What Teams Could Be On Upset Alert Come Thursday Night?
Use this as bulletin board material, use this as any motivation, or maybe just use it as a way to enjoy the post season of Wisconsin Girls Volleyball. It’s tournament time and anything can happen which leads me to ask,…
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Continue ReadingUse this as bulletin board material, use this as any motivation, or maybe just use it as a way to enjoy the post season of Wisconsin Girls Volleyball. It’s tournament time and anything can happen which leads me to ask, “Which teams are on upset alert?”. There are some matchups where some of the squads are meeting for the third or fourth time or there could be teams that may not have the most polished record, but behind that is a lot of high-level opponents. Who is on upset alert?
D1 – #1 Kettle Moraine vs. #4 Waukesha West
I’ve seen both of these teams play multiple times this season and this is going to be a match where its power vs power. Alexis Boling of Waukesha West vs. Hailey Grocholski of Kettle Moraine – these two middles hit harder than most in the state. Kettle Moraine comes in as the number one seed and has already defeated Waukesha West 3-1 earlier this season. However, this is all too familiar for Waukesha West who is accustomed to being an underdog. Plus, the games that start at 5:00 on a neutral court can have some weird energy. Not a lot of fans to start, everything feels a bit uncomfortable. This could be a recipe for an upset.
The Kimberly Senior class has been to two state tournaments.D1 – #2 Kimberly vs. #3 Bay Port
Kimberly wiped the floor clean against Bay Port at the Neenah Invite, but Bay Port responded by defeating Sun Prairie. The Pirates are riding plenty of momentum after winning the Fox River Classic Conference and are primed for postseason. However, Kimberly has a roster full of athletes who have multiple state tournaments under their belt and are accustomed to playing in big games. This will be a doozie on a neutral court at Kimberly’s FVA rival Appleton North.
D3 – #1 Aquinas vs. #3 Regis
And then there is Regis. Eau Claire Regis time and time again have found a way to get to the state tournament and for La Crosse Aquinas, there are plenty of times where the route has gone through Regis. Regis defeated Aquinas at the end of September. Does that give Regis the edge or does it fuel the fire for Aquinas who is looking to get back to state for the first time since 2016.
D3 – #1 Brodhead vs. #3 River Ridge
All they do is win, win, win no matter what (sorry, I digress). But yes, River Ridge doesn’t lose very often. They are scrappy and have found a way to win the past two years, advancing to D4 state tournament last year and are now up a division this season. Skylar White is an exciting player who just does it all, she has nearly 400 kills for the Timberwolves this season and is just one of those players who finds a way. Brodhead is coming off a five set win over Cuba City with three attackers with over 200 kills with Sabrina Siegel, Abbie Dix, and Katie Goecks.
D4 – #1 Clear Lake vs. #2 McDonnell Central Catholic
When it comes to a #1 vs. #2 I’m not really sure you can call this an upset. Clear Lake has been an upstart team with an undefeated record while McDonnell Central Catholic has the experience and one of the top D4 setters in Maggie Craker who makes it happen all the way around. I know there is a lot of attention around other sections in other Divisions on the parody and plenty of great teams who will not get to state, but the same can be said for Division 4. There are teams that have been top five all year who are buried in a rigorous sectional.