D1 Top Ten Teams, New Names in Wisconsin For Week 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're one week into the Wisconsin high school volleyball season and we had plenty of statements made from teams across the state. Rankings will come out later this week, but here could be a rough draft of what we could see for teams in the top ten. Let's take a look.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. Oconomowoc</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The winner of The Joust is the de facto number one and Oconomowoc took home the title this past weekend in Homestead.&nbsp; However, they weren't perfect on the weekend with Wisconsin Lutheran clipping them in the opening match of the event.&nbsp; They would later avenge the loss to Wisconsin Lutheran in the semifinals before taking down power DSHA in straight sets.&nbsp; Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='745070' first='Avery' last='Bork'] is leading the way when it comes to scoring points where she has a really dynamic skill set.&nbsp; Two new setters paving the way are [player_tooltip player_id='545519' first='Jilly' last='Flannery'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='987101' first='Maci' last='Spies'] while [player_tooltip player_id='497647' first='Charlotte' last='Hayes'] is hitting a blistering .475.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. DSHA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dashers started off as expected at the Joust and then ran into a fired up Oconomowoc team.&nbsp; Despite the loss in the championship, DSHA is still going to be among the top teams in the state all season, sitting at a 6-1 record after week one. Xavier commit [player_tooltip player_id='587062' first='Harper' last='Wendlick'] is off to a fast start averaging four kills per set, followed by sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='808030' first='Maia' last='Kerry'].&nbsp; They will turn around and play Oconomowoc again on September 4.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Wisconsin Lutheran </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wisco started the Joust off by beating Oconomowoc who would go on to win the title.&nbsp; The Vikings have a lot of offensive weapons and also a great combination of ball control.&nbsp; St. Thomas commit [player_tooltip player_id='487025' first='Nicalai' last='Eismann'] leads the way averaging over three kills from the outside while the first contact comes from [player_tooltip player_id='545510' first='Addy' last='Abramowski'], one of the top liberos out fo the junior class.&nbsp; Senior [player_tooltip player_id='435889' first='Gigi' last='Chasco'] who is committed to Florida Gulf Coast is filling up the state sheet all over where she can set, swing, defend, and score from behind the service line as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Kimberly </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kimberly dropped their opener to Brookfield East, last Tuesday, but came roaring back to finish in the semifinals of the Joust.&nbsp; The dropped a thriller losing 20-18 in set three to DSHA.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='545677' first='Brianna' last='Hagglund'] already has 79 kills on the young season and is a threat to score from anywhere on the court. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='809331' first='Finley' last='Van Lannen'] is averaging nearly five digs per set and can really change the game with her serve receive and defensive play.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. Neenah </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Neenah has balance and a lot of firepower in their lineup and are off to a solid 8-3 start.&nbsp; They picked up big wins against Luxemburg-Casco, Xavier, Oak Creek, Cedarburg, and Catholic Memorial.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='510416' first='Lillian' last='Romjue'] leads the way scoring points from the outside while Southwest Minnesota State commit [player_tooltip player_id='827590' first='Paige' last='Hoelzel'] has been making a big impact as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6. Cedarburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cedarburg definitely has the pieces, they came out of the Joust with a 4-2 record, picking up a big win over Sussex Hamilton.&nbsp; They proved they belong in the conversation of these top teams in D1.&nbsp; The senior class is real strong for the Bulldogs with the likes of attackers in [player_tooltip player_id='510485' first='Hannah' last='Heitzkey'], [player_tooltip player_id='796549' first='Maddie' last='Katte'], and [player_tooltip player_id='918532' first='Stella' last='Fernald']. [player_tooltip player_id='809138' first='Peyton' last='Wollman'] is leading the way in the backrow averaging four digs per set.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7. Arrowhead</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arrowhead blazed through the Crusader Cup at the Sting Center until they ran into Grafton in the championship.&nbsp; Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='483886' first='Ally' last='Schwab'] and Natalie Krogwald are leading the way in scoring while [player_tooltip player_id='800446' first='Kenzie' last='Draeger'] has over 50 digs already on the season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8. Hudson </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don't forget about those Western Wisconsin teams who are starting to make their noise.&nbsp; Hudson is off to an 8-1 start with their only loss coming to Mosinee who will be a top team in D2.&nbsp; They picked up a huge win over conference and sectional rival in River Falls at the Sprawl and UW Stout.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9. Oak Creek</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oak Creek graduated some key pieces, but they have reloaded.&nbsp; They are sitting at 8-3 this season with wins over Tosa East, Waunakee, and Hamilton twice.&nbsp; They have been sparked by a freshman in [player_tooltip player_id='751366' first='Ashley' last='Yerkey'] who is averaging over 2.5 kills per set while UW-Whitewater commit [player_tooltip player_id='769244' first='Payton' last='Nelson'] is averaging 4.2 digs per set.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10.  Sussex Hamilton </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I know their record doesn't show, but the pieces they have are going to be pretty scary as the season progresses.&nbsp; Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='734111' first='Claire' last='Baldwin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='781698' first='Faith' last='Benson'] are leading the way.&nbsp; They dropped some matches at the Joust, but also have a lot of firepower that is going to be tough for teams to contain throughout the season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Teams To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wauwatosa East, Franklin, Brookfield East, and Waunakee are knocking on the door.&nbsp; All of these teams have a lot of firepower where they have the ability to knock off these top teams.&nbsp; Brookfield East has split with Kimberly already this season.&nbsp; Waunakee is a state tournament returning team with Notre Dame commit [player_tooltip player_id='345274' first='Lauren' last='Sprague'] who has the ability to take over a match.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DC Everest, Marshfield, and Holmen had impressive showings at Beast of the Northeast.&nbsp; Everest finished among the final four with [player_tooltip player_id='934871' first='Brooke' last='Johnson'] being a major problem for the other side of the net.&nbsp; Marshfield is 8-3 with their losses coming to D3 state champion Manitowoc Lutheran, Mosinee, and Hudson.&nbsp; Holmen has plenty of new faces,but were among the top eight teams at Beast of the Northeast.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>River Falls may have lost their initial match with Hudson, but these teams will play each other multiple times this season, including conference and a potential matchup in the sectional rounds.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manitowoc Lincoln took home the title at Sun Prairie East, going 5-0 defeating Oregon twice.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->