WIAA State Girls Volleyball Tournament Preview: Division 1
Wednesday, October 31st, 2018 -- 10:26 AM
The 46th Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Girls Volleyball State Tournament will take place this Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 1-3, at the Resch Center in Green Bay..Here's a preview of the Division 1 field....Division 1
Thursday, Nov. 1
#1 Arrowhead (45-6) vs. Waukesha West (34-10) - 4:30 p.m.
#4 Burlington (36-5) vs. Kimberly (33-10)- 4:30 p.m.
#2 River Falls (42-2) vs. Greendale (31-16) - 7 p.m.
#3 Oconomowoc (29-7) vs. Sun Prairie (40-8) - 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 2
Semifinal (Thursday's 4:30 p.m. winners) - 7 p.m.
Semifinal (Thursday's 7:30 p.m. winners) - 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 3
Championship Match - 4:30 p.m.
LAST YEAR: Burlington won the Division 1 title by outlasting River Falls in the championship match 25-20, 25-15, 22-25, 17-25, 15-13.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 1 FIELD: The only other appearance in the State tournament by top-seeded Arrowhead came back in 2001 when the Warhawks fell in their quarterfinal match. This season, they swept Divine Savior Holy Angels 25-14, 25-20, 25-14 in the sectional final hosted by the Dashers to earn their first appearance in 17 seasons. The Warhawks finished tied with Oconomowoc for second place in the Classic Eight Conference this fall. Last year’s runner-up and second-seeded River Falls qualifies for the third year in a row, which accounts for the total number of appearances for the Wildcats. Their return to State comes following their 25-14, 25-11, 25-17 win over Stevens Point in the Eau Claire Memorial Sectional final. They won the Big Rivers Conference title in the regular season. Oconomowoc, the third seed, is back in the State tournament for the second straight season and for the third time in the past four years. The Raccoons finished runner-up in their first State appearance in 2015. They outlasted Watertown 26-24, 18-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-13 in the Hartford Sectional final to advance to the State quarterfinals. They tied for second place with Arrowhead in the Classic Eight Conference this season. Defending champion and fourth-seeded Burlington qualifies for the State tournament for the fifth straight season and for the 10th time overall. The Demons have now won three State championships with the first two coming back-to-back in 2011 and 2012. They also have a runner-up finish in 2016. Their return to the quarterfinals comes by virtue of a 25-21, 25-22, 25-14 sweep over Westosha Central in the sectional final hosted by Westosha Central. They finished in a first-place tie with Westosha Central in the Southern Lakes Conference standings this season. Kimberly is appearing in its second straight State tournament and its 12th overall. The Papermakers won the Division 2 championship in 1990 and finished runner-up in 1995 and 1999. They defeated Appleton North 25-17, 25-14, 26-28, 25-11 in the sectional final held at De Pere to earn their return to the final eight. They are the champions of the Fox Valley Association this season. Greendale returns to the State tournament for the fourth straight season and for the seventh time overall. The Panthers’ most notable outcome of their six previous experiences was a runner-up finish in Class A in 1974. They advance to the quarterfinals this year following a 32-30, 25-22, 25-16 victory over Franklin in the sectional final played at Racine Case. The Panthers were runners-up in the Woodland Conference this season. Sun Prairie makes its fourth overall appearance at State and its second in the past three seasons. The Cardinals’ furthest advance in the tourney was to the semifinals in 2013 and 2016. They defeated Waunakee 26-24, 25-18, 25-20 in the sectional final played at Waunakee to earn their spot in the tournament field. They are the champions of the Big Eight Conference this fall. It’s the first time Waukesha West will experience the State tournament. The Wolverines earned their inaugural trip to the State tournament following a 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, 25-15 win over Mukwonago in the Kettle Moraine Sectional final. They finished fifth in the Classic Eight Conference standings this season.
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