West v. East Matches of the Season (One Last Night and One Tonight)

We think it was Rudyard Kipling who once said, "East is east and west is west and never the twain shall meet." Not sure what that chap was thinking because here in Wisconsin, Wests and Easts meet all the time. And it's never more exciting than when a meeting between the "twain" occurs right smack dab in the middle of the playoffs.

Exhibit A: Appleton East defeated Appleton West last night in five sets in the first round of the WIAA boys playoffs. According to the Appleton Post-Crescent, Appleton East's 6'6" junior middle Noah Mader and teammate Tom Moriarty had big nights, combining for 29 kills. Appleton East will face Kaukauna on Tuesday night. 

Exhibit B: West Bend East will battle West Bend West in yet another classic meeting between two teams that not only share the same state, city, conference and sectional, they even share the same building. Last year, East reached the D1 state finals with a single senior on its roster. This year, West has the younger team (their only senior is Aleisha Bagin and they're getting huge contributions from freshman Sara Blasier). 

Should be plenty loud.