D2-D4 Sectional Final Predictions, Potential State Seeding
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We made it. Sectional finals coming right up with the elite eight for D2-D4 set for Saturday night. I will go through every sectional and talk about the match ups and who punches their ticket and advances to Resch Center…
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Continue ReadingWe made it. Sectional finals coming right up with the elite eight for D2-D4 set for Saturday night. I will go through every sectional and talk about the match ups and who punches their ticket and advances to Resch Center for the state tournament in Green Bay. I’ll take it one step further and list potential seeding for the state tournament which is determined Sunday night by the coaches. Use this as old school bulletin board material, this is how I see it and we need to make volleyball a discussion, we need to keep this conversations alive, this is all in good fun as I can’t wait to see everyone under one roof come Thursday for the Division 1 quarterfinals and the D1-D4 semifinals Friday. Pending state media credential approval, the Prep Dig team will in attendance covering all matches for boys and girls in all divisions. But first, lets talk D1 sectional finals.
D2
Baldwin-Woodville vs. Reedsburg
Baldwin-Woodville had a huge win last night in a five set thriller and avenged an earlier loss to St. Croix Central. Reedsburg is battle tested with three losses coming to Sauk Prairie and two to Edgewood. This team also has members on it who were state runner-up in basketball. Experience in big games and against tough competition is something that’s not on paper that I really value when it gets to this point in the season. Reedsburg has that. They also have the Wieman twins in Macie Wieman Macie Wieman 5'9" | DS/L Reedsburg | 2022 State WI and Mahra Wieman. These two have combined for over 700 kills on the season.
Reedsburg uses their big game experience and the Wieman’s team up to head to state in yet another sport.
Luxemburg-Casco vs. Mosinee
Big game experience, playing top competition like I said, makes a huge difference come tournament time and Luxemburg-Casco checks those boxes. They are the back to back state champions, have played a rugged tournament schedule, and are hosting the sectional final. Setter, Emma Johnson Emma Johnson 5'10" | S Luxemburg-Casco | 2022 State WI will be leading the Spartans where she defends, dishes, and can be extremely offensive at the net. Johnson and Grace Holshuh will both head to Green Bay to play college volleyball. Mosinee has always been a program who has ruled North Central Wisconsin. Abbi Martin Abbi Martin 6'1" | MB Mosinee | 2022 State WI , Jenna Placek, and Jessica Maurer Jessica Maurer 5'6" | OH Mosinee | 2022 WI all have over 200 kills for Mosinee on the season.
This is all Luxemburg-Casco, they head back to state for the fourth time in five years.
Sauk Prairie vs. McFarland
Flip a coin, I can’t even pick. Sauk Prairie is the number one ranked team and has the top outside hitter in D2 with Aida Shadewald Aida Shadewald 5'11" | OH Sauk Prairie | 2022 State #184 Nation WI who is a Wright State commit, as well as South Dakota State commit Alia Schlimgen Alia Schlimgen 5'5" | DS/L Sauk Prairie | 2022 State WI at libero. McFarland was the state runner up in 2019 and many of these players were on that team and the alternate season state semifinal squad from this spring. UW-Stevens Point commit, Maddy Fortune Maddy Fortune 5'8" | S McFarland | 2022 State WI is a floor general as the setter where the Spartans have many attacking weapons in Avery Pennekamp Avery Pennekamp 5'11" | OH McFarland | 2022 State WI , Hannah Rounds Hannah Rounds RS McFarland | 2022 State WI , and Gwen Crull Gwen Crull 6'2" | MB McFarland | 2023 State WI .
Bold prediction, but going with McFarland. Lot of balance for the Spartans and they are also hosting the sectional final.
Pewaukee vs. Pius XI
Pewaukee scored a huge win by sweeping Kettle Moraine Lutheran last night and are finding their stride at the right time. The Pirates have five attackers with over 200 kills, they have plenty of all around balance. Katie Gund Katie Gund 5'11" | S Pewaukee | 2022 State WI , an Illinois Wesleyan commit, is a big time leader for this squad who can set and hit. Pius is a conference rival of Pewaukee where Pewaukee has won three prior meetings.
I know its tough to beat a team four times, but I’m going with Pewaukee who is really catching fire right now.
Potential State Tournament Seeding
- McFarland
- Luxemburg-Casco
- Pewaukee
- Reedsburg
D3
Unity vs. Aquinas
Sydney Smith and Sidney Bader will lead a long and athletic 35-1 Unity squad into a battle with La Crosse Aquinas who has plenty of big game experience. Aquinas was the state runner up in D3 in 2019 and also has plenty of athletes who have been on the big stage for basketball. Jacy Weisbrod Jacy Weisbrod 5'11" | OH Aquinas | 2022 WI leads Aquinas in kills and is a Northern Colorado basketball commit. Macy Donarski Macy Donarski 5'7" | S Aquinas | 2023 State WI , a St. Louis basketball commit runs the show as a setter and saw playing time on their state runner up team.
Aquinas uses their athleticism and big game experience to head back to the Resch.
Stanley-Boyd vs. Oconto
Stanley-Boyd will be led by Junior, Emily Brenner who has over 400 kills on the season for the Orioles who have scored some big wins over ranked D3 teams. Oconto will be lead by UW-Oshkosh commit Hannah Moe Hannah Moe 5'11" | OH Oconto | 2022 State WI and middle blocker Lianna Baxter Lianna Baxter 6'0" | MB Oconto | 2022 State WI on the frontline. Kate Bahrke Kate Bahrke S Oconto | 2023 State WI is a junior setter who has over 800 assists and can create her own scoring chances as well. This is Oconto’s third straight sectional final where they lost to Luxemburg-Casco in 2020, after having moved up a division with covid reclassification.
Oconto finally gets their chance to head to Green Bay (which is 30 minutes South of Oconto) for the state tournament.
Cuba City vs. Lake Country Lutheran
Cuba City played a lot of volleyball last night, defeating top seed Brodhead 17-15 in set five with three of the sets going into extra points. Hailey Stich is the top attacker for the Cubans. Lake Country Lutheran has plenty of tradition on their end and is back in D3 after playing in D2 the past two seasons. The Lightning have one of the top liberos in the state in Adriana Studer Adriana Studer DS/L Lake Country Lutheran | 2022 State #187 Nation WI who is committed to Villanova and one of the top setters in D3 in Rachel Rossing Rachel Rossing 5'9" | S Lake Country Lutheran | 2023 State WI from the Class of 2023.
Lake Country Lutheran is showing they will be a big contender in D3 this year (been switching between D2 and D3) great first touch with Adriana Studer Adriana Studer DS/L Lake Country Lutheran | 2022 State #187 Nation WI and Rachel Rossing Rachel Rossing 5'9" | S Lake Country Lutheran | 2023 State WI doing some special things to get her attackers in place to score pic.twitter.com/DYSdnt9HUF
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) August 28, 2021
Lake Country Lutheran heads back to state for the first time since they won it in 2018.
Kenosha Christian Life vs. Howards Grove
Christian Life has survived a rugged side of their sectional where there has been plenty of upsets. They outlasted Shoreland Lutheran to advance to this sectional final. Howards Grove has been atop the D3 rankings all season and are back to back state champions. Seniors Karissa Kaminski Karissa Kaminski 5'9" | DS/L Howards Grove | 2022 State #166 Nation WI (Dayton) and Emma Baierl Emma Baierl 5'8" | S Howards Grove | 2022 State WI (Truman State) along with Junior Saige Damrow Saige Damrow 5'8" | DS/L Howards Grove | 2023 State #17 Nation WI (Wisconsin) will be hungry to get back to the Resch.
Howards Grove is on a mission…and it will continue on to the Resch.
Potential State Tournament Seeding
- Howards Grove
- Lake Country Lutheran
- Oconto
- Aquinas
D4
Mercer vs. McDonell Central Catholic
Mercer has not lost in the month of October. They are led by KD Knipp who has over 300 kills on the season. McDonell Central Catholic are the defending state runner ups from D4 and have a schedule that is loaded with talented D2 and D3 squads. The Macks have four attackers with over 200 kills led by Kait Ortmann with just under 300 kills.
McDonell Central Catholic has the experience and battle tested schedule. The Macks are going to state.
Wabeno/Laona vs. Columbus Catholic
Wabeno/Laona had three prior losses to Three Lakes and they broke through last night with a three set win, winning each set by two, two, and three. Columbus Catholic has had plenty of postseason success, but usually runs into Newman Catholic on their path to multiple state tournaments and state titles. Dorci Walker Dorci Walker OH Columbus Catholic | 2022 State WI will be looking to lead Columbus to the next round.
Columbus Catholic makes it to state.
Wonewoc Center vs. Highland
We are heading to Southwest Wisconsin where Wonewoc Center defeated Bangor last night to advance to the sectional final. Highland closed out their season with a big win over Potosi and survived a scare in their opening round win against Penatonica and won again against Potosi. Rachel Miller is the top attacker for the Cardinals.
This could be a long match, but Highland comes out on top.
Monticello vs. Hilbert
Monticello has one loss and that comes at the hands of Reedsburg who is playing in the D2 sectional final. Everyone is going to be introduced to one of the top unknown attackers in the state in Ellie Gustafson Ellie Gustafson 5'10" | OH Monticello | 2023 State WI , a St. Thomas (MN) commit. Gustafson is dynamite, she is averaging 5.4 attacks per set. Hilbert got a huge win over Sevastopol last night. Hilbert has a history of state tournament appearances and are led by Laney Halbach with over 300 kills.
Gustafson has a big night, Monticello heads to state.
Potential State Tournament Seeding
- Monticello
- Columbus Catholic
- McDonell Central Catholic
- Highland