They’re Baaaaack – WIAA State Tournament

Sectional Finals have concluded and the results are in. Now we know who will be returning to the Resch for another shot at the gold ball and to be crowned state champions. (Too bad they don't have sweet crowns like our Queen of the Quads tournament!)

The Lighting will be returning to the Resch but without libero, Ella Brinkhoff, pin hitters, Karissa Fortune, and Madeline Koshuta, and middle, Olivia Lasee. They will, however, be returning with six rotation outside, Ella Demetrician Ella Demetrician 6'2" | OH Appleton North | 2024 State #40 Nation WI who has so much power and has perfected her off-blocker defense and transition over the years. They will also bring back Emerson Van Laanen, Elise Checkalski, and Maggie Hahnke Maggie Hahnke 5'10" | OH Appleton North | 2024 State WI for another shot at the gold ball.

I feel like we should maybe just call this Burlington's annual migration up to Green Bay. The Demons graduated some big pieces including pin hitters Bella Stoughton, Molly Berezowitz, and Kenna Kornely; middle, Abby Alan; setter Graelen Kwiatkowski; and defensive specialist, Isabel Bowman. They will return libero, Kati Berezowitz Kati Berezowitz 5'3" | DS/L Burlington | 2025 State WI who brings a low flat serve that bottoms out. The Demons also have middle, Caitlyn Flees Caitlyn Flees 6'1" | MB Burlington | 2024 State WI , returning with her big block, high contact, and fast swinging angles. They also return outside hitter, Sophia Chase who did a nice job blocking last year and refused to be tooled. The Demons also have their second contact, Ella Safar Ella Safar 5'9" | S Burlington | 2024 State WI , back to deliver the ball to the hot hand.

The Dashers will be looking to protect their title as Division 1 State Champions from 2022. They lost a few key pieces from the 2022 squad including libero, Olivia Deguzman, middles, Helena Cesarz and Bella Lipski, and defensive specialist, Ellie Connor. Meanwhile they return pin hitters, Sophia Wendlick Sophia Wendlick 6'0" | OH DSHA | 2024 State #100 Nation WI , Olivia Durst Olivia Durst 5'9" | DS/L DSHA | 2025 State #141 Nation WI , and Madison Quest Madison Quest 6'3" | OH DSHA | 2025 State #15 Nation WI . Wendlick was absolute fire last year and everything she touched became a kill. She was so productive as an attacker but also put up a monster block. Wendlick has a killer instinct and it certainly helped that she and the setter, Jordan Czajkoqski, were not just on the same page. They were on the same paragraph and sometimes the same word. Czajkoqski moves so well on defense and she knows how to get the ball into the hand of her hot hitter. Olivia Durst Olivia Durst 5'9" | DS/L DSHA | 2025 State #141 Nation WI is an explosive 6 rotation player. I haven't seen them yet this season but I would assume Durst has likely taken over the libero duties. She also presents a strong serve that takes teams out of system and forces a lot of errors and overpasses. I have to laugh when I think of state last year and Madison Quest Madison Quest 6'3" | OH DSHA | 2025 State #15 Nation WI because I made a friend with a photographer in the media room. As she was going through her photos she referred to Quest as a goddess. And really, she isn't wrong because Quest can quite literally fly and when she is on she is unstoppable. She might as well carry a thunderbolt.

The big question will be, can they make it 5 straight? The Tigers graduated big pieces including Jackie Yancy, Saige Damrow, Josie Larson, Eden Maranell, Abby Sohn, and Layla Beaudoin. But they have a program with a tradition that doesn't graduate and leave with the seniors. They will have the experience of returners like Olivia Baierl Olivia Baierl 5'8" | DS/L Howards Grove | 2024 State WI , who were taking big swings down the line last year in the most stressful situations. She is typically a libero in club but in high school, she knows how to protect the net. They also return playmakers like Elle Kennedy Elle Kennedy 5'5" | DS/L Howards Grove | 2024 State WI , Meghan Zielinski, and Mallory Gozdziewski Mallory Gozdziewski 5'9" | OH Howards Grove | 2024 State WI .