Breaking Down NEW WIAA D1 Sectionals
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Sectional assignments are out! The road to the Resch isn’t quite paved, but teams know who will be in their section when post season starts come late October. We have some of the favorites and top players returning heading into…
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Continue ReadingSectional assignments are out! The road to the Resch isn’t quite paved, but teams know who will be in their section when post season starts come late October. We have some of the favorites and top players returning heading into the 2022 high school season. There has also been some movement in Southern Wisconsin with Section 5-8. Take a look at the changes as it’s never to early to take a look at the upcoming high school volleyball season.
Section 1
River Falls has been dominant in this section with their string of state tournament appearances dating back to 2016. However in 2021, Chippewa Falls took them to five sets in a thriller of a sectional final. These two teams will be in the hunt once again in this section. RF will have to replace some scoring with the graduation losses to Haley Graetz Haley Graetz OH River Falls | 2022 State WI , Dani Lien Dani Lien OH River Falls | 2022 State WI , Maddie Doerre, and Brynn Johnson Brynn Johnson 6'1" | OH River Falls | 2022 WI . The Wildcats return top All State setter Morgan Kealy Morgan Kealy 5'11" | S River Falls | 2023 State WI as well as attackers Brianna Brathol Brianna Brathol 5'11" | OH River Falls | 2023 State WI , Taylor Peterson, and libero Abi Bannitt. Chippewa Falls returns virtually their whole line up from 2021 starting with senior outside Samantha Perlberg Samantha Perlberg 5'10" | OH Chippewa Falls | 2023 State WI who had over 300 kills. They have a strong core of incoming juniors that include Paige Steinmetz Paige Steinmetz 5'10" | OH Chippewa Falls | 2024 State WI , Madison Hunt Madison Hunt 5'8" | MB Chippewa Falls | 2024 State WI , and Sophie Robinson Sophie Robinson 5'11" | OH Chippewa Falls | 2024 State WI .
Section 2
This section has belonged to Appleton North or Kimberly since 2013. They are once again the hunted in section two returning plenty of talent from last season where the two met for the sectional title. North will have to replace some holes in their lineup, but the cupboard is far from bare. Seniors Karissa Fortune Karissa Fortune 6'2" | OH Appleton North | 2023 State WI (Drake) and Olivia Lasee Olivia Lasee 6'3" | MB Appleton North | 2023 State WI (Lehigh) will be relied upon heavily while the Lightning still return All State outside hitter, Ella Demetrician Ella Demetrician 6'2" | OH Appleton North | 2024 State #40 Nation WI . Emerson Van Lannen Emerson Van Lannen 5'10" | S Appleton North | 2024 State #144 Nation WI will be running the show as a really dynamic 2024 setter. Kimberly has a strong Senior class with athletes who have competed at a high level. Macy Herman Macy Herman 5'11" | S Kimberly | 2023 State WI will return as setter as well as Alabama commit Kyla Dunaway Kyla Dunaway 6'4" | RS Kimberly | 2023 State WI who can score on both pins. Electric outside hitter Kaitlin Schulz Kaitlin Schulz 6'0" | OH Kimberly | 2023 State WI will be on the outside scoring points in the front and backrow.
Section 3
This section looks a little different this year with Sun Prairie breaking jnto two high schools and moving to section six. They were a Section 3 power house for many years. Holmen came out of this section last year where they defeated Middleton in a five set thriller to get to state. Middleton can use that to fuel the off-season fire as they will come into this section as a very heavy favorite. They have a strong senior class where they return plenty of talent and experience with Evinae Jordee Evinae Jordee 5'9" | S Middleton | 2023 State WI , Jordan LaScala Jordan LaScala 6'0" | OH Middleton | 2023 State WI , and Sierra Pertzborn Sierra Pertzborn 6'3" | MB Middleton | 2023 State WI .
Section 4
Section 4 features defending state champion Oconomowoc. They will come into the season as the number one team in D1, but they will also receive some national attention with their powerhouse lineup. They return the top top 2024 athletes in the state in setter 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 while soon to be senior Cordelia Kearns Cordelia Kearns 6'1" | OH Oconomowoc | 2023 State WI will be another major part to their scheme. Ocon has length, athleticism and plenty of depth with some incoming athletes who will be ready to take the varsity court.
Section 5
This is always a section with plenty of eyes on it. Traditionally, the deepest sectional in the state with multiple ranked teams, section five is once again loaded with the state’s top talent. DSHA, Germantown, and Sussex Hamilton jump out as early favorites where these squads usually go head to head on GMAC play and then have a mini conference tournament during the post season. DSHA will return Madison Quest Madison Quest 6'3" | OH DSHA | 2025 State #13 Nation WI , the top Freshman in the state in 2021 after a major breakout season for the Dashers along with returning Senior middle blocker Bella Lipski Bella Lipski MB DSHA | 2023 State WI . Germantown is always in the mix with Liberty commit Lily Wagner Lily Wagner 5'11" | OH Germantown | 2023 State #118 Nation WI who will be in her Senior campaign. Wagner is able to score a lot of points from the front and backrow. Sussex Hamilton won a state title in 2020 and will have plenty of firepower coming this fall with outside hitter Sylvie Zgonc Sylvie Zgonc 5'11" | OH Sussex Hamilton | 2023 State #115 Nation WI on the outside.
Section 6
A little bit of a different look to this sectional. Burlington came out of this section last year, but they will be in Section 7 which is more Southeast Wisconsin. This section will serve the area between Milwaukee and Madison. Kettle Moraine, Mukwonago, Sun Prairie East, and Sun Prairie West will be in this section. This is wide open and will be extremely exciting with this combination of teams. Kettle Moraine is coming off a final four finish and will still have All State outside hitter, Grace Grocholski Grace Grocholski 5'10" | OH Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI and libero Kyleigh Coghlan Kyleigh Coghlan 5'6" | DS/L Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI – these athletes have both played in multiple state tournaments. Fort Atkinson will be one to watch with do it all type player Andi Spies Andi Spies 5'10" | S Fort Atkinson | 2024 State #135 Nation WI leading the squad – she can set and score points. Another team to keep an eye on would be Mukwonago with two strong middles in Gabriella Pitcel Gabriella Pitcel 6'1" | MB Mukwonago | 2025 State #42 Nation WI and Natalia Farrugia.
Section 7
The Southeast Wisconsin sectional. Definitely a Southern Lakes Conference vibe in this sectional with the likes of Burlington, Westosha Central, Waterford, and more. Burlington off the bat looks to be the early favorite with their amount of ball control they return as well as experience. Abby Alan Abby Alan 6'0" | MB Burlington | 2023 State WI will be the top point scorer returning for the Demons who will also return libero and Marquette recruit Molly Berezowitz Molly Berezowitz DS/L Burlington | 2023 State WI and setter Ella Safar Ella Safar 5'9" | S Burlington | 2024 State WI . Westosha Central will have a competitive squad where they are coming off a strong 2021 season. Senior setter, Sydney Selburg Sydney Selburg 5'8" | S Westosha Central | 2023 State WI can dish and score points and will be extremely key for the Falcons. Oak Creek went to state out of this sectional in 2021 and will return a strong core of athletes that includes Kaitlyn Dohs Kaitlyn Dohs 5'8" | OH Oak Creek | 2024 State WI who had nearly 250 kills last season.
Section 8
This section looks a lot different this year with Mukwonago and Kettle Moraine moving to section six. Wauwatosa East is coming back in 2022 returning the best record out of this section at 19-12. Jackie Brown will be their top player returning for her sophomore campaign where she had nearly 200 kills and over 100 digs as freshman. Greendale who was 17-22 in 2021 could be another team to keep an eye on with the return of Hannah Kos Hannah Kos 5'9" | OH Greendale | 2023 State WI who had over 200 kills last year. Billie Reiter Billie Reiter 5'11" | S Greendale | 2025 State WI will be returning for her sophomore season as a top setter from the Class of 2025 who can swing as well.