Powerhouse Indians Reload With Young Talent

The cyclical rhythms of high school sports typically slot teams into one of two categories each new season — senior-laden and confident, or young and inexperienced.

Menomonee Falls’ volleyball powerhouse defies those conventions in 2011.

A year ago, the Indians lost just six matches, bowing out in the WIAA Division 1 state semifinals against Muskego. From that team departed four key seniors. Coach J.C. Bruns called it “the best senior class in terms of depth that I’ve had.” Senior Chelsea Lee said it was “the best team I’ve ever been a part of.”

Yet there’s optimism because despite the loss of all those seniors, there is a sophomore class that’s nearly as good, all with a wealth of varsity experience.

“It doesn’t necessarily completely offset (the lost seniors), but it’ll be an interesting year because we bring back so much talent,” Bruns said.

Chelsea Lee is the most experienced returning senior. The middle blocker is a four-year letterwinner who has committed to play in college at Division I Eastern Illinois University. She talked about the tremendous bond forged by last year’s team and hopes this team can do the same.

“I think we need a lot of leadership on the team,” she said. “There’s a lot of talent, but we have to channel it and we have to have a leader that will get all the girls on board with what we want to do. And we want to go to state.”

That talent starts not just with Lee, but with her younger — and taller — sister Simone. The 6-foot-1 sophomore was a member of the USA Volleyball Girls’ Select A1 program that competed in the USA Volleyball High Performance Championship July 26-30 in Tucson, AZ. Lee played on the Girls’ Select A1 Red Team, competing in the Women’s International Junior Division. It’s the highest level of play for this age group.

Other sophomores being counted on to contribute heavily are Abby Becker, a 6-foot outside hitter, and Katherine Von Bank, a 5-foot-8 hitter. Becker also played in Tuscon, participating for the Badger Region team, a couple levels below the Women’s International Junior Division.

“I think just going to state really helped them bring their volleyball to a whole new level,” said Chelsea Lee. “State was a big thing, and for freshmen to step up and play, and start … I think that’s what really transitioned them from freshmen to sophomores.”

Just who is going to deliver the ball to all these hitters is the big question. Both setters graduated.

“We’ve got some players that were on the bench last year that are stepping up to fill those roles, and some players that are coming up from JV,” said Bruns. “I’ve seen the players we have, I know they can do it, what we’re looking for is consistency.”

There is quite a legacy to live up to at Menomonee Falls. The Indians reached state in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007, in addition to last year’s trip. As is often the case, it’s a little bit of nature, some nurture, and some luck.

“We’ve been lucky to have families that happened to only have girls,” said Bruns, who has been in the program 10 years. “We’ve had a couple that have moved into town because of jobs, transfers and things like that.”

Club volleyball’s influence is also big. Bruns said it’s not a requirement for a varsity spot, but it’s hard to get there without the extra experience.

The Indians’ first big tournament of the season is this weekend’s Milwaukee Lutheran Joust. The West Bend Sprawl is in late September and their own Indian Invite is Oct. 1.