Forget Sectionals – Fitz’s “Sweet Sixteen” of WI D1 Schools

We're all out here trying our best.  However, I find myself saying this to my JV team I coach and sometimes they say it (out of spite sometimes, but all in good fun), “Be Better”.  That's how I feel about some of these sectionals that get drawn for the post season in Wisconsin high school volleyball.  Quite frankly, it needs to be better.  After covering volleyball in multiple states, I have seen how things can be done differently.  Yes, I think we need geographic diversity at the state tournament, however there is a chance to do that while still getting the best teams to the state tournament. 

Crumple up the sections, throw it in the recycling, and here is my “Sweet Sixteen” of Division 1 volleyball teams in Wisconsin.  A blend of geography and balance of talent, we'll see how this looks. 

How Sectional Finals Would Look Like Today According to Max Preps Rankings: 

Section 1 - #5 Chippewa Falls vs. #8 River Falls

Section 2 - #3 Appleton North vs. #15 Kimberly 

Section 3 - #16 Holmen vs. #18 Middleton 

Section 4 - #1 Oconomowoc vs. #7 Manitowoc Lincoln 

Section 5 - #2 DSHA vs. #3 Sussex Hamilton 

Section 6 - #12 Kettle Moraine vs. #27 Mukwonago

Section 7 - #9 Burlington vs. #6 Oak Creek

Section 8 - #33 Wauwatosa East vs. #45 Greendale 

THE NEW HYPOTHETICAL SWEET SIXTEEN OF WISCONSIN D1 SCHOOLS

Oconomowoc (#1 WVCA - #1 Max Preps) vs.Germantown (RV WVCA - #17 Max Preps) 

@ Oconomowoc

In a lot of these sectionals I would love to see some Classic 8 vs. Greater Metro Conference matchups.  These two conferences are the top in the state and definitely the Milwaukee Area.  Germantown has surprised plenty of people, but after watching them play at the Charger Challenge, I saw the fire and intensity they bring to the court.  Lily Wagner Lily Wagner 5'11" | OH Germantown | 2023 State #118 Nation WI of Germantown has been racking up big time points her whole career, but now she is in a role where she is bringing others along to continue the foundation that Germantown has been building the past few years. 

DSHA (#2 WVCA - #2 Max Preps) vs. Arrowhead (#8 WVCA - #14 Max Preps)

@ DSHA

Arrowhead is right on the edge of being a top eight seed, but after a loss to Waukesha West, I put them out of the top eight.  They are still a really tough team.  DSHA and Arrowhead are prominent schools and have plenty of history with their volleyball programs.  This would be a fun matchup that plenty of Milwaukee area fans would love to see. 

Appleton North (#3 WVCA - #4 Max Preps) vs. Marshfield (NR WVCA - #11 Max Preps)

@ Appleton North 

The last time it wasn't Appleton North and Kimberly playing to go to the state tournament against each other I believe was 2016.  Let's change it up and put them in different sectionals.  North has another powerhouse team, but another team out of West Central Wisconsin who has put together a nice season is Marshfield who is currently 23-3. 

Burlington (#4 WVCA - #9 Max Preps) vs. Kettle Moraine (#10 WVCA - #12 Max Preps)

@ Burlington 

Last season, Kettle Moraine beat Burlington in a five set thriller at the state tournament.  One of the better matches I was able to see at the state tournament.  This would be a game of big time power of Grace Grocholski Grace Grocholski 5'10" | OH Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI , Bri Binagi, and Myla Glaser Myla Glaser 5'11" | MB Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI of KM going up against the stellar defense of B-Town led by the Berezowitz sisters in Molly Berezowitz Molly Berezowitz DS/L Burlington | 2023 State WI and Kati Berezowitz Kati Berezowitz 5'3" | DS/L Burlington | 2025 State WI

Sussex Hamilton (#5 WVCA - #3 Max Preps) vs. Kimberly (RV WVCA - #15 Max Preps)

@ UW-Oshkosh 

Sussex Hamilton is always buried in their sectional among DSHA, Brookfield Central, Arrowhead, Germantown, the list goes on.  Get them out of their sectional and see what they can do.  They would be at UW-Oshkosh, the natural meeting point between Appleton and the Milwaukee are at one of the best arenas in the WIAC.  Kimberly has a strong team of seniors where they took down Appleton North in a five set thriller at the start of the season. 

Manitowoc Lincoln (#6 WVCA - #7 Max Preps) vs. Oak Creek (RV WVCA - #6 Max Preps)

@ CUW

Manitowoc is up there among the top teams in the state.  There isn't a glaring weakness on this team and they play so clean.  Nothing drops on the floor without this team getting a touch and to have a player in Madison York Madison York 6'1" | RS Manitowoc Lincoln | 2024 State WI who is a major mismatch on the right side is a major advantage. Oak Creek made it to the state tournament in 2021 before being bounced by Ocon.  Kaitlyn Dohs Kaitlyn Dohs 5'8" | OH Oak Creek | 2024 State WI is having a huge season with nearly four kills per set.  Lets put this in Mequon at CUW where it is probably similar distances for both teams. 

Chippewa Falls (#7 WVCA - #5 Max Preps)  vs.  Middleton (RV WVCA - #18 Max Preps)

@ UW-La Crosse

Southeast Wisconsin hasn't had the chance to see Chippewa Falls play, but they are a team of really dynamic athletes with a lot of players who can play fast and put a hammer on the ball.  They've adopted a River Falls like schedule where they are heading into Minneapolis/St. Paul metro to play some of their tournaments.  Middleton has a really physical lineup with three D1 commits in Sierra Pertzborn Sierra Pertzborn 6'3" | MB Middleton | 2023 State WI (Toledo), Jordan LaScala Jordan LaScala 6'0" | OH Middleton | 2023 State WI (UW-Milwaukee), and Evinae Jordee Evinae Jordee 5'9" | S Middleton | 2023 State WI (St. Peter)

River Falls (#9 WVCA - #8 Max Preps) vs. Brookfield Central (RV WVCA - #20 Max Preps) 

(@ UW-Stevens Point) 

Ok, yes this is probably the most random of all of these matchups, but this would be a really fun matchup.  These two teams have state tournament experience.  BC actually beat River Falls in a five set thriller in the state quarterfinals in 2021 and the Lancers have had some huge wins so far this season.  Bring them to the center of the state to square off and see what happens.  I would expect another marathon like match.