5 Standouts Leading Janesville Craig
While the results of last Thursday’s showdown with Sun Prairie wasn’t what Janesville Craig had hoped for, the Cougars are still among the top teams in southern Wisconsin. Sun Prairie simply had too much firepower for Craig, rolling to a…
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Continue ReadingWhile the results of last Thursday’s showdown with Sun Prairie wasn’t what Janesville Craig had hoped for, the Cougars are still among the top teams in southern Wisconsin.
Sun Prairie simply had too much firepower for Craig, rolling to a 3-0 sweep. With the loss, the Cougars fell to 2-2 in the Big Eight, but their overall 23-4-1 mark is impressive. Sun Prairie, meanwhile, remains tied for the conference lead with Verona.
Craig, utilizing a rare mix of seniors and freshmen, has formed a solid team. While Big Eight title hopes might be dashed, Craig certainly has enough weapons for a deep playoff run.
Since we’re past the mid-way point of the season, here are five players pacing Craig:
Amanda Carlson, Senior
Carlson is a kill machine. Through Sept. 16, the senior has 245, averaging 4.3 kills per set.
Breaking it down further, Carlson stomped Big Foot with 20 kills in a 2-1 win Aug. 25. Following that performance, the senior ripped 19 against Janesville Parker in a 3-0 sweep Sept. 6. Carlson also had 15 in a 1-1 tie against Pekin during a Sept. 8 tournament.
Besides her attacking, Carlson is a dangerous server. For instance, on Sept. 4, she logged four aces in a sweep of Beloit Memorial. In all, Carlson has 30.
On defense, Carlson has 46 digs and 17 blocks. In a 2-1 win vs. Altoona (Sept. 15), the senior had nine digs. Just one week prior, she notched seven in a 2-0 victory over Rockford Auburn.
Taylor Salmon, Senior
An offensive force like Carlson needs a strong setter. Salmon fits the bill.
Salmon has a remarkable 569 assists. More impressively, she has collected 30 or more assists five times this season.
Salmon is a balanced player, as evident by her 47 kills, 50 aces and 49 digs. For example, Salmon had six aces each in matches against Big Foot, Cambridge and Deerfield.
Defensively, Salmon posted eight-kill matches in wins over Brodhead and Janesville Parker.
Britten Bertagnoli, freshman
Bertagnoli, already an offense force, should be one of Craig’s future building blocks. The freshman has 98 kills, a .325 hitting percentage and 14 blocks.
Against crosstown rival Parker (Aug. 25), Bertagnoli finished with eight kills. She had seven-kill matches vs. Baraboo, Tomah and Lakeside Lutheran.
On Sept. 15, Bertagnoli stymied Clinton with three blocks in a 2-0 victory.
Lily Stockheimer, senior
With 83 kills, Stockheimer only adds to Craig’s potent attack. In addition, the senior is hitting .306 with 16 blocks and 20 aces.
Stockheimer, averaging two kills per set, knocked down 13 against Big Foot Sept. 15. She also had 10 in the two-set tie with Pekin and eight in the win vs. Altoona.
On defense, the senior has recorded three blocks twice this season. Also, at the service line, Stockheimer has three aces.
McKayle Justman, freshman
Justman, another talented freshman, can produce plenty of offense as well. Through Sept. 16, Justman has 62 kills, is hitting .238 and has 15 blocks.
Facing Beloit Memorial Sept. 4, Justman ripped seven kills in a conference sweep. She also had six each in early-season wins vs. Tomah and Big Foot.
On Sept. 6, against Parker, the freshman finished with three service aces and four digs.