Preseason Wisconsin D1 Top Ten - And More

Teams are established, scrimmages are on deck, and plenty of matches starting next week. Take a look at who the top D1 teams will be this upcoming season.   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>DSHA</li> </ol>   2024 Result - 47-1 - State Champion   Section 8   Divine Savior has won the past three D1 crowns and until they are dethroned, there is no moving for them. They lost a very talented senior class that included the likes of Gatorade State Player of the Year Madison Quest (Wisconsin), Olivia Durst (Miami), and Jordan Czajkowski (Belmont).  The cupboard is far from bare for the Dashers where they return the top sophomore in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='545505' first='Tegan' last='Loechler'] where the 6'3 right side/setter combo has attended some of the top college camps in the country this summer.  They will also return the Buckner twins!  Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='403531' first='Addison' last='Buckner'] will head to Howard University while libero and UCONN commit [player_tooltip player_id='800247' first='Abigail' last='Buckner'].  The biggest strength to this program is their depth and tradition.  However, they also play with a big target on their back.  They might have some new growing pains to start the season, but they have the talent to make another run.    <ol start="2" class="wp-block-list"> <li>Sussex Hamilton</li> </ol>   2024 Result - 38-8 - State Runner-Up   Section 5   Prior to 2024, DSHA was always running into the likes of DSHA in sectional play.  However, they survived their gauntlet of a sectional last year with a thrilling win over Arrowhead to advance to state and be the eventual state runner up.  They return key pieces who have played at a high level their whole careers and will be looking to finish on top in 2025.  [player_tooltip player_id='249644' first='Brooke' last='Baldwin'] is the top setter in the state and will head to Rutgers following her prep career.  She will have a solid first contact coming back in [player_tooltip player_id='249651' first='Emily' last='Zgonc'] who will be heading East as well to play at Delaware.  In the middle there is Marquette commit [player_tooltip player_id='828156' first='Aubrey' last='Hicks'].  However, their section seems to get tougher and tougher with the likes of Arrowhead, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc Lincoln, Menomonee Falls, Neenah, Oshkosh West, and Slinger - ooof.    <ol start="3" class="wp-block-list"> <li>Slinger</li> </ol>   2024 Result - 34-4 - Sectional Finalist   Section 5   Is this the year for Slinger?  The Owls were 34-4 last year where they were derailed by Menomonee Falls in the sectional finals.  They still return quite the line up that features the duo of setter [player_tooltip player_id='277423' first='Ella' last='Kohnen'] (Illinois State) and all around attacker [player_tooltip player_id='277420' first='Allie' last='Beers'] (Marquette). Kohnen has over 2,000 assists in her career while Beers eclipsed the 1,000 career kill mark at the end of last season.  They will also return outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='202993' first='Miley' last='Quade'] and middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='504161' first='Malena' last='Benz'] who will be heading to Austin Peay.    <ol start="4" class="wp-block-list"> <li>Arrowhead</li> </ol>   2024 Result - 35-8 - Sectional Finalist   Section 5   I was able to see Arrowhead play live throughout the year and it was such a scrappy bunch.  They had athletes flying all over the court, they were tough to score points on, and they had a really balanced line up. That should be no different for the upcoming season. They might have one of the top defensive lineups in the state, but will need to replace some key point scorers. [player_tooltip player_id='277424' first='Siena' last='MacCudden'], the Cal commit who had nearly 500 digs in 2025 along with [player_tooltip player_id='435888' first='Georgia' last='House'] who had a big club season for [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] 16 Black.  They will return [player_tooltip player_id='509343' first='Taylor' last='Wold'] at setter and [player_tooltip player_id='277427' first='Claire' last='Wyma'], a pin who is heading to North Alabama.    <ol start="5" class="wp-block-list"> <li>Oconomowoc</li> </ol>   2024 Result - 31-10 - Sectional Finalist   Section 6   Not having Oconomowoc was rare in 2024 where they were knocked out by Mukwonago.  They are reloading with plenty of experience and athleticism led by Maryland outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='249678' first='Marlee' last='Sivak'].  Sivak had over 400 kills last season and is one track to surpass 1,000 career kills early this season.  They also have a very dynamic setter who is quite the play maker in [player_tooltip player_id='284069' first='Lizzy' last='Kwiatkowski'].  She can dish to her teammates, but she impacts the game in all facets where she can score points on her own and is quite the defender.  Keep tabs on incoming junior [player_tooltip player_id='497647' first='Charlotte' last='Hayes'] who can score points with a big swing from the pin.    <ol start="6" class="wp-block-list"> <li>Menomonee Falls</li> </ol>   2024 Result - 36-10 - State Semifinals   Section 5   Falls was a final four team in 2024 and they return plenty of ball control for 2025.  They punched their ticket to the state tournament with a blitz over Slinger and won their quarterfinal in straight sets against Bay Port.  [player_tooltip player_id='522165' first='Cassie' last='Bruns'] will be one of the top liberos in the entire state for the Phoenix, she will be heading to West Virginia following her high school career and her twin sister [player_tooltip player_id='790990' first='Addie' last='Bruns'] will be along side her in the backcourt again this season.  They also return a unique combo of talent in [player_tooltip player_id='587079' first='Quinn' last='Ische'] and [player_tooltip player_id='277426' first='Kaylee' last='Harder'] where the two were a setter right side combo that combined for just under 500 kills and 950 assists.    <ol start="7" class="wp-block-list"> <li>Oak Creek</li> </ol>   2024 Result - 25-17 - State Quarterfinals   Section 7   Oak Creek won a wide open sectional last year and advanced to the state tournament in 2024 and return some key pieces.  They bring back their top three point scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='223818' first='Isabella' last='Ruether'], [player_tooltip player_id='376272' first='Ava' last='Turlais'], and [player_tooltip player_id='249669' first='Lucy' last='Tapp'].  Ruether will be taking her talents to Troy University and [player_tooltip player_id='376272' first='Ava' last='Turlais'] will head to Drake University in Des Moines, and [player_tooltip player_id='249669' first='Lucy' last='Tapp'] will head to Aurora University. Oak Creek will need to replace libero Callie Panasuk who is continuing at UW-Oshkosh, but look for the Knights to be in the hunt at some big tournaments this fall with a chance to get back to Green Bay.    <ol start="8" class="wp-block-list"> <li>Oshkosh West</li> </ol>   2024 Result - 27-9 - Section Semifinals   Section 5   This might be a new name to know when it comes to a state power, but Oshkosh West has a dynamite lineup returning for the 2025 season.  Belmont commit [player_tooltip player_id='277433' first='Sydnee' last='Nelson'] has been quite an athlete.  She won back to back state titles in the 100 m hurdles at state track and is just short of 1,000 careers for her career.  She can score from anywhere on the court and is one of the top outside hitters in her class. Another senior to know is [player_tooltip player_id='487007' first='Elaina' last='Butz'], the libero has over 1,000 digs in her career and will head to St. Norbert for her next venture.  Keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='522525' first='Emma' last='Liebergen'], the rising sophomore had quite the freshman season and with her length and athleticism, she will be sure to tally plenty of points.    <ol start="9" class="wp-block-list"> <li>Waunakee</li> </ol>   2024 Result - 26-17 - Regional Final   Section 2   Waunakee was rolling with a lot of momentum in 2024 before being knocked off by Holmen in postseason play. However, the Warriors are returning a full lineup in 2025 along with a very challenging schedule that will have them locked in.  [player_tooltip player_id='345274' first='Lauren' last='Sprague'] is one of the top players in the Class of 2027 with her all around ability and gave her verbal to Notre Dame.  [player_tooltip player_id='388460' first='Kaitlin' last='Van Wie'] is another big time attacker for this team where they are sure to have plenty of depth heading into 2025.    <ol start="10" class="wp-block-list"> <li>Holmen</li> </ol>   2024 Result - 24-10 - State Quarterfinals   Section 2   Holmen out of the La Crosse area had a Cinderella run to the state tournament in 2024.  They return virtually everyone from their state team where they have length, athleticism, physicality, and one of the top liberos in their area.  [player_tooltip player_id='388556' first='Macy' last='Kline'] covers quite the range for Holmen as a libero where she had nearly 500 digs in 2024 and is over 1300 in her career.  From the attacking standpoint, the Vikings return four attackers who had over 100 kills last season led by [player_tooltip player_id='437479' first='Charley' last='Casey'] who was just under 300.     Who Else?    Kimberly - The Papermakers were a sectional finalist losing to Bay Port right before the Resch.  They return [player_tooltip player_id='249636' first='Ava' last='Van Hammond'], the dynamic left handed setter who will head to UW-Oshkosh.    Neenah - Will be in the hunt for the Fox Valley Association title and have [player_tooltip player_id='504427' first='Ella' last='Nigl'] who recently committed to Bradley as well as Minnesota State Mankato commit with libero [player_tooltip player_id='809374' first='Ella' last='Lindgren'].    River Falls - The Wildcats are always in the hunt come late October. They were knocked off in the sectional final to conference rival, Hudson.  They return Milwaukee commit libero [player_tooltip player_id='496803' first='Olivia' last='Doerre'] and outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='511138' first='Amelie' last='Pankonin'].    Manitowoc Lincoln - This group has a strong junior class who gained valuable experience last season. Look for [player_tooltip player_id='484915' first='Abigail' last='Weidmayer'], [player_tooltip player_id='724537' first='Mollie' last='Junk'], and [player_tooltip player_id='595947' first='Cora' last='Foster'] to lead the way.    Mukwonago - A 2024 state tournament team who took a big hit with graduating seniors, but they will still have the firepower from [player_tooltip player_id='828300' first='Lucy' last='Sarna'], a D2 commit to Ferris State in Michigan.    Burlington - You can never count out the Demons, they will always be contenders to make a run to the state tournament.  They have Army commit [player_tooltip player_id='390184' first='Lillian' last='Dempkey'] at setter and defensive specialist/libero [player_tooltip player_id='800527' first='Natalie' last='Leach'] who is a Michigan Tech commit.    Westosha Central - Regional champions from 2024, the Falcons return plenty of depth.  They have the top setter from the Class of 2027 back in [player_tooltip player_id='435900' first='Payton' last='Scifres'], their top point scorer [player_tooltip player_id='241664' first='Anna' last='Hansen'], and libero Madison [player_tooltip player_id='324002' first='Maddie' last='Mauser'].    Fond du Lac - This program is on the rise. [player_tooltip player_id='808024' first='Mackenna' last='Shultis'] can set and score points and outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='510426' first='Ellisyn' last='Shultis'] is a junior to have on the radar who collect plenty of kills.   Pewaukee - Always a competitive program, they will return key seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='240999' first='Mia' last='Hudson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='249665' first='Kennedy' last='Tisdale'].   Sun Prairie West - Sun Prairie West had one of their best seasons in their young history as a school. Green Bay commit [player_tooltip player_id='247272' first='Sari' last='Marks'] will lead the way.

Teams are established, scrimmages are on deck, and plenty of matches starting next week. Take a look at who the top D1 teams will be this upcoming season.