St. Paul turns to youth again in 2024

NORWALK — Depth is coming. The St. Paul volleyball program will have more change than just a new voice in the upcoming 2024 season — and beyond. Former star player and assistant coach Angie Kalizewski is entering her first season as head coach of the Lady Flyers. The 2003 St. Paul graduate has just one senior this season — an All-Ohio setter in Kristin Matlack — for a program that also had just two seniors in 2023. But in 2024, St. Paul has 22 players out at the high school level. And when the program loses Matlack to graduation, there are currently eight players in the eighth grade and 11 in the seventh grade. "We're starting to get some depth and bigger numbers," Kalizewski said. "A few years ago, we didn't have a junior varsity team. Kristin is our lone senior, and she's obviously doing a great job. "But we're starting to get in a place where that depth can really help us." In 2023, Matlack was All-Firelands Conference and District 6 first team, and also honorable mention All-Ohio in Division IV. She finished with 729 assists, 256 digs, 135 points (17 aces), 97 kills and 30 blocks for St. Paul, which finished 15-9 overall and 10-4 in the FC. The Lady Flyers lost in five sets to rival Buckeye Central in a district semifinal. While it may sound simple on the surface, Kalizewski said finding a way to stay energetic will be key for her team. "Whether we are up or down, when you're young and have some inexperience, you have to be able to stay consistent and find a way to drive energy," she said. "That's huge, and something we've talked about a lot. "Finding consistency and energy — that allows you to build on a lot of things instead of being on an emotional roller coaster. It's about keeping momentum, and we're doing that right now." St. Paul's top returning hitters include the trio of juniors Kegney Stoll and Shealyn Deeter, and sophomore Ella Kalizewski. Stoll finished with 177 kills and also served 146 points (31 aces) and had 100 digs. Deeter had 144 kills, while Ella Kalizewski had 185 kills, 27 blocks, and served 90 points with 11 aces. In the back row, juniors Lily Cuturic and Bella Guerra return. Cuturic served 137 points and 34 aces and finished with 484 digs. Guerra added 146 points (37 aces) and 173 digs. Aubrie Bogard also saw time as a freshman in 2023 and had 53 kills, and now returns as a sophomore hitter. Classmates Annie Friend (outside hitter) and defensive specialists Kate Stieber and Sydney Wurzel are also key additions, as is freshman middle Brooklyn Cassidy. Junior hitter Taegan Mansfield-Bush and sophomore defensive specialist Mia Taggart round out the roster. Kalizewski takes over for Nancy Miller, who retired after 31 seasons and a 619-158 record. That included coaching the former Angie Camp to a perfect season and the Div. IV state championship in 2002. Coach Kalizewski later ended up an All-American setter at Baldwin-Wallace University. She is in the SPH and BW athletic hall of fames. Prior to returning as an assistant coach under Miller in 2019, Kalizewski went 169-45 in eight seasons at Norwalk. That included seven Northern Ohio League titles, a 76-match league win streak, three district championships, two regional runners-up — and the program's only Div. II state runners-up trophy. The coach is excited to be back in the role of head coach. "I'm ready to jump back in. It's like riding a bike … I'm back on and ready to go, and just excited to get started." St. Paul opens the regular season on Tuesday at New London. Along with 14 FC matches, St. Paul again will visit the Sidney Lehman (Aug. 31) and Convoy Crestview (Sept. 28) tournaments, and visits Tiffin Columbian on Sept. 3 and hosts Edison on Sept. 9 in non-league matches. "Defensively we need to make some improvements," Kalizewski said. "It's not our defensive players, but it's working on our block and putting our defense in the right position. We make great defensive plays, but we're just not connecting with each other just yet. "And that's experience. That will come and it will get there, but to me right now that's our biggest struggle."