Breaking Down NEW WIAA D1 Sectionals

Sectional assignments are out! The road to the Resch isn’t quite paved, but teams know who will be in their section when post season starts come late October. We have some of the favorites and top players returning heading into the 2022 high school season. There has also been some movement in Southern Wisconsin with Section 5-8. Take a look at the changes as it’s never to early to take a look at the upcoming high school volleyball season. <a href="https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Volleyball_Girls/2022/D1%20Volleyball%20Bracket.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WIAA D1 Sectionals 2022</a> [caption id="attachment_177609" align="aligncenter" width="254"]<img class="wp-image-177609 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/02/Ice-17N-Sammie-Perlberg-e1649797915933-254x300.jpg" alt="" width="254" height="300" /> Perlberg[/caption] Section 1 River Falls has been dominant in this section with their string of state tournament appearances dating back to 2016. However in 2021, Chippewa Falls took them to five sets in a thriller of a sectional final. These two teams will be in the hunt once again in this section. RF will have to replace some scoring with the graduation losses to [player_tooltip player_id="81259" first="Haley" last="Graetz"], [player_tooltip player_id="81298" first="Dani" last="Lien"], Maddie Doerre, and [player_tooltip player_id="179277" first="Brynn" last="Johnson"]. The Wildcats return top All State setter [player_tooltip player_id="92019" first="Morgan" last="Kealy"] as well as attackers [player_tooltip player_id="92020" first="Brianna" last="Brathol"], Taylor Peterson, and libero Abi Bannitt. Chippewa Falls returns virtually their whole line up from 2021 starting with senior outside [player_tooltip player_id="149694" first="Samantha" last="Perlberg"] who had over 300 kills. They have a strong core of incoming juniors that include [player_tooltip player_id="179085" first="Paige" last="Steinmetz"], [player_tooltip player_id="148970" first="Madison" last="Hunt"], and [player_tooltip player_id="148971" first="Sophie" last="Robinson"].   [caption id="attachment_155375" align="aligncenter" width="410"]<img class="wp-image-155375" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/DSC09115.jpg" alt="" width="410" height="273" /> Fortune and Van Lannen[/caption] Section 2 This section has belonged to Appleton North or Kimberly since 2013. They are once again the hunted in section two returning plenty of talent from last season where the two met for the sectional title. North will have to replace some holes in their lineup, but the cupboard is far from bare. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="91877" first="Karissa" last="Fortune"] (Drake) and [player_tooltip player_id="119395" first="Olivia" last="Lasee"] (Lehigh) will be relied upon heavily while the Lightning still return All State outside hitter, [player_tooltip player_id="122483" first="Ella" last="Demetrician"]. [player_tooltip player_id="122566" first="Emerson" last="Van Lannen"] will be running the show as a really dynamic 2024 setter. Kimberly has a strong Senior class with athletes who have competed at a high level. [player_tooltip player_id="91855" first="Macy" last="Herman"] will return as setter as well as Alabama commit [player_tooltip player_id="91880" first="Kyla" last="Dunaway"] who can score on both pins. Electric outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="82921" first="Kaitlin" last="Schulz"] will be on the outside scoring points in the front and backrow. [caption id="attachment_111549" align="aligncenter" width="356"]<img class=" wp-image-111549" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/DSC00995.jpg" alt="" width="356" height="237" /> LaScala[/caption] Section 3 This section looks a little different this year with Sun Prairie breaking jnto two high schools and moving to section six. They were a Section 3 power house for many years. Holmen came out of this section last year where they defeated Middleton in a five set thriller to get to state. Middleton can use that to fuel the off-season fire as they will come into this section as a very heavy favorite. They have a strong senior class where they return plenty of talent and experience with [player_tooltip player_id="91952" first="Evinae" last="Jordee"], [player_tooltip player_id="91883" first="Jordan" last="LaScala"], and [player_tooltip player_id="149575" first="Sierra" last="Pertzborn"]. [caption id="attachment_158876" align="aligncenter" width="404"]<img class="wp-image-158876" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/ocon.jpeg" alt="" width="404" height="269" /> Photo: Chris Fitzgerlad Prep Dig[/caption] Section 4 Section 4 features defending state champion Oconomowoc. They will come into the season as the number one team in D1, but they will also receive some national attention with their powerhouse lineup. They return the top top 2024 athletes in the state in setter [player_tooltip player_id="122568" first="Lilly" last="Wagner"] and [player_tooltip player_id="122475" first="Anna" last="Bjork"] while soon to be senior [player_tooltip player_id="91876" first="Cordelia" last="Kearns"] will be another major part to their scheme. Ocon has length, athleticism and plenty of depth with some incoming athletes who will be ready to take the varsity court. [caption id="attachment_155380" align="aligncenter" width="389"]<img class="wp-image-155380" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/DSC09172.jpg" alt="" width="389" height="259" /> Quest[/caption] Section 5 This is always a section with plenty of eyes on it. Traditionally, the deepest sectional in the state with multiple ranked teams, section five is once again loaded with the state’s top talent. DSHA, Germantown, and Sussex Hamilton jump out as early favorites where these squads usually go head to head on GMAC play and then have a mini conference tournament during the post season. DSHA will return [player_tooltip player_id="178033" first="Madison" last="Quest"], the top Freshman in the state in 2021 after a major breakout season for the Dashers along with returning Senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id="91901" first="Bella" last="Lipski"]. Germantown is always in the mix with Liberty commit [player_tooltip player_id="61819" first="Lily" last="Wagner"] who will be in her Senior campaign. Wagner is able to score a lot of points from the front and backrow. Sussex Hamilton won a state title in 2020 and will have plenty of firepower coming this fall with outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="82916" first="Sylvie" last="Zgonc"] on the outside. <img class=" wp-image-102230 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/DSC09558-e1595516105197-300x234.jpg" alt="" width="346" height="270" /> Section 6 A little bit of a different look to this sectional. Burlington came out of this section last year, but they will be in Section 7 which is more Southeast Wisconsin. This section will serve the area between Milwaukee and Madison. Kettle Moraine, Mukwonago, Sun Prairie East, and Sun Prairie West will be in this section. This is wide open and will be extremely exciting with this combination of teams. Kettle Moraine is coming off a final four finish and will still have All State outside hitter, [player_tooltip player_id="91875" first="Grace" last="Grocholski"] and libero [player_tooltip player_id="82910" first="Kyleigh" last="Coghlan"] - these athletes have both played in multiple state tournaments. Fort Atkinson will be one to watch with do it all type player [player_tooltip player_id="122560" first="Andi" last="Spies"] leading the squad - she can set and score points. Another team to keep an eye on would be Mukwonago with two strong middles in [player_tooltip player_id="178034" first="Gabriella" last="Pitcel"] and Natalia Farrugia. [caption id="attachment_166533" align="aligncenter" width="362"]<img class="wp-image-166533" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/101-Kaitlyn-Dohs-e1649798532668-300x232.jpg" alt="" width="362" height="280" /> [player_tooltip player_id="122464" first="Kaitlyn" last="Dohs"], Oak Creek[/caption] Section 7 The Southeast Wisconsin sectional. Definitely a Southern Lakes Conference vibe in this sectional with the likes of Burlington, Westosha Central, Waterford, and more. Burlington off the bat looks to be the early favorite with their amount of ball control they return as well as experience. [player_tooltip player_id="119434" first="Abby" last="Alan"] will be the top point scorer returning for the Demons who will also return libero and Marquette recruit [player_tooltip player_id="91895" first="Molly" last="Berezowitz"] and setter [player_tooltip player_id="122555" first="Ella" last="Safar"]. Westosha Central will have a competitive squad where they are coming off a strong 2021 season. Senior setter, [player_tooltip player_id="119417" first="Sydney" last="Selburg"] can dish and score points and will be extremely key for the Falcons. Oak Creek went to state out of this sectional in 2021 and will return a strong core of athletes that includes [player_tooltip player_id="122464" first="Kaitlyn" last="Dohs"] who had nearly 250 kills last season. <img class=" wp-image-190445 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/04/DSC09181-300x181.jpg" alt="" width="416" height="251" /> Section 8 This section looks a lot different this year with Mukwonago and Kettle Moraine moving to section six. Wauwatosa East is coming back in 2022 returning the best record out of this section at 19-12. Jackie Brown will be their top player returning for her sophomore campaign where she had nearly 200 kills and over 100 digs as freshman. Greendale who was 17-22 in 2021 could be another team to keep an eye on with the return of [player_tooltip player_id="151417" first="Hannah" last="Kos"] who had over 200 kills last year. [player_tooltip player_id="178032" first="Billie" last="Reiter"] will be returning for her sophomore season as a top setter from the Class of 2025 who can swing as well.