(WIAA/WNFL) – The WIAA boys state volleyball tournament serves up 4 quarterfinal matches tonight at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon.
The WIAA previewed the 8 teams playing tonight.
Top-seeded Hamilton will appear in the program’s first State Tournament. The Chargers advanced with a 25-18, 25-18, 25-16 sweep over Arrowhead in the Kettle Moraine Sectional final. They were runners-up in the Greater Metro Conference behind Marquette.
Marquette is the #2 seed. The perennial State qualifier is back at State for the 23rd straight year, which also accounts for the Hilltoppers overall total. They have won 10 State titles, capturing the gold in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2021. In addition, they advanced to the championship match and finished runner-up in 2010 and again in 2016. The Hilltoppers return to the tournament field this year by ousting Brookfield East 25-20, 25-23, 25-15 in the sectional final hosted at Marquette. They are the champions of the Greater Metro Conference this fall.
Defending champion Middleton is the #3 seed in the bracket. The Cardinals will be appearing in the State Tournament for the 15th time and for the fourth time in the last five seasons. They advance to the quarterfinals with a 25-21, 25-13, 25-21 win over Madison West in the sectional final held at Madison Memorial. The Cardinals were the champions of the Big Eight Conference this season.
Germantown, the #4 seed, returns to the State Tournament for the first time since 2019 and for the eighth time overall. The Warhawks have advanced to the championship game twice in their previous seven appearances, winning the title in 2018 and finishing runner-up in 2013. Their return to the tourney field is a result of a three-set sweep of Homestead by the scores of 25-18, 25-21, 28-26 in the Nicolet Sectional final. The Warhawks finished third in the Greater Metro Conference this season behind #2 seed Marquette and #1 seed Hamilton.
Fifth-seeded Appleton North is making its ninth overall trip to State and its second in the last three seasons. The Lightning hoisted the State championship trophy in 2012 in their only appearance in the championship match. Their return to State this season comes by virtue of outlasting Kimberly 25-19, 29-31, 26-24 15-25, 19-17 in the sectional final played at Appleton North. The Lightning placed third in the Fox Valley Association this season.
Westosha Central is the #6 seed. The Falcons qualify for the first time since 2021 and for the sixth time overall. Their furthest advance at State was to the championship game in 2021, which resulted in a runner-up finish. This year, they swept Burlington 25-19, 25-21, 25-17 in the sectional final hosted by Westosha Central to return to the tournament field. They finished atop the standings in the Southern Lakes Conference this year.
Seventh-seeded New Berlin Eisenhower/West returns to the tournament field for the first time since 2020 and for the seventh time overall. The United won its lone State title in 2009 and was runner-up in 2014. They produced a 17-25, 25-14, 18-25, 25-21, 15-8 victory over Franklin in the sectional final played at New Berlin Eisenhower. They were the runners-up in the Woodland Conference this season.
Eighth-seeded Kenosha Indian Trail is back in the tournament field for the fifth time and for the first time since 2021. The most notable experience at State was their advance to the semifinals in 2018. The Hawks earned their berth this season with a 25-17, 25-16, 25-19 sweep of Oak Creek in the sectional final played at South Milwaukee. They are the runners-up in the Southeast Conference this year.
Wednesday’s quarterfinals
#1 Hamilton (36-4) vs. #8 Kenosha Indian Trail (19-15) – 7 p.m.
#4 Germantown (35-9) vs. #5 Appleton North (24-12) – 7 p.m.
#3 Middleton (32-4) vs. #6 Westosha Central (27-1) – 4 p.m.
#2 Marquette (26-6) vs. #7 New Berlin Eisenhower/West (27-7) – 4 p.m
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