A different team

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- This is a different New Ulm High volleyball team. This is a volleyball team that looks more confident, and speaks with more confidence.

And they believe they'll play with more confidence.

After going 11-15-2 in their first year under coach Paul Meyer, the Eagles believe they have a shot at winning the South Central Conference title.

"I think that we have an excellent shot at winning the South Central Conference title," setter Amanda Paa said. "Right now, we are better than where we were at last year at this point. Our starting point is so much higher than our starting point last year."

Meyer agrees.

"I think part of the confidence is understanding me, understanding my system," Meyer said. "I think just the whole program has raised its expectations. ... We want to keep building and building and build up to championship levels."

Competing for the SCC title is a goal for the Eagles, as is capturing the No. 3 seed in Section 2-3A for the postseason. New Ulm High will get its first test in that area tonight when they host section opponent Mankato East tonight in a nonconference match.

The Eagles have five returning letterwinners from last season, which was the foundation for what Meyer hopes to build at New Ulm High. The only full-time starter returning is Allison Boddy -- a 5-foot-6 outside hitter -- but the Eagles return three senior letterwinners in Tiffany Altmann (5-9 middle blocker/outside hitter), Jill Heitzman (5-4 defensive specialist) and Christina Smith (5-9 outside hitter).

New Ulm High's fifth returning letterwinner is junior Jodi Schmidt, a 5-foot-8 middle blocker.

Quarterbacking the Eagles' revamped offense, which expects to move to quicker sets as the hitters learn the new schemes, is Paa, a 5-foot-8 junior who spent the last two seasons on the Eagles' junior varsity.

"Since we've played together all spring and summer, I've learned new things," Paa said. "I've learned where each person likes the ball. I know who my hitters are, I know who to give the ball to."

The Eagles will need to replace the graduated Jessica Schaetzke, who led New Ulm High with 300 kills last season. Altmann, who played only in the front row in '99 and was fourth in kills with 79, will be one of the candidates as will be juniors Tiffany Drill (5-9 outside hitter) and Carly Dirlam (5-9 middle blocker).

Altmann played primarily in the middle in '99, but this season will work from the right side. She said the transition has gone "pretty good. We're working on a faster offense, and we've been switching positions a lot. I've been playing all hitting positions, basically."

On any team, communication is crucial. It will be even more important for the Eagles as they implement the new offense.

"It's been a big focus for us," Boddy said. "I think as a team we're pretty well knit together. We get along well so I think we should be alright."

Communication isn't expected to a problem for the Eagles, nor is defense and passing. Meyer and the Eagles are confident in those aspects of the game, plus New Ulm High has depth.

But what the Eagles don't have is height. New Ulm High has several players in the 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-9 range, but no 6-footers; sophomore Kayla Farasyn comes the closest at 5-foot-11.

That's part of the reason for the change offensively, Meyer said. The Eagles won't have the designated go-to girl or girls.

Meyer wants an offense where on any given night, any one of a number of hitters could register 10 to 15 kills. Finding the hot hitter and setting her will be the priority.

"We're going to spread the ball around a lot more than what we did last year," Meyer said. "As the year goes on, the quicker offense, a little bit more high-risk offense, is going to start coming together. I don't think we're quite there yet. It'll definitely be a new look for us.

"They know you have to play with confidence, and if you do that, good things happen."