Is This The Year? Wisconsin High School Volleyball Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Is this the year?&nbsp; We hear this saying quite a bit, “Is this the year…” where we insert some type of feat for an athlete or a team.&nbsp; I have to admit, this is not an original idea.&nbsp; I am also a big college football podcast listener and they had this segment which was great, plenty to talk about.&nbsp; Here are some “Is This The Year” scenarios for the Wisconsin high school volleyball season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Is This The Year A Non-Southeast Wisconsin Team Wins a Division 1 State Championship? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last time a team from outside of Southeast Wisconsin won a state title was Neenah in 2016 (Appleton North won the spring season state title in 2021). The past ten years has been a lot of Burlington, DSHA, Hamilton, and Arrowhead.&nbsp; River Falls nearly knocked off Burlington in 2017, but other than that its been pretty evident.&nbsp; However, the door is open for some new teams to make a run at a gold ball.&nbsp; Waunakee was a final four team, losing to DSHA in the semifinals.&nbsp; They lost some key seniors, but still return experience in Notre Dame commit [player_tooltip player_id='345274' first='Lauren' last='Sprague'] along with [player_tooltip player_id='435879' first='Amy' last='Denkert'] and [player_tooltip player_id='587068' first='Lauren' last='Van Wie'].&nbsp; They also play a rugged schedule which will keep them battle tested.&nbsp; Kimberly is another team to keep tabs on this season in regard to getting back to the Resch and potentially doing some damage.&nbsp; They return a large portion of their offense led by rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='545677' first='Brianna' last='Hagglund'] along with libero [player_tooltip player_id='809331' first='Finley' last='Van Lannen'].&nbsp; They will be at all the tournaments that Waunakee and the Southeast Wisconsin schools will be at including the Joust, Charger Challenge, and Sprawl.&nbsp; In Western Wisconsin, River Falls will always be a threat. They return quite the outside duo in one of the top outsides in Wisconsin in [player_tooltip player_id='511138' first='Amelie' last='Pankonin'] and Minnesota State Mankato commit [player_tooltip player_id='701235' first='Brooke' last='Dusek'].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Is This The Year We See a Three-Peat? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the new era of performance factors and teams moving up divisions, seeing anything more than a back to back state title is going to be tough.&nbsp; Manitowoc Lutheran will have the target on their back after winning it all in D4 in 2024 and following that up with a title in D3 in 2025.&nbsp; They dethroned 2024 D3 state champion Barron and defeated Watertown Luther Prep in the finals.&nbsp; What are their chances in 2026? They return Concordia-St. Paul commit [player_tooltip player_id='510424' first='Ava' last='Stuebs'] and Northern State commit [player_tooltip player_id='549619' first='Brooke' last='Duveneck'] as attackers.&nbsp; They have the experience and firepower to handle a lot of swings.&nbsp; They also return setter/right side combo player [player_tooltip player_id='545530' first='Sallieann' last='Burrows'].&nbsp; They definitely have the pieces to put themselves in a favorable position. However, D3 is going to be loaded.&nbsp; Watertown Luther Prep returns one of the top rising juniors in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='734119' first='Lorelei' last='Candler'] while Barron returns St. Thomas commit [player_tooltip player_id='590014' first='Abby' last='Miller'] and Minnesota State Mankato commit [player_tooltip player_id='565640' first='Alexis' last='Halverson'].&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Is This The Year We Have a Junior With Gatorade Player of the Year? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madison Quest was the last junior to win Gatorade Player of the Year in 2023.&nbsp; She was a star for DSHA, winning three state titles, and is now a sophomore at Wisconsin.&nbsp; DSHA has another rising junior who has made some national waves in [player_tooltip player_id='545505' first='Tegan' last='Loechler'] who committed to Louisville this summer.&nbsp; She is a 6'3 right side/setter combo who can do a little bit of everything.&nbsp; She won a state title as a freshman, state runner up as a sophomore, and will look to be back on top as a junior.&nbsp; She loads up the stat sheet where she had 308 kills, 95 total blocks, 212 digs, and 543 assists.&nbsp; Other Gatorade Player of the Year candidates would include [player_tooltip player_id='345274' first='Lauren' last='Sprague'] of Waunakee and [player_tooltip player_id='459898' first='Aubrey' last='Frey'] of Luxemburg-Casco.&nbsp; Sprague is the top ranked prospect in the Class of 2027 from Wisconsin and will continue her career at Notre Dame.&nbsp; Frey led the entire state in kills in 2025 with over 700 kills and will continue her career at Stephen F. Austin.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Is This The Year We See An All Star Game? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>100% Yes!&nbsp; The WVCA will be bringing back the All Star game! Here are the details!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday, December 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madison College - Redsten Gymnasium&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be in conjunction with the WVCA All State banquet on Sunday, December 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->