Division 3 Analysis: Intense Matchups That Could Cause Surprises

There are 16 teams left in the Division 3 playoffs. After a few days to recover from regionals, the hunt begins again while they step into Sectional action tonight. The Fall Creek Crickets have been establishing a great tradition in the final four and will once again be among the favorites to advance to the state tournament, but not if Aquinas has anything to say about it. There are some really great teams in this field of 16 that could stir up some upsets, or at the very least, some great competitive matches. According to recent Maxpreps State Rankings, Division 3 boasts one of the top seven teams in Wisconsin. But among the heavy favorites and #1 seeded teams include the following teams that could certainly create an upset: St. Croix Falls, Kenosha Christian Life, and Aquinas. Here’s a little analysis and their key pieces:   St. Croix Falls At 24-7, the Saints are in great position to make a statement in the playoffs as the 2 seed in their half sectional in the Division 3 Playoffs. SCF has earned some really great experience with a competitive schedule that could really pay off for them this week. Their first test, Unity (34-1). And this won’t be their first meeting, since Unity took SCF 2-0 (25-23, 26-24) in early October. Matches like those can go either way, and I think this one could too, especially if it goes to a 4th and 5th set. So, if you’re in the Balsam Lake area and looking for something to do Thursday night, I’d recommend heading to the high school for this potential barn burner. Key Saints: [player_tooltip player_id="163349" first="Lauren" last="Hoverman"] - 2022 – Pin Hitter– This senior is effective on either pin, as well as at the service line. Hoverman is a leader for the Saints and a tough attacker to contain. [player_tooltip player_id="163350" first="Kylie" last="Broten"] – 2022 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker/Right Side Hitter– Broten is aggressive and has good footwork patterns to the ball, a nice swing, and the ability to put some pace behind the ball with some accuracy. She provides another great offensive option to compliment Hoverman on the pins. [player_tooltip player_id="163352" first="Sydnei" last="Larson"] – 2023 – 5’7 - Libero– Larson anchors the defense and provides the ball control that creates a lot of opportunities for her teammates to take great swings. She is also a ball of energy that never stops communicating. Kenosha Christian Life This one is coming out of a bracket where both teams just upset the higher seeds, so this is a #4 vs #3 match-up. While KCL is the lower seed, they went toe-to-toe with Shoreland Lutheran in early October and were just squeezed out 2-0 (25-23, 25-20). The Eagles have proven their resolve making it this far, but they’ve still got a ways to go to make their mark. Key Eagles: [player_tooltip player_id="163353" first="Tori" last="Villareal"] – 2022 – 5’6 – Setter– The lead distributor, Villareal has all the means to help her team make it to the sectional championship. She has finesse and great ball control, along with a killer serve to take teams out of system. [player_tooltip player_id="163354" first="Alana" last="Lucas"] – 2022 – 5’7 – Pin Hitter– I remember seeing Lucas during the 2021 Club season and she is pure athleticism. She will definitely be the x-factor given that she may end up going head-to-head with the Pacer’s big Pin Hitter, Emma Schattschneider (2023 -6’0). IF Lucas can produce on offense, she will increase the Eagle’s balance in attack and make them tough to beat. [player_tooltip player_id="163355" first="Stella" last="Marrero"] – 2024 – 5’7 – Libero– The Eagles have profited from Marrero’s ball control and defense, and they will have that solid foundation for the next couple years. Her game experience and skill make her plays on the ball look effortless. Aquinas The Blugolds have pretty much cruised through their playoffs so far with only dropping a set to Osseo- Fairchild before kicking it up a notch. Even so, Aquinas cannot overlook any of their opponents, especially Fall Creek (42-4), probably being one of their biggest road blocks on the way to the Resch. They haven’t met previously, but I think it’s safe to predict this will be a dogfight. Key Blugolds [player_tooltip player_id="158569" first="Shealyn" last="Bahr"] – 2023 – 5’8 – Pin Hitter– Bahr is a key part in the Blugolds’ offense with great court vision and recognition of what is happening on the other side of the net. She reads well and hunts the ball down on defense while keeping balance, which ends up getting their offense in-system. Bahr could be a definite game changer as she can also put the pressure on from the service line. [player_tooltip player_id="163362" first="Jacy" last="Weisbrod"] – 2022 – 5’11 – Pin Hitter– As a senior Weisbrod is showing a great deal of confidence and experience. Her arm can score points from anywhere on the court while she also puts pressure on opponents from the service line. Weisbrod’s capability to score could be the difference in the next couple matches. [player_tooltip player_id="119435" first="Macy" last="Donarski"] – 2023 – 5’7 - Setter– Donarski is an athlete through and through and has developed into a solid 6-rotation contributor for the Blugolds. She’s found a way to score from the endline, provide solid defense, and make smart distribution choices while running a 5-1.