Bracket Busters – Four Seeds Breakthrough to D1 Sectionals
We are one day away from the section round of playoffs. We’ve had teams switch to the spring, teams where players have had to quarantine at some point throughout the season, coaches who have had to quarantine (or are still…
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Continue ReadingWe are one day away from the section round of playoffs. We’ve had teams switch to the spring, teams where players have had to quarantine at some point throughout the season, coaches who have had to quarantine (or are still in quarantine), and some who have had to forfeit. Rather than talk about all that Covid has taken away, we can celebrate that there is still a postseason which at one point this summer we didn’t know if there would be a season, let alone a postseason.
With new classifications of teams switching divisions along with less matches during the year this made seeding a little different. Teams who have typically gone to the same tournaments might play each other three to four times a year along with conference matches. With no major tournaments, that throws a little bit of a wrinkle into being able to compare wins and losses. Another factor is did the team have their full team? It’s one thing to have an ankle sprain and have a player miss a match, but to have multiple athletes or even a whole team who needs to quarantine forcing them to miss potentially up to 14 days definitely puts a dent in the schedule.
When it comes to the end of the year, teams who have a game, have a chance. And for these four seeds in their group and were able to break through to the sectional round are taking every bit advantage of the matches in front of them.
This setter/middle combo is 🧈 for Sauk Prairie pic.twitter.com/Nie3wvD5r8
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) August 27, 2020
Sauk Prairie
Yes, Sauk Prairie is legit. I’ve had people ask me about Sauk Prairie and I was fortunate enough to watch this team at two Prep Dig Events later this August where they had match point against Howards Grove and competed with some of the best teams in the state. This team is full of athletes where you could put them on any court or field and they are going to compete. Olivia Breunig Olivia Breunig 5'8" | S Sauk Prairie | 2021 State WI is the one everything goes through. The Senior setter/attacker has 356 assists, nearly 200 kills, and 170 digs. Extremely athletic and dynamic, again – she does it all. On the outside is rising 2022 outside hitter in Aida Shadewald Aida Shadewald 5'11" | OH Sauk Prairie | 2022 State #184 Nation WI who has nearly 400 kills. She can score points from any rotation and spot on the court. This all starts with the first contact provided by libero in Junior, Alia Schimgen.
Aida Shadewald Aida Shadewald 5'11" | OH Sauk Prairie | 2022 State #184 Nation WI from @SportsSauk is on 🔥@PrepDigChris @PrepDigWI pic.twitter.com/NzWcejLdxp
— Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) August 26, 2020
Slinger
Slinger is one of the few teams who had to play three matches in the post season and just casually went 9-0 in sets played sweeping West Bend East, West Bend West, and Port Washington. The Owls are led in attacking by Freshman, Melia Johnson Melia Johnson 6'2" | OH Slinger | 2024 State #140 Nation WI where she has found a connection with Elise Gillen Elise Gillen 5'9" | S Slinger | 2022 State WI . Gillen is another one of those types of setter who just finds a way to get it done for her team. She gets her hands to the ball, knows where the open spots are for attackers, and can take it herself to score points.
If there were fans in the stand they would all stand up and applaud both sides with the effort and overall great play! Menomonie Falls takes the 🏆 in three sets pic.twitter.com/ejZE0FiiKm
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) August 26, 2020
Menomonee Falls
I was able to see Menomonee Falls play in one of our Prep Dig Events this summer where they fought every single point. There was one play where their setter took a hard spike to the face, got up, said “I’m Ok”, set a quick to the middle on the next play and just kept rolling. That’s their team in a nutshell, they just keep chipping away and are relentless on defense. On the outside is Sophomore Katherine Lockwood Katherine Lockwood 5'10" | OH Menomonee Falls | 2023 State WI who is so fun to watch and has a violent swing. Libero, Kady Stigler Kady Stigler 5'7" | DS/L Menomonee Falls | 2021 State WI is someone you need on your side of the net. She is present in every play, she’s vocal, a definite leader and is someone who is keeping her teammates up. With big wins against Germantown and Nicolet, they can say, “Why Not Us?” as they head into a gauntlet of GMC teams with Brookfield Central, Hamilton, and DSHA.
K Lockwood on the rise playing the pin for Falls. K Stigler controlling the back court pic.twitter.com/ymCoVOrTcH
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) August 26, 2020