What’s The Tea At The Tournament? Thursday Observations
We're back, the Resch Center is alive and well. After a one year hiatus due to Covid-19 with teams playing in championships in different locations and different times of the year. But, we're back. The student sections were in full force, teams playing at a high level, and a gold ball (or a few to be won).
This article is all about what goes beyond the scores. You can get the updates, you can see the final numbers, but what did you miss from the matches that the scores didn't tell you. We got all the tea from the tournament.
The top large school crowd I have seen at the Wisconsin state tournament. Boys volleyball people…sanction it. @Arrowheadschool pic.x.com/StZK1oWniz
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 4, 2021
For the boys, there is a different vibe when they get in the building. With it being the second year for them to compete in Green Bay, there is still a newness and many of the teams are taking theResch floor for the first time. These athletes thrived under the bright lights and the big crowds. That sport court on an arena adds a little bit to the vertical as well as a full student section. Arrowhead had one of the biggest student sections I have ever seen regardless of any girls, boys, anything. They were loud, engaged and their athletes fed off the energy in a back and forth battle where they held off conference rival, Catholic Memorial. For neighboring states, like Minnesota, they have fallen short on sanctioning boys volleyball (they are oh so close). Hopefully seeing Wisconsin as an example of what boys volleyball can be at the state level can provide opportunities for more exposure for boys volleyball across the country.
Boys highlights from this morning's 10 AM Quarterfinals with @TosaRedRaiders @muhsvolleyball @BoysArrowhead @cmh_mens_vball with Marquette and Arrowhead advancing to the @wiaawistate semifinals pic.x.com/s6Uvz3HZvS
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 4, 2021
To kick off the girls we saw Appleton North vs. Holmen and River Falls vs. Brookfield Central. Holmen was the winner of the Road to the Resch where they had the most presold quarterfinal tickets. They brought the biggest D1 student section as well as a large pep band which always adds an extra element of fun to the state tournament.
Girls 1:00 Quarterfinal highlights from the @wiaawistate in Green Bay @anorth_vb 3-0 over Holmen@BCGVBall 3-2 over River Falls pic.x.com/ogZhwZt5XK
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 4, 2021
As for the play, Appleton North came in the heavy favorite with a line up of D1 commits and the defending alternate season state champions. They raced out to an early lead in set one and never looked back. East Tennessee State commit
Brianna Cantrell
Brianna
Cantrell
OH
Appleton North | 2022
State
#104
Nation
WI
led the way with 13 kills and always seems to come up big in big time situations. Uncommitted 2022 libero
Madisen Miller
Madisen
Miller
5'8" | DS/L
Appleton North | 2022
State
WI
had 21 digs. She just finds a way to keep the ball alive. On the other side of the net an equally strong performance was from Holmen libero,
Ellie Kline
Ellie
Kline
5'4" | DS/L
Holmen | 2022
State
WI
. Another 2022 uncommitted libero who is so gritty. She will make the hard plays look routine and will find a way to dig the ball out of the bleachers to give her team another chance. North advances to Friday night's semifinals which will be a busy night for the Lightning where their football teams is also in action with Level 4 playoffs at Kimberly.
River Falls started their quarterfinal match against Brookfield Central with something to prove coming out on fire against BC. This was the Wildcats sixth consecutive trip to the state tournament and they know how to win under the bright lights.
Morgan Kealy
Morgan
Kealy
5'11" | S
River Falls | 2023
State
WI
was dishing to a balanced attack and BC looked a little flat. This was their first appearance and it took a set for the Lancers to settle in. However, a big however, Brookfield Central at the end of the day has one of the top players in the nation in
Mckenna Wucherer
Mckenna
Wucherer
6'1" | OH
Brookfield Central | 2022
State
#1
Nation
WI
. Wucherer is fresh, she is hungry. After spending about two weeks with the U18 National Team playing at the world championships she has been on a mission to get her team to the Resch. Wucherer continuously came up big from the pin, but her serving was another place where she scored a lot of points with a flat, hard serve across the net. When it came to set five, it was all Lancers. They played smart, kept the ball in play, and to cap off the victory was
Mckenna Wucherer
Mckenna
Wucherer
6'1" | OH
Brookfield Central | 2022
State
#1
Nation
WI
from the pin where she finished with 32 kills and is now over 2,000 in her career. She will finish her career as one of the best high school players ever in the state of Wisconsin.
One of the best we will see in Wisconsin. @mckennawucherer puts the exclamation point on a five set win for @BCGVBall over River Falls
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 4, 2021
One of the best quarterfinal matches I've seen at the @wiaawistate pic.x.com/9zOdJ71fqV
The night session of the girls D1 quarterfinals featured Oconomowoc vs Oak Creek and Burlington vs. Kettle Moraine. Oconomowoc flexed their muscle from the start with a long, powerful lineup, and plenty of fire from every position on the court. Two of the top sophomores in the state with
Lilly Wagner
Lilly
Wagner
6'0" | S
Oconomowoc | 2024
State
#42
Nation
WI
and
Anna Bjork
Anna
Bjork
6'3" | MB
Oconomowoc | 2024
State
#54
Nation
WI
have established themselves as ones to watch in the Class of 2024, but this team is balanced and has plenty of depth. They made quick work of Oak Creek and their big, stuffed Raccoon was happy to be joining the team on the sideline.
So much physicality for the @OconAthletics front line. They set up the block well and know how to get over the net. pic.x.com/vLhGCh00ro
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 5, 2021
Burlington and Kettle Moraine had an interesting battle to say the least. Kettle Moraine was up big in set one and just couldn't close as Burlington fought its way back to win to start 1-0. It was nearly the same story in set two and set three, but KM was able to hold on for the victory to go up 2-1. Set four was all Burlington, forcing a fifth set. This is when things got a little more interesting. Burlington, known for their bright, orange tye dyed jerseys switched from their wihte jerseys they wore the first four set to the type dye. I think the decision was due to blood being on an athlete's jersey, but either way when Btown breaks out the tye dye, they mean business. The Demons continued their streak from set four into set five with a 7-3, forcing an KM timeout which was all the Lasers needed, along with
Grace Grocholski
Grace
Grocholski
5'10" | OH
Kettle Moraine | 2023
State
WI
and
Sophie McCormack
Sophie
McCormack
6'0" | OH
Kettle Moraine | 2022
State
WI
. Kettle Moraine would go on a 12-2 run to win the fifth set and match 15-9. In that stretch of 12 points, Grocholski had 8 skills and McCormack had three. On the night, Grocholski finished with 33 kills and McCormack had 19, hitting .459. Libero
Kyleigh Coghlan
Kyleigh
Coghlan
5'6" | DS/L
Kettle Moraine | 2023
State
WI
had 39 digs while setter Rebecca Siedenberg had 63 assists and 19 digs. They will face Oconomowoc where they have lost to them three times already this season.
Grocholski and @SophieMcCorma18 taking over for KM.
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 5, 2021
KM 11
Btown 8 pic.x.com/vk1x1onme8
We're back for a full and exciting day on Friday with D4-D1 semifinals as well as the semifinals for boys. Follow the Prep Dig team on Twitter with @PrepDigChris @BreitNelson and @PrepDigRachel for updates throughout the day!
