WVCA Week 3 Rankings and Big Matchups

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some teams are 15-20 matches into their season and we can start getting a little more of gauge of how everyone is falling into place. The week three WVCA rankings are out and I'm going to breakdown some of these teams as well as some potential big time matchups as we are heading into a huge week of matches, that will essentially shake up the rankings.&nbsp; Here is what you need on the radar.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Northeast Wisconsin On Top of the D2 Rankings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top three teams in D2 are Xavier (Appleton), Fox Valley Lutheran (Appleton), and Luxemburg-Casco.   I will be covering the FVL vs. Lux-Casco match tonight where LC has had the upper hand on the Foxes the past couple years which has been the deciding match between conference titles and sectional final appearances.  Luxemburg-Casco has been the traditional power with three state titles the past three years and return Memphis commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='82915' first='Autumn' last='Flynn'] </strong>who can play on the pin and in the middle.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='178231' first='Campbell' last='Onell']</strong> is a powerful attacker for the Spartans who can score from anywhere in the front row.  FVL has plenty of size, athleticism, and depth.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='119396' first='Kennedy' last='Schmitz']</strong> is their senior libero who will head to Green Bay next year for volleyball along with other Seniors in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='119397' first='Samantha' last='Kempinger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='91931' first='Kate' last='Henze'].</strong>  The Junior duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='122532' first='Annalise' last='Patchett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='122527' first='Emma' last='Nilson']</strong> are a tough combo to stop.  Patchett has the size and athleticism that is tough to stop on the pin.  She knows how to hammer line and cross, but what makes her so tough is her ability to use the block to her advantage.  Nilson might be one of the most physically middle blockers in the Class of 2024.  She is on the radar of plenty of Division 1 schools and rightfully so.  The Foxes have found a solid rhythm in a two setter system in <strong>Savanna Charon and [player_tooltip player_id='178238' first='Ava' last='Patchett']. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Arrowhead On The Rise</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arrowhead was off the radar heading into the season, but with their size and athleticism they have found themselves in the top ten. However, this week will be a test as they head into the Charger Challenge where they will see plenty of teams who are some of the best in the state, including those in their sectional.  At no surprise <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='122574' first='Olivia' last='Wyma'] and [player_tooltip player_id='122573' first='Gabby' last='Wold']</strong> are leading the Warhawks in kills averaging a combined 5 kills per set.  They also have a really solid libero in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91868' first='Katherine' last='Thompson'] </strong>who is averaging over three digs per set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>More Love For Chippewa Falls and River Falls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a shameless plug for two of the top teams in the state from River Falls and Chippewa Falls.&nbsp; These two teams can compete with the best of any team in the state, including the top teams in Southeast Wisconsin.&nbsp; I've seen these River Falls kids quite often the past three years and Chippewa Falls the past two years.&nbsp; There is a lot of firepower on both of these teams.&nbsp; Their lone losses are to each other where RF defeated Chippewa in the UW-Stout Sprawl and Chippewa defeated RF in their conference match not even a week later.&nbsp; They will be in the same section at the end of the year, but before we cast away the teams from Western Wisconsin, let me vouch for both of these programs that they are extremely competitive.&nbsp; Another team to watch from North [program_tooltip program_id='428569' first='Central' last='Wisconsin'] would be Marshfield.&nbsp; They have some athletes on that team and will be a tough out when it&nbsp; comes to sectional time.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Top Three of Division 3 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is no shade to the other teams in the D3 field, but right now Howards Grove, Randolph, and Lake Country Lutheran are in a category of their own with everyone else chasing them.  Howards Grove has faced some adversity with their top setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='122498' first='Kamryn' last='Kaminski']</strong> being out for the season with a knee injury, but insert <strong>Ellie Schueler</strong> and <strong>Layla Beadoin</strong> who have been able to put up plenty of assists to the likes of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='82282' first='Saige' last='Damrow'], [player_tooltip player_id='122497' first='Olivia' last='Baierl'], Mallory Godziewski,</strong> and <strong>Jacqueline Yancy.</strong>  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Country Lutheran had a tough weekend over Labor Day, but they are one of the teams to defeat #1 in D1 in DSHA.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='178030' first='Karli' last='Molnau']</strong> is one of the top attackers among sophomores in Wisconsin along with junior, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='122557' first='Ellie' last='Schumacher']</strong>.  SIUE commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='82893' first='Rachel' last='Rossing'] </strong>is one of the steadiest, smoothest players you can find.  She had played in a lot of big matches and will be a big time leader for the Lightning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Randolph might be the most physically imposing team in D3.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='122468' first='Rylea' last='Alvin']</strong> out of the middle does some special things with how she can move and take complete control of the net, she puts a ton of pressure on the other side.  <strong>Jorey Bulwada </strong>has a major physical presence at the net and even in the backrow where she can set and swing, she is also a big time basketball player for Randolph. Senior, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='119400' first='Carizma' last='Muth']</strong> is absolutely electric.  She was out the first tournament of the season, but once the Rockets get her back which is looks like she is back on the court they are going to be tough to stop.  She can serve receive and attack anywhere which puts a ton of pressure on the other side of the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who is Athens? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Athens is approximately 30 minutes West of Wausau and currently atop of the D1 rankings.  What is scary about this team is the amount of underclassmen who are dominating the court.  They are led by three juniors in attacking with <strong>Addison Lavicka, [player_tooltip player_id='257820' first='Jazelle' last='Hartwig'], and Sophia Coker</strong>.  Lavicka and Hartwig also share setting duties while senior libero, <strong>Savannah Epping</strong> leads the way in digs.  Two of their losses are to a ranked D1 squad in Chippewa Falls.  They will have quite the exciting post season with other top contenders in Columbus Catholic, Newman Catholic, and Wabeno/Laona who are accustomed to deep postseason matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->