Sunday, August 16, 2009

Which Lutheran School Will Make October 31 a Reformation Day to Remember? A Preview of Girls Division Three Sectional Four

Sorry about the headline, but we were sorta intrigued by the fact that many of the stronger teams in this sectional are Lutheran schools and the sectional finals just so happen to fall this year on October 31. Last season, Shoreland Lutheran outlasted Sheboygan Lutheran in an epic four-set battle. Oostburg and Laconia were the other sectional semifinalists.


Regional A
  • Laconia The Spartans will likely turn to senior Becca Vollmer, who was second-team Wisconsin Flyway last season.
  • Manawa Even though they lose Ashley Braun, who was co-player of the year in the Central Wisconsin Eight, they return senior Aubree Drath, who was honorable mention all-conference.
  • Markesan The Hornets graduated Marieanna Dulas, who was Trailways North all-conference last season.
  • Montello The Hilltoppers, who are also in the Trailways North, were young last season and will return many from last year's roster, including senior opposite/setter Tara Klawitter, senior opposite/libero Katie Hoffman, senior outside Jessica Henning, plus juniors Paige Polk and Nici Kearns.
  • Oshkosh Lourdes Senior Ali Tomczyk returns. She was first-team Trailways North all-conference last season. Junior Natalie Buyarski was honorable mention.
  • Tri-County The Penguins will likely turn to senior Megan Detlor, who was first-team Central Wisconsin Ten all-conference last season.
  • Weyawauga-Fremont Seniors Christie Schuck and Kelly Bucholtz were first-team Central Wisconsin Eight all-conference.
  • Wild Rose We don't have any information on the Wildcats.
Regional B
  • Horicon The Marshladies return senior Alee Yundt, who was second-team Wisconsin Flyway all-conference last season. Senior Shelby Scharpf was honorable mention.
  • Howards Grove Seniors Ali Benning and Kasey Latharn were second-team Central Lakeshore all-conference last season.
  • Lomira The Lions, who are in the Wisconsin Flyway, lost to Horicon in round one last season.
  • Oakfield Junior Jami Fink was second-team Trailways North all-conference last season.
  • Oostburg They return senior all-state setter Julie Raeder, who, not surprisingly, was also first-team Central Lakeshore all-conference last season. In 2008, they lost to Shoreland Lutheran in four in the sectional semifial.
  • St. Mary's Springs Senior Ali Harasha was first-team Wisconsin Flyway last season.
  • Sheboygan Lutheran Senior Amanda Dillaman was second-team Central Lakeshore all-conference last season. Remember the YouTube video they put together to wish Shoreland Lutheran well at state after losing to them in four in the sectional final. We sure do. One of the classiest things we've ever seen.
  • Winnebago Lutheran Academy Senior Karen Woldt was first-team Wisconsin Flyway all-conference last season.
Regional C
  • Brookfield Academy They graduated two Midwest Classic North all-conference players: libero Amanda Doyle and outside Rebecca Brooks.
  • Cedar Grove-Belgium The Rockets feature senior Rachel Slotman, who was second-team Central Lakeshore all-conference last season. Senior Kristin Slotman was honorable mention.
  • Dominican Senior middle Jessie Bazan was second-team Midwest Classic all-conference last season. And when you see that second-team designation, keep in mind that both first-team middles went to NCAA Division I schools: Burlington Catholic Central's Carol Henney to Marquette and Racine Lutheran's Rachel Aumann to DePaul.
  • Heritage Christian Senior outsides Hilary Barnett and Shannon Drout were both first-team Midwest Classic all-conference last season.
  • Ozaukee Senior Erin Hartnett was first-team Central Lakeshore all-conference last season and senior Brittany Schueler was honorable mention.
  • Random Lake Seniors Krista Navis, Erin Swanson and Chelsea Witkowski were honorable mention Central Lakeshore all-conference last season.
  • University School of Milwaukee Senior opposite Lily Heun was first-team Midwest Classic all-conference last season.
Regional D
  • Kenosha Christian Life They graduated their second-team Midwest Classic South setter/libero Kelly Smith.
  • Martin Luther We don't know much about this Midwest Classic South team. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
  • Racine Lutheran Another team that gave eventual state qualifier a run for their money, the Crusaders went the full five sets. Returning starters include senior outside/middle Nikki Roeder, junior outside Lauren Hlvaka, junior libero Anna Sweeti and sophomore setter Rosie Aumann.
  • Racine St. Catherine's Sophomores Haley Jeffcoat and Taylore Molbeck played last season as freshmen, and Jeffcoat was second-team Midwest Classic South all-conference.
  • Shoreland Lutheran Senior libero Katie Mormon (435 digs in 2008) was first-team Midwest Classic North all-conference last season, while junior setter/outside Taylor Bahr (148 kills and 290 assists in 2008) was second-team. Senior middle Bekah Sittig (156 kills in 2008), senior middle Erin Kelly (71 kills in 2008) and senior outside Becky Engelbrecht (136 kills in 2008) are two other returning regulars from last season's state-qualifying team.
  • The Prairie School The Hawks are also in the Midwest Classic South conference and return senior Abby Gaertig, who led the team in blocks last season.
OUR PREDICTION
Racine Lutheran over Sheboygan Lutheran in five (but only if they can eke out a five-set victory over Shoreland Lutheran two rounds earlier). And, of course, it's gonna mess up the whole Lutheran theme of this preview if a very strong Racine St. Catherine's gets through Regional D.

2009 KEY LINKS
2009 SEASON NOTES
  • Racine Lutheran won Milwaukee Riverside tournament, 9/5/09

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