Unforgettable Performances at WIAA State: Division 1
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The Division 1 state championship match was some of the best volleyball I have ever seen at a high school level. But there were some serious battles throughout the weekend to get to that match. The Division 1 field starts…
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Continue ReadingThe Division 1 state championship match was some of the best volleyball I have ever seen at a high school level. But there were some serious battles throughout the weekend to get to that match. The Division 1 field starts with eight teams, and each team had unforgettable moments that will forever be in my brain! Here are some athletes who had unforgettable performances across all matches at the state tournament.
Olivia was incredible from start to finish at the state tournament. She played fearless and aggressive defense. Her serve receive was also outstanding in every match. She rarely got aced and covered an insane amount of court on defense. She seemed to be everywhere at once. Olivia went up against the top hitters in the state and never backed down on defense. She had ice in her veins even on match point of the five-set thriller for the state championship title.
Madison played an incredible tournament from start to finish. She had 25 kills and 18 digs in the championship match alone. Madison had 50 kills across the three matches at state. She was reliable in the back row and pursued every ball. Madison was aggressive with her shots and has huge power at the net. She is one of the top athletes in this class and in the state and it showed at the state tournament.
Sophia was incredible under pressure. She had momentum-changing plays in every set. Despite only playing half the time, she managed to dominate. In the quarterfinal match she recorded 20 kills and a 0.792 hitting percentage. In the championship match she had 18 kills and hit 0.417, the highest of any athlete in the match. Those numbers are crazy good. She amped her team up and could manufacture kills on even the biggest blocks. She is an incredible athlete and her plays made my jaw drop on several occasions.
Olivia is a very high-level athlete who is very well-rounded. She played all six rotations and earned points out of the front and back row. She really impressed me on defense and serve receive. Her ability to pass well consistently was key to DSHA’s success at the state tournament. Olivia also has power and great shots in the front row.
Highlights
Lilly impressed the heck out of me at state. She was consistent, energetic, and positive throughout all the highs and lows of the tournament. Lilly was a leader on the court and ran the offense cleanly. She has a great connection with middle hitter Anna Bjork Anna Bjork 6’3″ | MB Oconomowoc | 2024 State #54 Nation WI which is always fun to watch. Lilly also had a lethal serve and was scrappy on defense as well.
Anna DOMINATED out of the middle. She was huge defensively as well as on offense. Anna put up a nearly impenetrable block. She had six blocks and 22 kills in the championship match alone. Anna was able to utilize every set she got, even when Lilly Wagner Lilly Wagner 6’0″ | S Oconomowoc | 2024 State #42 Nation WI was at or behind the ten foot line. She is a dynamic and high-level athlete who has an insane amount of potential.
Highlights
Cordelia was explosive on the pin for Oconomowoc. In the semifinal match she reached her 1,000 kill milestone for the Raccoons, and amazing accomplishment. Cordelia has a powerful approach and arm swing. She can pound the ball on one play and finesse a tip or roll shot the next. She also plays very high-level defense and serve receive.
Highlights
Marlee Sivak Marlee Sivak 6'1" | OH Oconomowoc | 2026 State WI
Marlee Sivak Marlee Sivak 6'1" | OH Oconomowoc | 2026 State WI
Marlee was fearless at state. As one of the only freshman playing at the Division 1 level at state, she showed up and played tough. She has a quick and explosive approach and can swing well from both pins. She is talented in the back row as well and was a go-to hitter for Lilly Wagner Lilly Wagner 6’0″ | S Oconomowoc | 2024 State #42 Nation WI . Marlee stepped up on the big stage and had 13 kills and 11 digs in the championship match.
Ella pounded some balls at the state tournament. You could hear the thud as they hit the ground. She was one of the most powerful hitters at state and her impact was felt. She had 24 kills and hit 0.342 in the quarter final match. She also contributed 12 digs and numerous great serve receive passes.
Highlights
It has been awhile since I have had the opportunity to see Karissa play, and she seriously impressed me at the state tournament. She made huge plays and was simply explosive on the pin and out of the back row.
Emerson is a very talented setter. She moves the ball around the court with tempo and seeming ease. Emerson makes even the toughest sets look easy. She is aggressive on the court and is not afraid to make tough sets. Her court awareness is superb. Emerson is a tough setter to read which helps hold opposing blockers, especially when she is in the front row.
Ella is a clean and precise setter who runs the Burlington offense very well. She utilizes every hitter on the court and has a great court presence. Ella pushes her team as a leader and runs the offense in all six rotations. She has a quick touch on the ball and sets a fast tempo.
Kenna was a highly impactful six rotation pin hitter for Burlington. She helped the team win in the quarter finals and take a set off of Oconomowoc in the semifinal match. Kenna was an energizer and leader on the court. She has an explosive approach and shows a lot of grit on the court.
Molly is a talented back row player who played as a six rotation pin for Burlington. She dominated on serve receive and defense. Molly also hit well out of the front row, mixing up her shots and powering through some big blocks. She got a lot of touches on the ball throughout the quarterfinal and semifinal matches and used every touch to better the ball for her team.
Kati really impressed me at the state tournament. She played libero for Burlington and was confident and fearless in the back row. She made some amazing digs and kept the ball alive consistently for her team. Kati is in the class of 2025 and is a player to watch in this class.
Kyleigh was a leader on the court for Kettle Moraine. She was one of the more experienced players in the starting line up. Kyleigh has a great platform and never lets up when she is on the court. She is aggressive yet consistent and really impressed me in Kettle Moraine’s quarterfinal match at the state tournament.
Grace is one of the top athletes in the state for both volleyball and basketball. She is incredibly athletic and does well under pressure. She clocked 18 kills for the Lasers and led the team in kills and hitting percentage. She is no stranger to high pressure situations and performed well as a leader on the court.
Evinae is a clean and quick setter who moves the ball around well. She has great sets and is consistent. She is a very talented athlete who was a natural leader on her team. She had 21 assists, 12 digs, 4 kills, and a block. Evinae is an athlete with huge potential.
Samantha really impressed me at the state tournament. She played with grit and tenacity. Paige was dominant in the Chippewa Falls match against Burlington. She had numerous kills and digs in the five set thriller against Burlington. She also had two block assists and an ace. Samantha was a huge leader on the court and an athlete that could be relied upon in the tight match.
Kennedy Tisdale Kennedy Tisdale 5'11" | MB Pewaukee | 2026 State WI
Kennedy Tisdale Kennedy Tisdale 5'11" | MB Pewaukee | 2026 State WI
Kennedy played really tough in her first year as a high school athlete. She had no errors in Wauwatosa East’s state quarter final match against Oconomowoc. Kennedy had the highest hitting percentage on her team this year and had over 150 kills in her freshman season. She has huge potential and is a very talented athlete.