By Jed Buelow

Co-Editor, Sports, Nature Editor

There is plenty to be excited about as the Tomahawk Hatchet volleyball team gets set to take the court to kick off the 2019 season in the Great Northern Conference.

They return an impressive group of eight talented seniors as well as a team of players who have been playing together since a very young age. To go along with all the talent that should help them compete very nicely in a wide-open GNC, they will also be led by a new head coach who also has had a passion for the sport of volleyball since a very young age.

Coach of the Hatchet JV2 team last season, new head coach Lauren Pfeifer said volleyball has been a passion of hers her entire life. Originally from Fort Atkinson, Pfeifer played college volleyball at UW-Whitewater where she met 2014 Tomahawk graduate Mitch Schauer. The couple moved to his hometown upon graduation, where Pfeifer works for an Information and Technology company for state and local government and Schauer works for the family business.

“We will be led by eight returning seniors and a group of widespread talent. The freshman and junior classes have strong numbers so it will be competitive,” Pfeifer said. “I look forward to what we can do as a program as well as at the varsity level.”

Coach Pfeifer won’t be the only one looking forward to what the Hatchets can do on the court this season after coming off a pretty impressive end of the season last year. After finishing out the regular season winners of three of their last four, Tomahawk took down Medford in the opening round of the WIAA playoffs after coming back to steal a four-set victory over the Raiders after dropping the first set. Tomahawk would drop the hatchet over the next three matches 25-16, 25-19 and 25-11 to advance to take on Mosinee.

Along with coaching Hatchet JV2, Pfeifer has had coaching experience in the past at the club level and this summer was pretty impressed from what she saw from the team she will be coaching this fall.

“I look forward to continuing to watch the girls grow and have success,” Pfeifer said. “They have been playing together so long they know how they click. They know each others’ strengths and weaknesses and that will really benefit us as a team.”

Along with spending time on the volleyball court, Pfeifer added she has also been of fan of Northwoods living since moving to her boyfriend’s hometown. The couple has been enjoying their time on the water this summer, and they also enjoy getting out on the ATV in their free time.