Top-seeded Oconomowoc (39-5) overcame a set-point deficit in the second set to take a 2-0 lead and proceed to win the Division 1 championship match 25-18, 26-24, 25-23 over second-seeded Appleton North (41-7).
The Raccoons featured a balanced hitting attack to post a .133 percentage for the match. Anna Bjork led the team with 13 kills and Cordella Kearns and Alana Dvorak contributed with nine and eight, respectively. Lily Wagner led all setters with 36 assists.
Defensively, Oconomowoc was led by Ella Unterweger with 21 digs and Kearns, who chipped in with 11. In addition, Dvorak led the team in blocks with four assists.
Appleton North was led on offense by Kennedy Martin with 10 kills and Emerson Van Lannen with 26 assists. On defense, Berkley Mischler contributed to the 11 team blocks with eight assists, and Madisen Miller made a team-leading 12 digs
Oconomowoc wins its first State championship in its fifth tourney appearance. The Raccoons defeated Oak Creek 25-12, 25-17, 25-20 in the quarterfinals and Kettle Moraine 25-17, 25-18, 25-23 in the semifinals earlier in the tournament.
Appleton North finishes runner-up after winning the 2020-21 alternate season championship last spring. It was the Lightning’s seventh State Tournament appearance. They advanced to the title game with a 25-13, 25-18, 25-18 win over Holmen in the quarterfinals and a 25-14, 25-18, 25-18 victory over Brookfield Central in the semifinals.
Top-seeded Luxemburg-Casco (42-5) won its third consecutive championship by virtue of its 25-17, 25-15, 27-29, 25-15 triumph over second-seeded McFarland (40-3) in the Division 2 championship tilt. The Spartans finished the second set with 13 straight points to take a two-set lead and control of the match.
Grace Holschuh led Luxemburg-Casco in kills with a match-high 23 for a .305 attack percentage, and Autumn Flynn added 14 kills with a .500 hitting percentage. The Spartans hit .245 as a team in the match. Emma Johnson led all setters with 48 assists. Four players recorded double figures in digs to limit McFarland to a .078 hitting percentage for the game.
Avery Pennekamp was the only McFarland attacker to record double digits in kills with 13, and Hannah Rounds contributed with nine kills. Maddy Fortune delivered assists on 37 of the team’s 41 kills. Pennekamp also led the team defensively with a game-high 19 digs, and Gwen Crull added six blocks.
Luxemburg-Casco has won championships in each of the program’s three State Tournament appearances. The Spartans rolled to a 25-12, 25-15, 25-21 win over Reedsburg in the semifinals to reach the championship match. McFarland finishes runner-up in its fourth experience at State. The Spartans notched a four-set victory over Pewaukee in the semifinals by scores of 25-16, 25-23, 21-25, 25-23.
Second-seeded Howards Grove (43-5) won its third straight State title by downing top-seeded Lake Country Lutheran (37-8) 25-23, 25-15, 25-17 in the championship match in Division 3.
The Tigers used a staunch defense to hold the Lighting to a .100 hitting percentage for the match. Karissa Kaminski and Saige Damrow both tallied double figures in digs with 17 and 11, respectively.
Offensively, Kaminski led all hitters with 17 kills for an efficient .308 attack percentage, and Damrow added 10 kills. Howards Grove hit at a .235 clip as a team. Emma Baierl and Kamryn Kaminski shared a majority of the setting duties, distributing 17 and 14 assists, respectively.
The Lightning were balanced offensively with Karlie Molnau leading the team in kills with nine. Both Bailey Halliburton and Ellie Schumacher contributed with seven kills apiece. Rachel Rossing was credited with assists on 24 of the team’s 31 kills. Defensively, Adriana Studer led the team with 16 digs.
Howards Grove wins its fifth State championship in its sixth State Tournament experience. The Tigers swept Oconto in three sets 25-8, 26-24, 25-11 in the semifinals to advance to the championship match. Lake Country Lutheran finishes runner-up in its fourth State appearance. The Lightning defeated Unity 19-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-18 in the semifinals.
Second-seeded McDonell Catholic (36-14) won the Division 4 championship with a 25-13, 25-15, 25-14 victory over fourth-seeded Wabeno-Laona (38-9) in the final. The Macks’ deficit at 1-0 to start the second set was the only time they trailed during the match.
Destiny Baughman led the Macks’ 37-kill attack with a game-high 12 kills for a .310 hitting percentage, and Grace Goettl added nine kills. Abby Bresina dished out a game-high 21 assists, and Kaitlyn Ortmann had a match-high five aces.
Defensively, Lauren Deetz recorded a game-high 18 digs, and Marley Hughes posted seven blocks. The Macks held the Rebels to a -.180 attack percentage for the match.
Elizabeth Krawze was the team leader in kills for Wabeno/Laona with nine, and Grace Krawze contributed a team-high 16 assists. Elizabeth Krawze also led the team on defense with 14 digs.
McDonell Catholic wins the State championship for the second time in their fourth appearance in the State Tournament. The Macks defeated Wonewoc-Center in the semifinals 25-21, 25-19, 25-11 to advance to the title game. Wabeno/Laona finishes runner-up in its first-ever appearance. The Rebels ousted top-seeded Monticello 25-23, 24-26, 25-23, 25-19 in the semifinals to earn their appearance in the championship match.
The #2 seed Marquette (35-7) reigns as champion of the State Boys Volleyball Tournament following a five-set win over fifth-seeded Westosha Central (37-7) in the title game 14-25, 25-12, 19-25, 25-20, 15-10.
The Hilltoppers regrouped after dropping the first set of the match and allowing a .545 hitting percentage. They held the Falcons to a combined -.027 hitting efficiency the rest of the game.
Nick Hartshorn led the Hilltoppers with 15 kills, and Will Beyer contributed with nine kills. Jack Fitterer and Nate Flayer shared the setting responsibilities and dished out 19 and 18 assists, respectively, and Tyler Chang led all servers in the game with four aces. The Hilltoppers were strong at the net defensively, recording 11 blocks, including seven block assists by Cole Semi. Flayer also contributed to the defense with a game-high 14 digs.
Westosha Central was led on the attack by David Tompkins with 15 kills and Bradley Bell with 11 kills. Keegan Kearby handed out 34 assists, and Jack Rose served a pair of aces. Dakota Veium led the team with 13 digs, and Bell had a game-high eight block assists to contribute to the Falcons’ 12 blocks in the game.
Marquette wins its membership-leading 10th State championship in its 20th State appearance. The Hilltoppers advanced to the final after wins over Wauwatosa East in the quarterfinals (25-12, 25-20, 25-21) and Arrowhead in the semifinals (25-19, 24-26, 25-17, 25-19).
Westosha Central places runner-up in its fifth State experience. The Falcons downed Kettle Moraine 19-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-21 in the quarterfinals and top-seeded Kaukauna 25-21, 25-20, 25-19 in the semifinals to earn their berth in the championship game.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
