Sneaky Dangerous Teams As Postseason Play Approaches in Wisconsin

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are two weekends left of tournaments, conference champions are being crowned, and seeding is starting to come together.&nbsp; There are some teams who are on the rise that might be new or just haven't been ranked.&nbsp; Here are some teams who are sneaking up and could be ones who could cause some damage come postseason. They are new on my radar, could be dark horses come tournament time, or have a big record but haven't broken into the rankings just yet.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hudson - D1 - Section 1 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":166552,"width":319,"height":213,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/121-Jana-Jankowski.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-166552" width="319" height="213"/><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='181197' first='Jana' last='Jankowski']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>25-5</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Section 1 in D1 has been dominated by River Falls, but this section is the most improved section in the state where Chippewa Falls, Marshfield, and now Hudson join River Falls among the top competitors in this bunch.&nbsp; The Raiders are led by Senior [player_tooltip player_id='92021' first='Jaeda' last='Lockhart'] who plays club on the Kokoro team with a lot of the River Falls athletes at Kokoro.&nbsp; Another athlete who will be on the rise is [player_tooltip player_id='181197' first='Jana' last='Jankowski'] who is a really physical athlete up front where she has such a presence.&nbsp; Jankowski and Lockhard combine nearly five kills per set and are hitting right around .400.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Holmen - D1 - Section 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18-4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holmen was supposed to have a down year after their state tournament team in 2021 graduated plenty of seniors.&nbsp; They have surged to an 18-4 record and will be in the hunt in section three with a lot of the Madison are schools.&nbsp; They are led by senior, [player_tooltip player_id='194730' first='Kyla' last='Christnovich'] who is leading the team in kills and blocks.&nbsp; There are also two defenders holding down the Kline legacy with Gracey Kline and Macy Kline who are combining for nearly nine digs a set.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Verona - D1 - Section 3 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>20-5 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats have a huge match tonight when they face off against conference rival Middleton, who is another team having a big season at 16-2.&nbsp; Verona has dropped a couple matches to other top teams in Oak Creek and Kettle Moraine, but are hoping to have some late season momentum to get a favorable seed in Section 3.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='149576' first='Jamie' last='Puent'] is leading the team in kills with nearly three per set, but the Wildcats also have two really dynamic setters in [player_tooltip player_id='91923' first='Sydney' last='Schultz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='122524' first='Reagan' last='McIntosh']. McIntosh is a point scorer too where she averages two kills per set and an ace per set as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":205209,"width":394,"height":263,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/55-Alexa-Hernandez.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-205209" width="394" height="263"/><figcaption>Hernandez</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Green Bay Southwest - D1 - Section 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17-6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southwest is a really dangerous matchup where they have a lot of athleticism and physicality on their side of the net.&nbsp; They have wins over Freedom, Kaukauna, Notre Dame, and Marshfield who are all having solid season themselves.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='178227' first='Alexa' last='Hernandez'] runs the show as the setter where she is a solid defender, has a nasty serve, and knows exactly when to catch the defense on guard when she attacks.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='178232' first='Morgan' last='Stewart'] is a six rotation outside who is averaging 3.5 kills per set.&nbsp; Their middle blocking duo of [player_tooltip player_id='221475' first='Margie' last='Stevens'] and [player_tooltip player_id='184772' first='Olivia' last='Daane'] are a major force offensively and defensively.&nbsp; They provide a big block and when Stevens can get in system and attack off one foot - watch out.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bloomer - D2 - Section 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>25-8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Baldwin-Woodville - D2 - Section 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>29-4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Section 1 in Division 2 is a pretty open field, but the two who are starting to emerge as the front runners are Bloomer and Baldwin-Woodville.  Bloomer can relate their success to an extremely balanced attack with four players over 100 kills that include Katlyn Jones, CC Seibel, Bella Seibel, and Isabel Rubenzer.  Baldwin-Woodville has only four losses, with one coming to Prescott who will also be in Section 1.  The Blackhawks are led by Jordyn Letter who has 3.5 kills per set and is on track to have over 300 kills on the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":201776,"width":483,"height":322,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/Natalie-Ptacek.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-201776" width="483" height="322"/><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='177423' first='Natalie' last='Ptacek']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prescott - D2 - Section 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16-13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The record might not be extremely shiny, but this could be a darkhorse in Section 1.&nbsp; Enter [player_tooltip player_id='177423' first='Natalie' last='Ptacek'] and [player_tooltip player_id='174733' first='Reese' last='Ptacek'].&nbsp; Natalie is from the Class of 2025 and Reese in the Class of 2024.&nbsp; They are two athletes who have found success playing for Northern Lights Volleyball Club out of the South Metro area of Minneapolis/St. Paul&nbsp; Resse is a middle blocker, but she can play anywhere.&nbsp; The future Kansas Jayhawk can take over a game and is one who will find a way to win.&nbsp; They will be dangerous come tournament time.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Winneconne - D2 - Section 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>24-4 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolves have won the games they are expected to and are looking for that upset to beef up their strength of schedule heading into seeding.&nbsp; They dropped conference matches to Kettle Moraine Lutheran and Kewaskum who are ranked in the top ten.&nbsp; They will be in section three, which is the Madison area section loaded with the likes of McFarland, Sauk Prairie, and Edgewood (just to name a few).&nbsp; This team is led by seniors Leah Korhn and Mackenzie Anderson who pace the way with scoring points with kills and blocks.&nbsp; Another junior to keep tabs on out of the middle is Aubrey Musselman.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Westby - D3 - Section 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>20-1 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westby is a relatively new team on my radar where they will be in D3-Section 1 where the top team as of right now out of there is St. Croix Falls and Aquinas are always a threat come postseason.&nbsp; Jayda Berg is the key player for this team where she is averaging 3.5 kills per set.&nbsp; She is a tough hitter to defend where she's 6'2, lefty handed and extremely dynamic with how she can score.&nbsp; She is also a tough block to get around.&nbsp; When she's not on the volleyball court, she's a dominant pitcher in the circle who will continue volleyball and softball at Winona State.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>River Ridge - D3 - Section 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>20-0 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I covered River Ridge a few years ago when they qualified for state in D4.&nbsp; They have now moved up to D3 and still winning plenty of matches.&nbsp; At 20-0 they have had a dominant season, but will be in section three who has the likes of Randolph, Brodhead, New Glarus, and Waterloo (to name a few) who have difficult schedules in D3.&nbsp; River Ridge is led by Payton Millin who does a little bit of everything for the Timberwolves where she averages over 5 kills per set, including 27 kills in a 3-1 over Benton.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":166482,"width":311,"height":207,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/50-Braelyn-Pionke.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-166482" width="311" height="207"/><figcaption>Braelyn Pionke</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tri-County - D4 - Section 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>21-3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tri-County has been to some Prep Dig Summer Events, including the Prep Dig Sizzle and each year they have been coming in as a much improved team.  This year they are off to a 21-3 start and have accumulated plenty of key wins this season.  The Penguins are led by Braelyn Pionke who has nearly 3.5 kills per set and [player_tooltip player_id='178253' first='Makenna' last='Rettler'] who has over 100 kills, digs, and assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->