Sunday, August 24, 2008

Will the Crusaders Return After a Year Off: A Preview of Girls Division Two Sectional Four

It's the sectional that brought you last year's D2 champion (Kettle Moraine Lutheran). And the champion the year before that (Catholic Memorial). Throw in Wisconsin Lutheran, Brown Deer and a host of others, and there's little doubt that our final sectional in division two will feature some of the finest volleyball in the state.

REGIONAL A

Contenders: Campbellsport, Chilton, Kiel, New Holstein, Plymouth, Sheboygan Falls and Valders.

Top Finisher Last Year: Sheboygan Falls lost to Little Chute in a sectional semifinal.

Random Notes: Sheboygan Falls sophomore outside Leslie Stadler contributed as a freshman and will be joined by, among others, junior setter Alyse Hucke and senior outside Steph Hasler. Campbellsport will turn to senior outside Brittany Narges again this year to rack up kills. Whoever emerges from this regional, though, will face a tall task in the sectional semifinal against the winner of our next regional.

REGIONAL B

Contenders: Brown Deer, Grafton, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Kewaskum, Mayville, Milwaukee Lifelong Learning/Ronald Reagan and Port Washington.

Top Finisher Last Year: Kettle Moraine Lutheran won the division two state championship over Waupun.

Random Notes: What a regional. Brown Deer has honorable mention all-state junior Monique Morris and senior Sydney Nelson. Grafton will counter with North Shore all-conference honorees Lauren Noltner, Becki Brunquell and Ali Haischer and Mayville will feature Wisconsin Flyway all-conference honoree Steffani Koch. And even though Kettle Moraine Lutheran loses '08s Caitlyn Rusch and Cassy Marx, they return seniors Andrea Henning (202 kills) and Mary Groth (195 kills), as well as juniors Rachel Spaeth (118 kills), Tori Kroll (100 kills) and Kristin Wetzel (228 digs).

REGIONAL C

Contenders: Catholic Memorial, Milwaukee Lutheran, Milwaukee School of Languages, New Berlin West, New Berlin Eisenhower, Pewaukee and Wisconsin Lutheran.

Top Finisher Last Year: Catholic Memorial lost to Kettle Moraine Lutheran in the sectional final.

Random Notes: Catholic Memorial will clearly miss Loyola University freshman Melissa Hastings, but they return senior setter Samantha Derynda and senior middle Alleigh Vivian, as well as some super sophs in outside Katie Acker, Alyssa Kujawa, Patti Abshire and Kelli Browning. Wisconsin Lutheran graduated 10 seniors so new head coach Leanne Felsing will rely heavily on senior all-state outside Brittany Groth.

REGIONAL D

Contenders: Cudahy, Messmer, Saint Francis, Saint Joan Antida, Saint Thomas More, Shorewood and Whitefish Bay.

Top Finisher Last Year: Shorewood lost to Grafton in a regional semifinal.

Random Notes: Whitefish Bay's team includes Maggie Rice. Thomas More graduated libero Ciara Gayle and three other '08s, but brings back a host of seniors, as well as junior middle Katlyn Putney.

Our Prediction: Catholic Memorial over Kettle Moraine Lutheran in five.

Next Up: Girls Division One Sectional One

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

HERE WE GO MEMORIAL, HERE WE GO!

Anonymous said...

I agree with your assessment that Greendale will be in the mix but probably not make it to the big dance. Mutranowski seems to make any team that she is on better and plays a lot bigger than her 5'7" frame. I have seen her play on several occasions and she is a high flyer that plays smart. Greendale has never really challenged for a State run.

You can't argue with teams that have D1 talent. They have played in big games and know how to navigate the pressure.

Should be fun to watch the season develop!