D2-D4 Sectional Final Predictions, Potential State Seeding

We made it. Sectional finals coming right up with the elite eight for D2-D4 set for Saturday night. I will go through every sectional and talk about the match ups and who punches their ticket and advances to Resch Center for the state tournament in Green Bay. I’ll take it one step further and list potential seeding for the state tournament which is determined Sunday night by the coaches. Use this as old school bulletin board material, this is how I see it and we need to make volleyball a discussion, we need to keep this conversations alive, this is all in good fun as I can’t wait to see everyone under one roof come Thursday for the Division 1 quarterfinals and the D1-D4 semifinals Friday. Pending state media credential approval, the Prep Dig team will in attendance covering all matches for boys and girls in all divisions. But first, lets talk D1 sectional finals. D2 Baldwin-Woodville vs. Reedsburg [caption id="attachment_163603" align="alignright" width="296"]<img class="wp-image-163603" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/10/DSC09199-e1635539424345-258x300.jpg" alt="" width="296" height="344" /> [player_tooltip player_id="81273" first="Emma" last="Johnson"], Luxemburg-Casco[/caption] Baldwin-Woodville had a huge win last night in a five set thriller and avenged an earlier loss to St. Croix Central. Reedsburg is battle tested with three losses coming to Sauk Prairie and two to Edgewood. This team also has members on it who were state runner-up in basketball. Experience in big games and against tough competition is something that’s not on paper that I really value when it gets to this point in the season. Reedsburg has that. They also have the Wieman twins in [player_tooltip player_id="149697" first="Macie" last="Wieman"] and Mahra Wieman. These two have combined for over 700 kills on the season. Reedsburg uses their big game experience and the Wieman’s team up to head to state in yet another sport. Luxemburg-Casco vs. Mosinee Big game experience, playing top competition like I said, makes a huge difference come tournament time and Luxemburg-Casco checks those boxes. They are the back to back state champions, have played a rugged tournament schedule, and are hosting the sectional final. Setter, [player_tooltip player_id="81273" first="Emma" last="Johnson"] will be leading the Spartans where she defends, dishes, and can be extremely offensive at the net. Johnson and Grace Holshuh will both head to Green Bay to play college volleyball. Mosinee has always been a program who has ruled North Central Wisconsin. [player_tooltip player_id="118260" first="Abbi" last="Martin"], Jenna Placek, and [player_tooltip player_id="159653" first="Jessica" last="Maurer"] all have over 200 kills for Mosinee on the season. This is all Luxemburg-Casco, they head back to state for the fourth time in five years.   Sauk Prairie vs. McFarland Flip a coin, I can’t even pick. Sauk Prairie is the number one ranked team and has the top outside hitter in D2 with [player_tooltip player_id="90597" first="Aida" last="Shadewald"] who is a Wright State commit, as well as South Dakota State commit [player_tooltip player_id="117337" first="Alia" last="Schlimgen"] at libero. McFarland was the state runner up in 2019 and many of these players were on that team and the alternate season state semifinal squad from this spring. UW-Stevens Point commit, [player_tooltip player_id="57284" first="Maddy" last="Fortune"] is a floor general as the setter where the Spartans have many attacking weapons in [player_tooltip player_id="81270" first="Avery" last="Pennekamp"], [player_tooltip player_id="57273" first="Hannah" last="Rounds"], and [player_tooltip player_id="91899" first="Gwen" last="Crull"]. [caption id="attachment_141271" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-141271 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/05/DSC07078-e1620330241526-300x280.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="280" /> [player_tooltip player_id="57284" first="Maddy" last="Fortune"], McFarland[/caption] Bold prediction, but going with McFarland. Lot of balance for the Spartans and they are also hosting the sectional final. Pewaukee vs. Pius XI Pewaukee scored a huge win by sweeping Kettle Moraine Lutheran last night and are finding their stride at the right time. The Pirates have five attackers with over 200 kills, they have plenty of all around balance. [player_tooltip player_id="35805" first="Katie" last="Gund"], an Illinois Wesleyan commit, is a big time leader for this squad who can set and hit. Pius is a conference rival of Pewaukee where Pewaukee has won three prior meetings. I know its tough to beat a team four times, but I’m going with Pewaukee who is really catching fire right now.   Potential State Tournament Seeding <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">McFarland</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Luxemburg-Casco</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Pewaukee</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Reedsburg</li> </ol>   D3 Unity vs. Aquinas Sydney Smith and Sidney Bader will lead a long and athletic 35-1 Unity squad into a battle with La Crosse Aquinas who has plenty of big game experience. Aquinas was the state runner up in D3 in 2019 and also has plenty of athletes who have been on the big stage for basketball. [player_tooltip player_id="163362" first="Jacy" last="Weisbrod"] leads Aquinas in kills and is a Northern Colorado basketball commit. [player_tooltip player_id="119435" first="Macy" last="Donarski"], a St. Louis basketball commit runs the show as a setter and saw playing time on their state runner up team. Aquinas uses their athleticism and big game experience to head back to the Resch. [caption id="attachment_105636" align="alignright" width="432"]<img class="wp-image-105636" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/08/HannahMoe-e1597776438271.jpg" alt="" width="432" height="289" /> [player_tooltip player_id="118258" first="Hannah" last="Moe"][/caption] Stanley-Boyd vs. Oconto Stanley-Boyd will be led by Junior, Emily Brenner who has over 400 kills on the season for the Orioles who have scored some big wins over ranked D3 teams. Oconto will be lead by UW-Oshkosh commit [player_tooltip player_id="118258" first="Hannah" last="Moe"] and middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id="149696" first="Lianna" last="Baxter"] on the frontline. [player_tooltip player_id="91917" first="Kate" last="Bahrke"] is a junior setter who has over 800 assists and can create her own scoring chances as well. This is Oconto’s third straight sectional final where they lost to Luxemburg-Casco in 2020, after having moved up a division with covid reclassification. Oconto finally gets their chance to head to Green Bay (which is 30 minutes South of Oconto) for the state tournament.   Cuba City vs. Lake Country Lutheran Cuba City played a lot of volleyball last night, defeating top seed Brodhead 17-15 in set five with three of the sets going into extra points. Hailey Stich is the top attacker for the Cubans. Lake Country Lutheran has plenty of tradition on their end and is back in D3 after playing in D2 the past two seasons. The Lightning have one of the top liberos in the state in [player_tooltip player_id="81255" first="Adriana" last="Studer"] who is committed to Villanova and one of the top setters in D3 in [player_tooltip player_id="82893" first="Rachel" last="Rossing"] from the Class of 2023. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Lake Country Lutheran is showing they will be a big contender in D3 this year (been switching between D2 and D3) great first touch with [player_tooltip player_id="81255" first="Adriana" last="Studer"] and [player_tooltip player_id="82893" first="Rachel" last="Rossing"] doing some special things to get her attackers in place to score <a href="https://t.co/DYSdnt9HUF">pic.x.com/DYSdnt9HUF</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1431643688392871938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Lake Country Lutheran heads back to state for the first time since they won it in 2018.   [caption id="attachment_157635" align="alignright" width="397"]<img class="wp-image-157635" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/DSC09106-e1631896510716-300x212.jpg" alt="" width="397" height="282" /> [player_tooltip player_id="57252" first="Emma" last="Baierl"][/caption] Kenosha Christian Life vs. Howards Grove Christian Life has survived a rugged side of their sectional where there has been plenty of upsets. They outlasted Shoreland Lutheran to advance to this sectional final. Howards Grove has been atop the D3 rankings all season and are back to back state champions. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="22384" first="Karissa" last="Kaminski"] (Dayton) and [player_tooltip player_id="57252" first="Emma" last="Baierl"] (Truman State) along with Junior [player_tooltip player_id="82282" first="Saige" last="Damrow"] (Wisconsin) will be hungry to get back to the Resch. Howards Grove is on a mission...and it will continue on to the Resch.   Potential State Tournament Seeding <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Howards Grove</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Lake Country Lutheran</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Oconto</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Aquinas</li> </ol>   D4 Mercer vs. McDonell Central Catholic Mercer has not lost in the month of October. They are led by KD Knipp who has over 300 kills on the season. McDonell Central Catholic are the defending state runner ups from D4 and have a schedule that is loaded with talented D2 and D3 squads. The Macks have four attackers with over 200 kills led by Kait Ortmann with just under 300 kills. McDonell Central Catholic has the experience and battle tested schedule. The Macks are going to state.   Wabeno/Laona vs. Columbus Catholic Wabeno/Laona had three prior losses to Three Lakes and they broke through last night with a three set win, winning each set by two, two, and three. Columbus Catholic has had plenty of postseason success, but usually runs into Newman Catholic on their path to multiple state tournaments and state titles. [player_tooltip player_id="57248" first="Dorci" last="Walker"] will be looking to lead Columbus to the next round. Columbus Catholic makes it to state.   Wonewoc Center vs. Highland We are heading to Southwest Wisconsin where Wonewoc Center defeated Bangor last night to advance to the sectional final. Highland closed out their season with a big win over Potosi and survived a scare in their opening round win against Penatonica and won again against Potosi. Rachel Miller is the top attacker for the Cardinals. This could be a long match, but Highland comes out on top. [caption id="attachment_144973" align="aligncenter" width="423"]<img class="wp-image-144973" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/8-Ellie-Gustafson-Capital-16-Adidas.jpg" alt="" width="423" height="282" /> [player_tooltip player_id="91856" first="Ellie" last="Gustafson"][/caption] Monticello vs. Hilbert Monticello has one loss and that comes at the hands of Reedsburg who is playing in the D2 sectional final. Everyone is going to be introduced to one of the top unknown attackers in the state in [player_tooltip player_id="91856" first="Ellie" last="Gustafson"], a St. Thomas (MN) commit. Gustafson is dynamite, she is averaging 5.4 attacks per set. Hilbert got a huge win over Sevastopol last night. Hilbert has a history of state tournament appearances and are led by Laney Halbach with over 300 kills. Gustafson has a big night, Monticello heads to state. Potential State Tournament Seeding <ol> <li>Monticello</li> <li>Columbus Catholic</li> <li>McDonell Central Catholic</li> <li>Highland</li> </ol>