1st Impressions from the State Lineup Field: Division 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm excited to be back in person, covering the state tournament this week! Here are some of my initial impressions from the lineup: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Some of these teams went through brutal sectionals and are coming into the state tournament primed and battle-tested.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>We have a great mix of returning teams from 2024 and new teams to the mix. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Most teams are ranked in the WVCA Coaches Ranking, but there are a few 'under the radar' teams that have had incredible seasons. Kimberly and Oak Creek have been on Honorable Mention nearly the entire season, and Verona and SPASH never quite made the list despite very successful seasons.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Returners</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">DSHA</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DSHA is back and looking for its 4th straight state title. Despite graduating numerous core players from previous state championship teams, this team has an incredible mix of senior leadership and young talent that has paved its way back to the Resch. Some of the more tenured players include senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='809763' first='Maddie' last='Brown'], who had a breakout season her sophomore year. She is hitting an incredible .380 and has 97 blocks heading into the state tournament. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='376271' first='Kaitlyn' last='Jones'] is another steady force for this team. She is consistent and has a very high volleyball IQ. Kaitlyn has 663 assists, 207 digs, and 54 aces this season. Senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='800247' first='Abigail' last='Buckner'] anchors the back row and is a huge energizer on the team. The offense for this team is dominated by sophomores Teagan Loechler and [player_tooltip player_id='587062' first='Harper' last='Wendlick'], as well as freshman [player_tooltip player_id='808030' first='Maia' last='Kerry']. Teagan is also a setter, making her a six-rotation threat for any team she comes against. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Hamilton</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hamilton returns after an appearance in 2023 and a State Runner Up finish last year. They defeated Arrowhead (3-2) and Menomonee Falls (3-1), ranked 5 and 6, respectively, in the most recent WVCA Coaches Poll, to earn their trip to Green Bay this year. This sectional ended up being one of the more brutal ones in the state, with so many top 10-ranked teams. Similar to DSHA, Hamilton has several tenured athletes in leadership roles, including setter [player_tooltip player_id='249644' first='Brooke' last='Baldwin'], middle [player_tooltip player_id='828156' first='Aubrey' last='Hicks'], pin [player_tooltip player_id='249688' first='Sylvia' last='Wargolet'], and libero [player_tooltip player_id='249651' first='Emily' last='Zgonc']. Together, they lead the team in nearly every statistic. They also have numerous new faces, including freshman pins [player_tooltip player_id='734111' first='Claire' last='Baldwin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='781698' first='Faith' last='Benson']. Sophomore middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='545520' first='Riley' last='Gizelar'] is also making a name for herself in the middle this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Oak Creek </h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oak Creek dominated through sectionals and had their eyes set on Green Bay. They have a crew of seniors who know how to get the job done, including pin hitters [player_tooltip player_id='223818' first='Isabella' last='Ruether'] and [player_tooltip player_id='249669' first='Lucy' last='Tapp'], and middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='376272' first='Ava' last='Turlais']. The Knights also have a core of juniors who are very solid, such as setter [player_tooltip player_id='741615' first='Julia' last='Schneider'], who has 835 assists this season, and offensive weapon [player_tooltip player_id='522010' first='Lily' last='Turlais'], who consistently makes a significant contribution to their team. This is a team that has battled and can play tough. They have numerous matchups with Oconomowoc and have also played DSHA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Newcomers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Oconomowoc</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have a hard time calling Oconomowoc a 'newcomer', but after a 1-year hiatus from the state tournament, they are back, and they are hungry. Ocon won the state tournament in 2021 and was state runner-up in 2022 and 2023. I had the opportunity to watch them play early in the season, and it was clear they had one goal in mind: absolute dominance. Their only match losses came to DSHA and Arrowhead. [player_tooltip player_id='249678' first='Marlee' last='Sivak'] is playing at an elite level, averaging 4.5 kills per set. Senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='800408' first='Jayce' last='Keller'], middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='388590' first='Grae' last='Hunter'], and setter [player_tooltip player_id='284069' first='Lizzy' last='Kwiatkowski'] have also had dominant senior seasons. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='435890' first='Greta' last='Schreiber'] has had a breakout season this year, dominating on the right side and balancing the offense incredibly well. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='745070' first='Avery' last='Bork'] is making a name for herself on offense for the Racoons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Waunakee</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waunakee is just so incredibly solid across the board this year. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='345274' first='Lauren' last='Sprague'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='388460' first='Kaitlin' last='Van Wie'] are both absolutely dominant and are tough to take off the court. They bring so much consistency and power to everything they do. Junior setter duo [player_tooltip player_id='587068' first='Lauren' last='Van Wie'] and [player_tooltip player_id='435879' first='Amy' last='Denkert'] are both highly talented and run a fast-tempo offense. This team also has two middle hitters who contribute on both offense and defense, [player_tooltip player_id='487019' first='Laney' last='Knaack'] and [player_tooltip player_id='826898' first='Kyleigh' last='Knutson']. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='388469' first='Kendall' last='Scadden'] is relentless on defense and serve receive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Kimberly </h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kimberly has really found their rhythm and battled this season. I saw them play during the Sizzle and was incredibly impressed with their talent and seamless play on the court - I am sure it looks even better after an entire season of play. Setters [player_tooltip player_id='388474' first='Emma' last='Tesch'] and [player_tooltip player_id='249636' first='Ava' last='Van Hammond'] are both gritty and feed their hitters. They will run down any ball and better it for their team. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='809331' first='Finley' last='Van Lannen'] has really been a key player for this squad out of the back row and is fearless and competitive on the court. Pin hitters [player_tooltip player_id='545677' first='Brianna' last='Hagglund'] and [player_tooltip player_id='805698' first='Harper' last='Van Lannen'] each bring their own power and finesse to the front row. Kimberley's middles are also a massive part of their offense - [player_tooltip player_id='806875' first='Natalie' last='Weyenberg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='809661' first='Haylie' last='Dulas'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Verona</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For this Verona team, senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='211556' first='Anna' last='Haines'] is a leader who really brings the team together. She has 787 assists, 66 aces, and 248 digs this season. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='388461' first='Sophia' last='Trias'] is another player who puts in the work on the court for her team. She is consistent on serve receive, stellar in block coverage, and relentless on defense. Sophomore Macey Stremlow, junior Aubrey Benson, and senior [player_tooltip player_id='827929' first='Taylor' last='Pettit'] anchor this team on the pins and are the key scorers. Macey is also one of the top servers and defenders on this team. This is a talented team that has had a dominant season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stevens Point Area High School </h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SPASH absolutely battled its way to Green Bay. They took down a gritty Marshfield team in 5 sets before sweeping Hudson and then upsetting River Falls in a 5-set thriller. This is a team that comes to compete and plays to win. Sophomore outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='522106' first='Nora' last='Kruger'] has been dominant for this team, leading the team in kills, aces (tied), and being one of the top defenders and serve receivers. Fellow pin hitter, senior [player_tooltip player_id='249657' first='Karli' last='Torhorst'] contributes in every imaginable way, including years of competing at a high level. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='518117' first='Katie' last='Kornowski'] has had over 1,100 assists this season alone and is the steady force behind this offense. And libero [player_tooltip player_id='500399' first='Lenna' last='Mayer'] finds a way to take up as much space as possible in the back court and keep the ball alive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->