PDWI: Summer HS Team Rankings, Sectional Predictions

Open gyms have started, camp dates are set, and summer leagues are approaching - let’s talk high school volleyball.  In 2021, Wisconsin was back to a “normal” year of volleyball with gyms full and the bright lights of the Resch Center closing the final weekend, crowning the champions.  We’re going to take a look at Division 1 today with who is returning, who will be contenders, and who could be a surprise to make a “Run for the Resch”.   Taking a look at these rankings, this doesn’t factor in any potential transfers or incoming Freshmen who could have a major impact at the varsity level.  We’ll let the summer events happen before that is factored in.  Here are a few thoughts on these Summer Rankings for Division 1.  Oconomowoc is going to have a target on their back after taking home the title in 2021 and returning some extremely key players in Lilly Wagner Lilly Wagner 6'0" | S Oconomowoc | 2024 State #28 Nation WI , Anna Bjork Anna Bjork 6'3" | MB Oconomowoc | 2024 State #47 Nation WI , and Cordelia Kearns Cordelia Kearns 6'1" | OH Oconomowoc | 2023 State WI .  Wagner and Bjork are the top two prospects in the Wisconsin Class of 2024 and will be heavily recruited starting June 15 when Division 1 college coaches can talk to incoming Juniors.   Section 5 is once again a gauntlet of top teams where in the summer rankings there is DSHA, Sussex Hamilton, Germantown, and Arrowhead.  To make it to the sectional tournament in this area is tough enough, there is also Menomonee Falls who will be a contender right there with these teams. DSHA will return the top incoming Sophomore in Madison Quest Madison Quest 6'3" | OH DSHA | 2025 State WI , but the Dashers have a ton of depth. They have a really talented Class of 2025 who can play multiple positions as well as returners at other key positions.  The Fox Valley will be a sneaky tough region this upcoming season.  Appleton North graduated a really talented Senior class from their state runner up finish and will also lose top 2023 athlete, Kennedy Martin Kennedy Martin 6'6" | OH Appleton North | 2023 State #18 Nation WI , a Florida commit, who will be moving to South Carolina.  However, the Lightning had a really deep bench in 2021 and those athletes will be ready to step up including Lehigh commit Olivia Lasee Olivia Lasee 6'3" | MB Appleton North | 2023 State WI and watch out for a Senior to have a breakout year in Finley Charapata Finley Charapata 5'10" | MB Appleton North | 2023 State WI .  Kimberly once again will be in the hunt and will be led by two Division 1 commits in Kaitlin Schulz Kaitlin Schulz 6'0" | OH Kimberly | 2023 State WI (Green Bay) and Kyla Dunaway Kyla Dunaway 6'4" | RS Kimberly | 2023 State WI (Alabama).  Watchout for the likes of Hortonville and Kaukauna who will have extremely athletic and scrappy teams.  Paige Miller Paige Miller 5'10" | DS/L Kaukauna | 2023 State WI of Kaukauna will head to Ohio State as a libero and Molly Rohde Molly Rohde 5'11" | MB Hortonville | 2023 State WI of Hortonville will head to New Jersey to play D1 volleyball at Rider University.  Western Wisconsin will be a battle.  Right now it’s a bit of a two horse race between Chippewa Falls and River Falls.  River Falls returns 1st Team All State setter Morgan Kealy Morgan Kealy 5'11" | S River Falls | 2023 State WI and a strong Senior class as well as six trips in a row to the state tournament.  Chippewa Falls returns practically everyone from a 37-3 squad in 2021.  All three of their losses coming to River Falls, including a five set thriller in the sectional final.  The Madison area will have two clear favorites to start the year with Middleton and Waunakee.  Middleton defeated Waunakee in the sectional semifinals and then lost a five set heartbreaker to Holmen for a state berth.  Both of these squads have a lot of senior firepower that will be fun to see compete over the course of the season.     1. Oconomowoc  39-4-1 (State Champion) Section 4 Top Returners: Anna Bjork Anna Bjork 6'3" | MB Oconomowoc | 2024 State #47 Nation WI 3.0 k/s, Cordelia Kearns Cordelia Kearns 6'1" | OH Oconomowoc | 2023 State WI 2.2 k/s, Lilly Wagner Lilly Wagner 6'0" | S Oconomowoc | 2024 State #28 Nation WI 10.5 Ast/S Cordelia Kearns Cordelia Kearns 6'1" | OH Oconomowoc | 2023 State WI with the big swing and kill for Oconomowoc Ocon 25-19, set one pic.twitter.com/Jf3RlDvXB4 — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 7, 2021 2. DSHA  35-9 (Sectional Final) Section 5 Top Returners: Madison Quest Madison Quest 6'3" | OH DSHA | 2025 State WI 3.3 k/s, Sophia Wendlick Sophia Wendlick 6'0" | OH DSHA | 2024 State WI 1.5 k/s, Bella Lipski Bella Lipski MB DSHA | 2023 State WI 89 TB   3. Burlington  38-5 (State Quarterfinals) Section 7 Top Returners: Abby Alan Abby Alan 6'0" | MB Burlington | 2023 State WI 2.3 k/s, Molly Berezowitz Molly Berezowitz DS/L Burlington | 2023 State WI 3.0 digs/s, Ella Safar Ella Safar 5'9" | S Burlington | 2024 State WI 712 assists   4. Kettle Moraine  32-7-1 (State Semifinals) Section 6 Top Returners: Grace Grocholski Grace Grocholski 5'10" | OH Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI 4.5 k/s, Myla Glaser Myla Glaser 5'11" | MB Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI 1.8 k/s, Kyleigh Coghlan Kyleigh Coghlan 5'6" | DS/L Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI 4.8 d/s   5. Sussex Hamilton  30-13 (Sectional Semifinal) Section 5 Top Returners: Sylvie Zgonc Sylvie Zgonc 6'0" | OH Sussex Hamilton | 2023 State WI 4.3, Mya Trafficante Mya Trafficante OH Sussex-Hamilton | 2023 State WI 1.3 k/s, Alex Kreutzmann 214 assists   Previewing the D1 semifinals at the @wiaawistate - first serve at 7:30 tonight @oconomowocvoll1 vs Kettle Moraine @BCGVBall vs @anorth_vb pic.twitter.com/lYUV5etQJh — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 5, 2021 6. Appleton North  41-7-1 (State Runner-Up) Section 2 Top Returners: Ella Demetrician Ella Demetrician 6'1" | OH Appleton North | 2024 State #64 Nation WI 2.6 k/s, Karissa Fortune Karissa Fortune 6'2" | OH Appleton North | 2023 State WI .289 PCT, Emerson Van Lannen Emerson Van Lannen 5'10" | S Appleton North | 2024 State WI 718 assists   7. Middleton  37-5 (Sectional Final)  Section 3 Top Returners: Jordan LaScala Jordan LaScala 6'0" | OH Middleton | 2023 State WI 5.5 k/s, Sierra Pertzborn Sierra Pertzborn 6'3" | MB Middleton | 2023 State WI 3.5 k/s, Evin Jordee 936 assists   Kimberly in sectional final vs. Appleton North 8. Kimberly 30-11 (Sectional Final)   Section 2 Top Returners: Kaitlin Schulz Kaitlin Schulz 6'0" | OH Kimberly | 2023 State WI 3.1 k/s, Kyla Dunaway Kyla Dunaway 6'4" | RS Kimberly | 2023 State WI 2.8 k/s, Macy Herman Macy Herman 5'11" | S Kimberly | 2023 State WI 889 assists   9. Chippewa Falls  37-3 (Sectional Final) Section 1 Samantha Perlberg Samantha Perlberg 5'10" | OH Chippewa Falls | 2023 State WI 3.4 k/s, Sophie Robinson Sophie Robinson 5'11" | OH Chippewa Falls | 2024 State WI 3.1 k/s, Paige Steinmetz Paige Steinmetz 5'10" | OH Chippewa Falls | 2024 State WI 2.7 k/s   River Falls is 🔥🔥🔥 Brynn Johnson and Dani Lien swinging big on the pin. Morgan Kealy Morgan Kealy 5'11" | S River Falls | 2023 State WI really dishing. Wucherer not a ton of swings…yet RF 15 BC 8 pic.twitter.com/CQrROsMOVe — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 4, 2021 10. River Falls  31-4 (State Quarterfinals)  Section 1 Top Returners: Morgan Kealy Morgan Kealy 5'11" | S River Falls | 2023 State WI 8.7 ast/s, Taylor Peterson 1.7 k/s, Abi Banitt Abi Banitt DS/L River Falls | 2023 State WI 4.1 dig/s   11. Germantown 29-7 (Sectional Semifinal)  Section 5 Top Returners: Lily Wagner Lily Wagner 5'11" | OH Germantown | 2023 State #101 Nation WI 5.1 k/s, Ellie Feltz 37 TB, Sadie Olson Sadie Olson DS/L Germantown | 2023 WI 3.9 d/s   Mukwonago 12. Mukwonago 25-14-2 (Sectional Semifinal)  Section 6 Top Returners: Gabriella Pitcel Gabriella Pitcel 6'0" | MB Mukwonago | 2025 State WI 2.2 k/s, Natalie Powers Natalie Powers 5'4" | DS/L Mukwonago | 2025 State WI 1.9 D/S, Abby Winkelman 486 Asts)   13. Waunakee  34-15 (Sectional Semifinal)  Section 3  Top Returners: Summer Grigg Summer Grigg 5'8" | OH Waunakee | 2024 State WI 2.4 k/s, Ally Saleh Ally Saleh 5'11" | RS Waunakee | 2023 State WI 2.2 k/s, Ella Grace Meyer Ella Grace Meyer S Waunakee | 2023 WI 320 assists)   14. Arrowhead 18-20 (Regional Final)  Section 5 Top Returners: Gabby Wold Gabby Wold 6'0" | OH Arrowhead | 2024 State WI 1.9 k/s, Olivia Wyma Olivia Wyma 6'3" | MB Arrowhead | 2024 State WI 1.3 k/s, Katherine Thompson Katherine Thompson 5'6" | OH Arrowhead | 2023 State WI 2.2 digs/s   15. Hortonville 24-14 (Sectional Semifinal) Section 2 Top Returners: Bridget Moen Bridget Moen 5'9" | OH Hortonville | 2023 State WI 2.9 k/s, Molly Rohde Molly Rohde 5'11" | MB Hortonville | 2023 State WI 2.3 k/s, Molly Fischer Molly Fischer 5'9" | DS/L Hortonville | 2025 State WI 3.9 d/s   Sectional Winners (Predicted as of June 9, 2022) Section 1: Chippewa Falls Section 2: Appleton North  Section 3: Middleton  Section 4: Oconomowoc Section 5: DSHA Section 6: Kettle Moraine Section 7: Burlington  Section 8: Wauwatosa East