Masuk Volley Ball Team Boasts a Deep Line Up

The Masuk High School girls volleyball team will be a blend of old and new this year. The Panthers welcome a new head coach and a new defensive style of play, but their wealth of experience should make for an easy transition.

Stefanie Weise takes the helm after three years as coach of New Fairfield High School. The former Western Connecticut State University player feels lucky to have a stock of skilled and experienced players in her premier season with Masuk.

"One strength of ours this year is depth," Weise said. "I have a very deep bench full of players that I feel confident with putting in the game in tough situations. It is a nice luxury to not have to rely on the same six kids throughout an entire five-game match. Being such a momentum-based game, having a number of people that can step on the court and gets the job done allows me to give players rest and a chance to physically and emotionally recharge at times in the game."

The core of that depth are six returning seniors, Nicole Palmieri, Shannon Shea, Erin Craw, Katie Richard, Tate Strack and Brooke Butkovsky who the younger players will look to for leadership and guidance.

"Since meeting with these six girls last spring, it was clear to me that we all want the same thing for this program," Weise said. "I will be looking to these experienced players throughout the season to step up and make the big plays at crunch time, as well as to hold the team together in the pursuit of our goals."

Co-captains Craw, Strack and Butkovsky bring different personalities and strengths to the court that will help the Panthers stay balanced. Craw and Tate will lead the defense along with classmate Shea. All three are expert passers and are tenacious, Weise said. The Panthers also welcome senior Katie Silva, a transfer from Brazil, who will primarily contribute a tough serve and back row defense.

Butkovsky leads Masuk's bevy of hitters, including Richard, Palmieri and juniors Alyssa Zembroski, Samantha Stewart, Krysti Toth, Alyssa Trembeczki and Meghan Price. The setting will be handled by juniors Isabella DiBenedetto and Virag Borsai.

The Panthers' individual strengths are magnified by their strong team passing, Weise said. The solid passing and the "don't let the ball hit the floor" attitude of Craw, Tate and Shea encouraged Weise to introduce a new defensive style to her team that will be the hallmark of the team's play this year.

"In order to be successful this year, the team also needs to stay open minded and flexible," Weise said. "It is never easy to adjust to a new coach who has a new way of doing things. However, the more we are able to adjust, change and adapt this year as a group — myself included, the more successful we will be. This is a process that will take time, and we constantly need to remind ourselves of that. As long as we keep improving and working hard, the wins will come."