Suburban East Conference Volleyball Preview

East Ridge finished third in the Suburban East Conference last year, but lost eight players to graduation. Stillwater Area lost some top talent, as well. Can either repeat last year’s success? Or will this be the year that a Cretin-Derham Hall or Mounds View breaks through atop the conference standings? One thing is for sure, any number of teams could be crowned conference champions.

Which teams will come out on top in 2011? Patch.com caught up with coaches around the Suburban East Conference to get their take on the upcoming season.

• Roseville Area - The Raiders caught fire in the middle of last season, at one point winning nine of 10 games from Sept. 21 to Oct. 2. 

• Cretin-Derham Hall – Probably has the most depth in a conference where any number of teams could be competing for the conference crown

• Mounds View – Senior-dominated team looks to move among the conference elite

• Stillwater Area – Lost six players to graduation, including two of the conference best. How fast can they rebuild?

• East Ridge – graduated eight players from last year’s state tournament team

• Woodbury – Nine players graduated, but outside hitter Olivia Wangensteen returns

• Megan and Melissa Koop (Roseville Area; outside hitters) The twin juniors are the two of the best all-around players in the Suburban East Conference.

• Savannah Sprenger (Stillwater Area; outside hitter) The sophomore had 171 digs and 132 kills as a freshman.

• Chloe Wieber (Cretin-Derham Hall; middle hitter) At 6-foot-3, Chloe tied for the conference lead with 99 blocks last season as a junior

• Olivia Wangensteen (Woodbury; outside hitter) Four-year varsity player who’ll be key for Woodbury to repeat last year’s success 

• Brandi Knupp (East Ridge; defensive specialist) Forty-nine defensive digs at last year’s state tournament.

• Emily McDonough (Stillwater Area; outside hitter) Emily led the conference in both kills (305) and digs (322)

• Arianna Nora (Stillwater Area; middle hitter) Second on team with 273 kills.

• Kelly Foley (Cretin-Derham Hall; middle hitter) Kelly had 283 kills last season.

• Felicia Ulrich (East Ridge; outside hitter) Felicia had 162 kills and averaged 2.49 digs per set last year for the Raptors 

• Kirsten Sarro (Mounds View; outside hitter) Kirsten is one of the most well-rounded players in the conference; had 287 kills, 205 digs and 40 aces as a junior. 

Conf. Overall

Stillwater Area: 9-1, 22-8

Woodbury: 8-1, 19-10

East Ridge: 7-2, 22-8

Cretin-Derham Hall: 7-2, 18-9

Mounds View: 5-4, 14-13

Roseville Area: 4-7, 15-13

Forest Lake: 3-6, 6-22

White Bear Lake: 3-7, 10-18

Hastings: 1-8, 3-21

Park: 0-9, 2-25

• East Ridge – Won Section 4AAA, won state consolation crown

• Stillwater Area – lost to Hill-Murray in Section 4AAA semifinal

• Woodbury – lost to East Ridge in Section 4AAA semifinal