Top Seeds, Players, and Bracket Busters in D1, D2 Postseason Play

Tourney Time - Let;s Go! I brokedown the top seeds of D3 and D4 last week and will take on D1 and D2.  Who are the top teams, how do they stack up against each other, and who else is in their section that could be in the hunt as well.  We have it all as tournaments start for all D2 squads tonight with D1 starting on Thursday.  Let's do it!    D1 Section 1   Chippewa Falls 38-2   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/04/Perlberg1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-190582" width="368" height="245"/><figcaption>Perlberg</figcaption></figure>   WVCA -7   Max Preps - 5   Section 1 is the most improved section in the state where there are multiple teams in the hunt for a section title and whomever makes it to state from this section will be a tough match up on the Resch Center floor. Chippewa Falls are the top seed where they are led by a high powered and balanced attack with [player_tooltip player_id='179085' first='Paige' last='Steinmetz'], [player_tooltip player_id='148971' first='Sophie' last='Robinson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='149694' first='Samantha' last='Perlberg'] where they are combined to average nearly ten kills per set. River Falls will be the two seed in this section followed by Marshfield who has a record of 33-3 and Hudson at 32-6. Thats four teams ranked in the top 15 in Max Preps. Don't sleep on Western Wisconsin.     D1 Section 2   Appleton North 29-4   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07370.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-230955" width="334" height="223"/></figure>   WVCA - 3   Max Preps - 4   Section 2 has Appleton North and Kimberly at the top once again where these two teams have been playing for a section championship against each other since 2018. Kimberly topped Appleton North in a five set thriller on September 1, 3-2 and would eventually win the FVA title. Appleton North was without one of the top setters in the Class of 2024 in [player_tooltip player_id='122566' first='Emerson' last='Van Lannen'] who was out with an injury. They will also have a 1-2 punch on the outside with [player_tooltip player_id='91877' first='Karissa' last='Fortune'] (Drake) and [player_tooltip player_id='122483' first='Ella' last='Demetrician'] (Michigan). [player_tooltip player_id='119395' first='Olivia' last='Lasee'] has a major physical presence in the middle where she is committed to Lehigh.   D1 Section 3   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07452.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-228053" width="384" height="256"/><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='91910' first='Ally' last='Saleh']</figcaption></figure>   Waunakee 28-15   WVCA - RV   Max Preps - 20   This would have been a very interesting seeding meeting to be a fly on the wall in. Waunakee is the most battle tested team in this section where Middleton and Holmen have better overall records than Waunakee. Middleton is 25-2 with their only losses coming to Hortonville the first weekend of the season and La Crosse Aquinas at the end of September. They will be hungry for a matchup with potential match up with Waunakee while Holmen and Verona will have a chip on their shoulder as well. Waunakee will be led by [player_tooltip player_id='91910' first='Ally' last='Saleh'] and [player_tooltip player_id='178620' first='Summer' last='Grigg'] who do it all from the front and backrow.   D1 Section 4   Oconomowoc 34-1   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07390.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-228040" width="353" height="235"/><figcaption>Wagner and Kearns</figcaption></figure>   WVCA - 1   Max Preps - 1   There isn't much to debate here with Oconomowoc as the defending state champions have passed every test they have faced with wins against top teams in DSHA, Sussex Hamilton, and top ranked in D3 Howards Grove. [player_tooltip player_id='91876' first='Cordelia' last='Kearns'], the experienced senior is averaging 4.3 kills per set on the season and an upstart freshman in Marlee Savik has been a new name and a key contributor. The number two seed in this section in Manitowoc Lincoln who has some sneaky potential. They have a very talented junior class that is led by 6'3 lefty right side [player_tooltip player_id='181809' first='Madison' last='York']. She is a force to be reckoned with and can change the trajectory of a game with her swing and block. The Ships will use their lockdown defense and just really clean and efficient ball control to advance to what could be a sectional final at Oconomowoc.   D1 Section 5   DSHA 37-6   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/10/DSC07335.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-236766" width="408" height="272"/><figcaption>DSHA</figcaption></figure>   WVCA - 2   Max Preps - 2   Once again this section is a gauntlet. Divine Savior Holy Angels out of Milwaukee is the top seed where the only team in Wisconsin to give them big problems has been Oconoowoc. However, the teams below them in their section are within striking distance and right at their heels. This section has six teams all within the top 25 of the Max Preps rankings. Sussex Hamilton finished the season with a close loss to DSHA (Going to five sets). Getting to the sectionals in this part of the state is a feat in itself. DSHA has been led by one of the top Class of 2025 players in the country with [player_tooltip player_id='178033' first='Madison' last='Quest'] on the outside who averages just over four kills per set. A junior who is continuing to rise is [player_tooltip player_id='122569' first='Sophia' last='Wendlick'] who is second on the team in kills and leads the team in blocks.   D1 Section 6   Kettle Moraine 20-9   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07413.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-227988" width="385" height="257"/><figcaption>Kettle Moraine</figcaption></figure>   WVCA - RV   Max Preps - 12   Kettle Moraine will be looking to make their third state tournament appearance in the past four years and the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='91875' first='Grace' last='Grocholski'] and [player_tooltip player_id='82910' first='Kyleigh' last='Coghlan'] have had a huge hand in all of those appearances. Grocholski is the powerful outside who is committed to play basketball at West Virginia while Coghlan was on the all tournament team at the state tournament as a freshman and has continued to pace the defense. They were in the final four last season before dropping a tough match to Oconomowoc. They will be hunted by other Classic 8 rival Mukwonago and teams on the Western side of this section in Stoughton and Fort Atkinson.   D1 Section 7   Burlington   WVCA - 5   Max Preps - 10   It could be the trophy cases full of state tournament hardware or the tye dye orange jerseys, but there's something about Btown being back at the top of their section. This program knows how to win and they know how to play come late October. The Demons have a really talented senior class led by [player_tooltip player_id='184771' first='Kenna' last='Kornely'] and [player_tooltip player_id='119434' first='Abby' last='Alan'] scoring in the front line and senior [player_tooltip player_id='91895' first='Molly' last='Berezowitz'] who is the leader of the backrow where she will head to Marquette next year to play volleyball. Oak Creek is the two seed who is returning from the state tournament in 2021. The Knights are led by [player_tooltip player_id='122464' first='Kaitlyn' last='Dohs'] who averages nearly four kills per set and is extremely dynamic in every facet of the game.     D1 Section 8   Wauwatosa East   WVCA - NR   Max Preps - 40   This section is wide open. Tosa East takes the top seed with a 19-17 record and finished sixth in one of the top conferences in the state in the GMC. The Red Raiders are led by two sophomores in Jackie Brown and [player_tooltip player_id='178248' first='Tilly' last='Petsch']. This is a young, fired up squad who is looking to make some postseason noise. Waukesha West is the two seed with a 16-20 record, but does have a big win over conference rival Arrowhead from earlier in the season. This could be a wild couple weeks for teams in this section where plenty will be looking for a chance to play for a state berth.   D2 Section 1   Baldwin-Woodville 33-6   WVCA - RV   Max Preps - 14     Dodgeville 25-5   WVCA - NR   Max Preps - 25   The Northwest section of the state has plenty of teams who have been just outside the top ten starting with Baldwin-Woodville who will be the favorite in this section. Jordyn Letter has been the key to this offense averaging 3.5 kills perset and setter Stella Kamm has close to 800 assists on the year. Bloomer will be another team to keep tabs on where they are ranked 8th in D2 via Max Preps. Dodgeville has the top seed on their side of the sectional. This is another young team as their top three kill leaders are sophomores in Olivia Forsyth, Ava Garthwaite, and Lily Wiegel.   D2 Section 2   Xavier 33-7   WVCA - 1   Max Preps - 4   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/11/Meghan-Scholz.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-117186" width="521" height="347"/><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='91911' first='Meghan' last='Scholz']</figcaption></figure>   Tomahawk 27-7   WVCA - NR   Max Preps - 12   The half of the section with Xavier is stacked with ranked teams. Xavier has the top seed, Luxemburg-Casco is the three time defending state champion and is the second ranked team via Max Preps, Fox Valley Lutheran is 33-3 with two of their three losses coming to Xavier and L-C, Freedom is ranked eighth, and just outside of that is the five seed in Notre Dame Academy who is just outside the top 20 in Max Preps. Xavier has been at the top all season and has a really strong, physical lineup featuring five attackers with over 100 kills. Belle Shea is a gritty libero who paces the defense and the one who runs the show is [player_tooltip player_id='144816' first='Mariah' last='Potter'] who has over 800 assists on the season.   Tomahawk has the top seed on the other side of the section and will feature one of the top attackers out of the Class of 2023 in senior [player_tooltip player_id='91911' first='Meghan' last='Scholz']. At 6'3, Scholz has command of the front row offensively and defensively. She is averaging over four kills per set and hitting nearly .500. She will play at DePaul following high school.   D2 Section 3   Sauk Prairie 42-3   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/10/DSC07231.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-236767" width="522" height="348"/><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='119403' first='Jenna' last='Pistono']</figcaption></figure>   WVCA - 2   Max Preps - 1     Edgewood   WVCA - 9   Max Preps - 10   Yikes, another section where the number of ranked teams is outstanding.    From the WVCA Poll    2 - Sauk Prairie   4 - Kewaskum    8 - McFarland   9 - Edgewood   HM - Lakeside Lutheran    This section has traditionally been tough with the best teams in the Madison area duking it out to get to the state tournament. McFarland has been the team to come out of this section the past couple years and were state runner up in 2021 and 2019. Sauk Prairie has a lot of power and balance across the whole line up. [player_tooltip player_id='91940' first='Annika' last='Braund'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181818' first='Jozie' last='Braund'] score points from the pin where [player_tooltip player_id='158572' first='Maggie' last='Hartwig'] is a major force in the middle. [player_tooltip player_id='122470' first='Ellery' last='Apel'] holds it down defensively as the libero and [player_tooltip player_id='119403' first='Jenna' last='Pistono'] does it all as a setter. Their only losses are to DSHA, Arrowhead, and Edgewood.   Edgewood has a batch of D1 commits starting with senior, [player_tooltip player_id='91887' first='Addison' last='Schmotzer'] who will head to St. Thomas and two juniors who will be heading to UW-Green Bay in [player_tooltip player_id='180367' first='Gillian' last='Koning'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181747' first='Diane' last='Pichelman']. Sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id='178289' first='Rebecca' last='Ring'] is coming on strong and has a big swing that can really jumpstart this team.   D2 Section 4   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/10/DSC07455.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-236770" width="445" height="297"/><figcaption>KML</figcaption></figure>   Kettle Moraine Lutheran 24-16   WVCA - 6   Max Preps - 6     St. Thomas More 20-7   WVCA - NR   Max Preps - 15   This section is once again wide where these teams play each other all season long.  KML is always one of the top teams in their section and will rely heavily on Toledo commit [player_tooltip player_id='82287' first='Emily' last='Honzelka'].  At the other end of their bracket is Pewaukee and Catholic Memorial who know how to win and have some high caliber player themselves.    St. Thomas More got the one seed on their side of their bracket and are led by sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='178039' first='Hailey' last='Goebel'] who has nearly four kills per set. However New Berlin West and Wisconsin Lutheran have the ability to beat any team in that section. Wisco most recently defeated Pewaukee at the Luxemburg-Casco tournament while New Berlin West has wins over Wisco and St. Thomas More this season.

Tourney Time - Let;s Go! I brokedown the top seeds of D3 and D4 last week and will take on D1 and D2. Who are the top teams, how do they stack up against each other, and who else is in their section that could be in the hunt as well. We have it all as tournaments start for all D2 squads tonight with D1 starting on Thursday. Let's do it!