The 1999 Forester volleyball squad is seeking to follow the path of success paved by the school's first Midwest Conference championship team in 1997.  Six players remain from the championship squad and similarities between the '97 and '99 editions of the Foresters don't end there.  The championship squad was laden with senior leadership and experience while this year's team has senior mainstays Mary Gerke and Jessie Griffin to rely on.  Gerke and Griffin are both two-year captains and Gerke is a two-time All-MWC First Team selection, while Griffin made last year's All-Tournament team at the Elmhurst Invitational.  Both the '97 and '99 teams return the core of their lineup from the previous season - in fact, last year's 16-11 Lake Forest team didn't graduate one player.  But the strongest similarity lies at the setter position, where junior Sarah Frantz has been a constant.  As a rookie Frantz directed the Foresters' championship run and she is looking for a repeat ride in 1999.  Frantz recorded nearly 1,000 assists in each of her first two seasons and needs just 38 assists to reach 2,000 for her career.  She also led the team in aces (44) and serve percentage (95%) last season.
      Lake Forest will also rely on the progression of a talented sophomore class led by 1998 First Team All-Conference pick Stephanie Reinboldt, a middle blocker/outside hitter who tallied 197 kills and 39 blocks last season.  Reinboldt became the first Forester freshman since Anna Panighetti to be named to the All-MWC First Team.  Panighetti went on to become a four-time All-Conference pick and the '97 MWC Player of the Year.  Classmates Angela Lagerman (88 blocks) and Leslie Boyle also saw significant action as freshmen, while junior defensive specialist Ashley Moats developed into an effective weapon off the bench.  Junior Amanda Taylor, who recorded 12 kills and 14 digs in the '97 MWC Championship match, is expected to battle for a starting position as an outside hitter.
      Head Coach Beth Pier, who is in her sixth season with the Foresters and is one of the 30 winningest active coaches in Division III, likes the make-up of her team, "We have a great core of players returning, and having played together for a year should give us a better, more polished product the second time around."
      The combination of Gerke, Reinboldt and Lagerman in the middle gives the Foresters a solid frame to build around.  "Our biggest strength will be our play in the middle," Coach Pier added.  "This could be the best combination of blockers we've had in my six years here, and all three of those players also provide plenty of offensive firepower.  I'm optimistic because we have a number of players who came up big for us at different times last year.  Jessie played especially well in the first half of the season and Stephanie had a tremendous conference tournament."  Gerke, one of the most consistent players in the Midwest, has tallied 610 kills and 172 blocks for her career.  Coach Pier adds, "Mary works as hard as anyone and is always improving herself by adding something new to her game.  Last year she became a much better defensive player and I now consider her a defensive leader.  She has such a passion for the game and it becomes contagious."
      Despite all the similarities between the '97 championship team and the latest edition of the Foresters, the major difference is depth.  Coach Pier explains, "We have the components to be a tremendously successful team, but we also have room for improvement.  We need to become more consistent, especially with our outside hitting, and we can improve our serving and defense.  But our number one priority is to improve our depth."  The Foresters had just 12 players on their roster last season.
      This year should be a year of milestones for the Foresters. Frantz needs just 38 assists to reach 2,000 for her career and Lagerman is 12 blocks shy of 100, while Gerke will add to her impressive career totals in blocks and kills.  Also, look for Coach Pier to crack the century mark for wins.  She needs 14 to reach 100 for her career.  "All the milestones are great accomplishments," Coach Pier explains.  "It shows me that we have some quality experience on this team.  But we're aiming for another conference title."  After a one-year championship hiatus, the Foresters will attempt to bookend the '97 championship trophy with an updated version.