guys up when things don’t go our way.”
Pozel said the team is young, and she said success this season will be if each player gets significantly better by the end of the season.
“We’re still so new, people aren’t expecting a whole lot,” she said. “It will be nice to play against Case. I know all the coaches.”
Key newcomers to varsity this fall include Trey Krause (DS), Malik Tiedt (setter), Daniel Rummler (MH), Drew Pesick (MH) and Chandler and Spencer Spiewak.
Pozel raved about Tiedt, saying he looks “incredibly promising,” and also commended Krause’s back-row skills. Both young men are freshmen.
“I have a lot of them in class, so that helps,” she said. “I can stay on them and watch their grades and behaviors. I want them to be good athletes on and off the court.”
Burlington plays its first road contest Wednesday, Sept. 16 at Kenosha Bradford.
Demons open 2-0
Burlington knocked off nonconference foe Racine St. Cat’s Wednesday night at BHS, 25-13, 25-20, 23-25, 25-19.
Swantz led the charge with 18 kills, followed by seven from Pesick and six from Rummler.
DeRosier dished out 24 assists.
Spencer Spiewak led the team with 11 digs.
On Sept. 2, Burlington opened the season with a clean sweep of Racine Park, 25-9, 25-18, 25-17.
Swantz had eight kills, and Tiedt added two.
Swantz led the boys with five blocks, and Pesick added four.
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