A Deep Dive on D1 Sectional Pairings (5-8)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The “Road to the Resch” has been paved with sectional pairings being released for the WIAA Girls State Volleyball Tournament.&nbsp; I'll be coaching in D2 and will be staying away from any reporting of those sections, but I'll be happy to take a deep dive into D1.&nbsp; Who are the favorites?&nbsp; Who are the dark horses?&nbsp; Who is going to be playing into the second week of November.&nbsp; Let's take a look.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://prepdig.com/2024/10/a-deep-dive-on-d1-sectional-pairings-1-4/","type":"wp-embed","providerNameSlug":"prep-dig"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-prep-dig wp-block-embed-prep-dig"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://prepdig.com/2024/10/a-deep-dive-on-d1-sectional-pairings-1-4/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Section 5&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Four Seeds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Oconomowoc</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mukwonago</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sun Prairie West</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Watertown&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oconomowoc has a tradition of finishing their season in Green Bay where they have played in the state championship game every season since 2018 (excluding the 2020 Covid season held in Wisconsin Rapids).  They graduated plenty of power with their 2024 senior class, but they just reload.  The Raccoons are led by Maryland commit [player_tooltip player_id='249678' first='Marlee' last='Sivak'] who averages four kills per set while setter [player_tooltip player_id='284069' first='Lizzy' last='Kwiatkowski'] has over 700 assists and can be a physical, offensive force at the net when needed. The two seed is Mukwonago who fell just short in the sectional final in 2023 and have plenty of ball control and power heading into the section tournament.  Illinois commit [player_tooltip player_id='178034' first='Gabriella' last='Pitcel'] has over 1,000 kills in her career for Mukwonago.  Ocon and Mukwonago faced off in conference play with Ocon taking the match 3-2 on September 3. They won again on September 7 by the score of 2-1, and Mukwonago took the match 2-1 on September 28.  Sun Prairie West has put together their best season as a school with a record of 25-7, 8-1 in the Big Eight Conference. Junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='247272' first='Sari' last='Marks'] averages nearly three kills per set and over 200 assists on the season. She is one of the top available players in the Class of 2026.  Watertown is the four seed with a 17-18 record with one of their top attacker being [player_tooltip player_id='509337' first='Ella' last='Peirick'] who is only a sophomore. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who Could Cause Trouble?&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oconomowoc and Mukwonago are the heavy favorites here.&nbsp; I think it would be a stretch is someone outside the top four would make it into the sectional semifinals.&nbsp; The five seed Milton and the six seed Oregon could cause some waves in the regional finals if seeding plays out.&nbsp; Sun Prairie West might give Mukwonago a scare with Marks who has the ability to take over a match.&nbsp; However, I predict a big time sectional final battle with Ocon and Muk where there are going to be plenty of fireworks if the seeding plays out.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Section 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Four Seeds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Arrowhead</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hamilton&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pewaukee</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Brookfield East</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cue the lights, this section will be full of plenty of storylines and dramatics. There is plenty of familiarity between all of these programs where they have faced off against each other throughout the season and many of these athletes play club ball against each other.&nbsp; Arrowhead takes the top seed where they are 33-7 and have the head to head win against Sussex Hamilton.&nbsp; The Warhawks have a balanced offense led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='178045' first='Myla' last='Unterweger'] and they also have a game changing libero in Siena Maccudden who recently surpassed 1,000 career digs.&nbsp; Sussex Hamilton was in the final four of Division 1 last season and are led by Northern Illinois commit [player_tooltip player_id='178038' first='Eva' last='Finnessy'] and Rutgers commit in setter [player_tooltip player_id='249644' first='Brooke' last='Baldwin'].&nbsp; Pewaukee moves up to D1 due to the performance factor where they have played a challenging schedule collecting over 30 wins this season.&nbsp; Brookfield East is battle tested with a 25-12 record, led by Princeton commit [player_tooltip player_id='221048' first='Natalie' last='Surges'] who has averaged four kills per set.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who Could Cause Trouble?&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is no fear in these teams from this sectional.&nbsp; They have all played each other through conference and weekend tournament play.&nbsp; The next four seeds are Muskego, Brookfield Central, Waukesha North, and Waukesha West.&nbsp; Brookfield Central is one who could be a little sneaky.&nbsp; They have pin attacker and six rotation player [player_tooltip player_id='178029' first='Emma' last='Koceja'] who leads the team in kills and digs.&nbsp; Muskego has a record of 14-24, but have played a rugged schedule where they wins over Brookfield Central, Franklin, and Waukesha North.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Section 7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Four Seeds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Franklin</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Oak Creek</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Westosha Central&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Burlington&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This section could provide some interesting matchups where the top teams are all battle tested with some familiarity.  Franklin defeated Oak Creek in the sectional final in 2023 enroute to the state tournament. They come into this section as the top seed with a 29-9 record and champions of the Southeast Conference that includes a win over Oak Creek on September 17. They have lost one match in October and are led by Troy commit [player_tooltip player_id='178043' first='Madison' last='Marx'] who has close to 800 assists this season while her younger sister, [player_tooltip player_id='545503' first='Kaitlyn' last='Marx'] averages over three kills per set. Oak Creek is 21-16 and is led by an electric attacker in [player_tooltip player_id='223818' first='Isabella' last='Ruether'] who can really pile up the points.  Westosha Central gets the three seed where they won the Southern Lakes Conference that included a win over Burlington 3-2 back on September 3.  The Falcons have one of the top sophomores in the state in setter [player_tooltip player_id='435900' first='Payton' last='Scifres'] who can find the right match up for her attackers or can take it herself to score points.  Burlington has plenty of tradition behind their name and have one of the top liberos in the state in Vanderbilt commit, [player_tooltip player_id='178024' first='Kati' last='Berezowitz']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who Could Cause Trouble?&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kenosha Indian Trail has a 20-13 record and if seeding plays out would be a great match with Burlington to get into the sectional semifinal.&nbsp; However, I do think the sectional champion will come out of the top four here.&nbsp; Franklin has the experience of making a run to the state tournament, a veteran setter in [player_tooltip player_id='178043' first='Madison' last='Marx'], and have set themselves aside in this section.&nbsp; Westosha Central if seeding plays out, will be quite a match with Oak Creek.&nbsp; If they can contain Ruether on the pin of Oak Creek and use their balance I think the Falcons could see a sectional final appearance.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Section 8&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Four Seeds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>DSHA</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Wauwatosa East</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Wisconsin Lutheran</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Nicolet</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DSHA has been one of the most dominant teams in the country with their only loss of the season coming to Marist out of Chicago.&nbsp; They will be attempting to claim their third straight state title and are the clear favorite in this section.&nbsp; However, for the field they will be looking to make some noise and have nothing to lose come tournament time. Wauwatosa East is 2013 and has been through the gauntlet of the GMAC led by attackers [player_tooltip player_id='178035' first='Jackie' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='178248' first='Tilly' last='Petsch'], and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='545509' first='Sylvia' last='Flood'].&nbsp; Wisconsin Lutheran claimed the three seed where they are battle tested and have some big wins on the season.&nbsp; They are led by two dynamic sophomores in [player_tooltip player_id='435889' first='Gigi' last='Chasco'] and [player_tooltip player_id='487025' first='Nicalai' last='Eismann'].&nbsp; Tosa East claimed the four seed where they are led by middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='275792' first='Tessa' last='Jacobson'].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who Could Cause Trouble?&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am going with DSHA to punch their ticket to the Resch, but the rest of this section should be really exciting.&nbsp; I like the balance of Wisconsin Lutheran and the likes of Chasco who is a really exciting player who can make a lot of positive things happen.&nbsp; I know the five seed, Nicolet, could make a run to get into the sectional semifinals.&nbsp; A fun matchup could be the #2 vs. #3 sectional semifinal where Tosa East will host everyone, including #2 Wisco if seeding plays out.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->