Storylines, Top Performances From D1 Quarterfinals

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Going into the Division 1 State Tournament it was no secret the field was going to be a coin toss, parity was a theme throughout the year from start to finish.  Thursday was no different. Here are just a few storylines from the D1 quarterfinal matchups. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Serve and Serve Receive</strong> - This will be heard over and over again from any level of volleyball.  The team that controls the serve and serve receive game is going to have the upper hand. Teams can have all the powerful hitters and the elite setters, but if they can’t get the ball, they can’t score.  Kimberly absolutely blitzed Burlington from the start, winning the first set 25-14, with Burlington coming back to win set two. For Kimberly, <strong>Payton Pearson</strong> was the story of serving in the first set getting Burlington out of system and scrambling.  Aces hurt obviously, but the serves that get teams out of system and scrambling are just as good as an ace. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>“She’s a Freshman”</strong> - This was heard quite often from the student sections of River Falls and Oconomowoc.  For River Falls, <strong>Haley Graetz</strong> made her state tournament debut with authority. She’s aggressive, she can hit shots, and puts up an incredibly solid block.  For Oconomowoc they have four Freshmen on their roster and for middle <strong>Haley Koch</strong> and <strong>Maleah Howe,</strong> much like Graetz played with aggressiveness. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>2020 Setters</strong> -<strong> Kaley Blake</strong> would be off the ten foot line and was connecting with middle <strong>Emily Alan</strong> for easy kills in the deep corner.  <strong>Tayler Alden</strong> of Oconomowoc adds a dimension that is so hard to defend. When she jumps it looks like she is going to hit the ball, but she can dish to any tempo in front or behind her.  Blockers have to respect her left hand whether she is in the front or backrow. <strong>Kalli Mau</strong> of Kimberly had 47 assists in a five set loss to Burlington, her outside hitters <strong>Maggie Cartwright</strong> and <strong>Courtney Pearson</strong> had 20 kills apiece. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>River Falls Keeps On Rolling</strong> - River Falls is no longer a secret to the state level.  At 42-2, they steamrolled Greendale Thursday night. Two years ago a lot of these athletes were on the team that just happen to make it to state.  Two years later, a state champion runner-up trophy from 2017, they have taken on the mantra of “Reload”. The state tournament appearance from 2016 was no fluke, it was only the start.  Right now The Wildcats have four committed D1 or D2 athletes in <strong>Emily Banitt</strong> going to Loyola (Chicago), <strong>Anna Wolf</strong> (Minnesota), <strong>Maddi Kealy</strong> (MN-Duluth), and just this week <strong>Halle Olson</strong> giving her verbal to play at Florida Atlantic. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Boling Blasts West Into Semifinals</strong> - Waukesha West has made their way to the state semifinals by defeating two teams from their conference who previously beat them earlier in the season in Mukwonago in the sectional final and Arrowhead in the quarterfinals.  Sophomore middle blocker <strong>Alexis Boling</strong> led the way for the Wolverines with 21 kills. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Pearson Power</strong> - Kimberly gave Burlington all they could handle, but <strong>Courtney Pearson</strong> had a career night for the Papermakers.  Her stat line consisted of 20 kills, only four errors hitting .341 on the night which is a really solid number for outside hitter taking multiple swings and also had 28 digs.  She has a mix of shots where she hits a really sharp angle, a deep tip to the corner, and finds a way to hit around the block. </span></p>