Who Has The Toughest “Road To The Resch”?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The pairings are out, the “Road To The Resch” has been paved.&nbsp; But who has the toughest road?&nbsp; What are the barriers for some of these teams who will be looking to make it to Green Bay the first week of November.&nbsp; We have a few ideas.&nbsp; Let's take a look at some of the toughest sectionals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>D1 - Section 5</strong></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>Menomonee Falls</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sussex Hamilton</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Arrowhead</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Slinger</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From the beginning of this season, it was apparent that this section would be a gauntlet to go through.&nbsp; Menomonee Falls and Sussex Hamilton are both in this section and were among final four teams from a year ago.&nbsp; To advance to the sectional round of this group will be a feat in itself.&nbsp; In the WVCA Coaches Poll there is 2. Sussex Hamilton, 5. Arrowhead, 8. Menomonee Falls, and receiving Honorable Mention is Slinger.&nbsp; Cedarburg, Oshkosh West, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc Lincoln, Homestead, and West Bend West.&nbsp; Yes, that is 11 teams in the Max Preps top 50.&nbsp; Menomonee Falls has taken the top seed while Sussex Hamilton is the #2. Falls swept the Chargers on Tuesday night.&nbsp; In most sections, you could say its between one or two teams, but for these two teams to see a rematch in the sectional final they will have some tough matches along the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>D1 - Section 6&nbsp;</strong></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>Brookfield East</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Waukesha West</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pewaukee</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're heading back to Milwaukee for this section where there are three teams in the top ten in the WVCA Coaches Poll. Oconomowoc has two losses on the season that came to the hands of DSHA and Arrowhead.&nbsp; They went undefeated in the Classic Eight Conference which is always one of the top volleyball conferences in the state.&nbsp; Brookfield East also plays in a tough conference in the Greater Metro where three of their conference losses came to the hands of DSHA, Sussex Hamilton, and Menomonee Falls.&nbsp; Waukesha West has been right there with this group.&nbsp; They did fall to Oconomowoc in conference play, but finished second overall in the Classic Eight that included a big win over a ranked Arrowhead team.&nbsp; Pewaukee could be peaking at the right time and could see Waukesha West at the Luxemburg-Casco tournament this weekend.&nbsp; A team to be aware of is Watertown. This team has been floating around the rankings and is 26-6.&nbsp; They don't have the strength of schedule these teams seeded ahead of them do, but they have firepower that could be dangerous. Another item to note would be Waukesha West is hosting the sectional semifinals while Oconomowoc is hosting the sectional final.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>D2 - Section 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Half Bracket</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Fox Valley Lutheran</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Luxemburg-Casco</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Oconto Falls</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Freedom</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bottom Half Bracket</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Xavier</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Winneconne</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Howards Grove</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Kewaskum&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is plenty of history in this section.&nbsp; Luxemburg-Casco was in the D2 state championship last year, Xavier won state titles in 2022 and 2023 while Howards Grove won four consecutive state titles from 2019-2022 and a runner-up finish in D3 in 2023.&nbsp; This is a group that has felt the effect of the performance factor as Xavier and Howards Grove would typically be D3.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top half of this bracket brings plenty of familiarity.&nbsp; Fox Valley Lutheran and Luxemburg-Casco have gone toe to toe for years in the NEC, trading off big wins and top seeds along the way.&nbsp; However, this year FVL has moved to the Bay Conference where they defeated Xavier and Winneconne within a week of each other as well as a non conference win against Oconto Falls.&nbsp; Xavier has the top seed in the bottom half despite losing to Winneconne they have wins over Luxemburg-Casco and Sauk Prairie.&nbsp; In total, this section has seven teams in the top 25 of Max Preps in D2.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>D2 - Section 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Half Bracket</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sauk Prairie</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Edgewood</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mount Horeb</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Edgerton</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bottom Half Bracket</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Catholic Memorial&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Kettle Moraine Lutheran</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Lake Mills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Jefferson</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yikes, this is rugged. In the top half Sauk Prairie has defeated the likes of Edgewood and McFarland, however their McFarland match was in five sets and Edgewood was able to defeat Sauk in the conference tournament.&nbsp; In the bottom half, Catholic Memorial and Kettle Moraine have the toughest schedules in D2, they are beyond battle tested.&nbsp; They could see each other in the sectional semifinals.&nbsp; In this group, Sauk Prairie, Catholic Memorial, Edgewood, Kettle Moraine, Mount Horeb, and Edgerton are in the top ten or honorable mention of the WVCA coaches poll.&nbsp; Lake Mills is in the top 25 of the D2 Max Preps rankings while Jefferson are coming in as the Rock Valley Conference Champions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Potential Matchups That Are Too Close To Call</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D3 Section 4 - Watertown Luther Prep vs. Living Word Lutheran&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watertown Luther Prep is currently the top ranked team in D3 while Living Word Lutheran has spent time as the time team earlier in the season.  WLP has one of the top sophomores in the state on [player_tooltip player_id='734119' first='Lorelei' last='Candler'] who averages over three kills per set while is also the team's setter with over 300 assists on the season.  Living Word Lutheran has one of the top attackers in D3 in Arkansas State commit [player_tooltip player_id='388457' first='Eden' last='Roethel'] who averages over five kills per set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D4 - Section 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In one half of this section there are three teams in the top six and another just outside the top ten.&nbsp; McDonell Catholic is the top seed in this half and is ranked number one in D4 where they also have the likes of #4 Regis, #6 Edgar, and Columbus Catholic who is just outside the top ten with a 25-13 and champions of the Cloverbest Conference.&nbsp; Regis is coming back after being the state runner up finishers in 2024. The winner of this half could potentially face Webster who is ranked sixth in this division.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D4 - Section 4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is another rugged section.&nbsp; Sheboygan Christian and Heritage Christian have been on a collision course all season.&nbsp; Sheboygan Christian was a state tournament team in 2024 while Heritage Christian got out of the gates fast this season and has seen their name at the top of the D4 rankings.&nbsp; Sheboygan Christian is currently ranked second with Heritage Christian is ranked third. If seeding holds out the winner of this match would face Abundant Life Christian in the sectional final.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D4 Rankings - WVCA as of October 14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>McDonnell Center - Section 1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sheboygan Christian - Section 4</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Heritage Christian - Section 4</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Regis - Section 1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Webster - Section 1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Edgar - Section 1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Abundant Christian Life - Section 4</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Clear Lake - Section 1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Valley Christian - Section 3</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Montello - Section 3</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list -->