With nearly a completely different roster than last year’s team that ended the season 21-2-4, the 2009 version of the University of Wisconsin-Marathon County Huskies ended this season undefeated, just like the New England Patriots in 2007, but unlike the Patriots, the Huskies completed the undefeated season with a victory in the state championship against UW-Richland in a good, hard-fought match.

“I think the team was so successful,” outside hitter Lisa Blume said. “Because every member on the team truly cared about performing to the best of their ability and many players on the team have played volleyball with each other in the past”

The Huskies, who finished the season with a record of 20-0-1, rolled through the tournament up until the final match against Richland. In a match against UW Fox Valley, the Huskies shut out Fox in a game 25-0 in a rare occurrence in volleyball. In the state tournament, UWMC only lost two games in the eight matches they played, with both games they lost coming to UW-Richland, whom they played twice in the tournament. They avenged last year’s state championship loss against UW Washington by knocking them off with ease, 25-13, 25-14, in the semi-finals.

“This team consisted of a number of players who have been playing volleyball for a long time,” Head Coach Matt Greenberg said. “So they came in not only with superior athletic ability compared to the rest of the conference, but also years of experience and training, so much more than a coach could ever teach in such a short period of time.”

Setter Klare Kalepp and Libero Jenn Timm were named to the All-Tournament team. Six women made the All-Conference Team. Kalepp and Timm made first team all-conference, while Blume and fellow outside hitter Paige Wirkus made second team all-conference. Middle hitter Kayla Powers and setter Katie Archambo made Honorable Mention. Kalepp was also voted as the WCC Player of the Year as well as the WCC Setter of the Year. And Timm was also named the WCC Defensive Specialist of the Year.

The Huskies should be strong again next season as even though they lose a few key players next year, they return a number of very good players that were on this year’s state championship team. Add in that to the new talented incoming freshman that will be coming in next year will make this team a force to be reckoned with once again.