Chargers, Phoenix, Indians try to tame Dashers | Waukesha Co. Sports

Will it be a three-way win for DSHA, or can one of the three regional programs dethrone the Dashers?

That's the overarching storyline at the WIAA State Girls Volleyball Tournament, which begins Thursday at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

The dominant Dashers, ranked seventh nationally, have lost just one game all season, against an out-of-state opponent. Senior outside hitter Madison Quest, a 6-foot-1 recruit from Wisconsin, has 422 kills with a .360 batting average. DSHA also has arguably the best libero in the state as senior Olivia Durst (402 digs) is committed to Michigan State. Then there's veteran setter Jordan Czajkowski, a Belmont recruit who has 465 assists. The Dashers have lost a total of eight sets all season.

So what glimmer of hope could there be for the rest of the D1 field?

Well, one of two in-state teams to take a set against DSHA this season was No. 2 seed Hamilton (36-7). And the Chargers (36-7), making back-to-back state appearances and winning the Gold Ball in 2020 under head coach Traci Buhr, defeated Arrowhead, the other team to do so, in the group finals.

So yes, DSHA could be the overwhelming favorite. But that could come with overwhelming pressure and Hamilton has tested himself to give the Dashers possibly their biggest test yet.

“To be in the death phase and just come out of it is absolutely incredible,” said Buhr, who won nearly 300 games in her 12 years leading the Chargers. “Our girls had a taste of state last year and it was everything they wanted to bring back there.”

Of course, this is all assuming Hamilton and DSHA pass their first two tests of the state tournament.

The Chargers will face No. 7 Oak Creek (24-16) in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 5 p.m. And they have their own talent pool to brag about.

Outside attacker Eva Finnessy, one of just three seniors on the roster, has a team-high 247 kills and is committed to Northern Illinois. Senior center Brooke Aslakson (Minnesota-Duluth) is also over 200 kills, and junior setter Brooke Baldwin is putting it all together. The Rutgers player leads Hamilton's 5-1 offense and has 817 assists (8.4 per set) on 243 digs. Aslakson and junior midfielder Aubrey Hicks lead the net defense while junior libero Emily Zgonc has 287 points as the Chargers bring a wealth of experience from last year's team, which was eliminated by the DSHA in the state semifinals.

Oak Creek, a Southeast Conference runner-up, defeated Franklin in four sets to reach state for the ninth time. Hamilton's main focus is junior right tackle Isa Ruether, who is the team's team leader with 336 kills and is committed to Troy. The Knights placed third at The Joust, where they lost in straight sets to Hamilton in the semifinals.

The Chargers will benefit from a larger cheering section — the school's boys team will also play at the Resch Center after its first state appearance.

“Last year we wanted the girls and boys to go together,” Buhr said. “When we both played Arrowhead this year, we were definitely nervous. But we practice at the same time. We have a great camaraderie. We are cheering each other on and it will be absolutely amazing to be able to watch each other in the stadium.”

Should the two teams meet in the championship game, the Chargers could not only face DSHA for the third time this season, but could also face a familiar foe in the semifinals if they defeat Oak Creek.

Menomonee Falls is a No. 3 seed, meaning all three top seeds in the D1 field are from the same conference.

“Seeing the GMC’s success shows how good we are as a conference from top to bottom,” Falls coach Cory Rabe said. “Five teams won regional championships this year and three obviously made it to state.”

The Phoenix (34-9) had to play third fiddle behind DSHA and Hamilton, but are the No. 3 seed for good reason. They won the Arrowhead Invite to close out the regular season and beat teams like the Warhawks and No. 4 seed Mukwonago in the D1 state tournament before advancing through their sectional and sweeper tournaments to reach state for the first time in eight years.

“Our team did it by wanting to get better every day in the gym,” said Rabe, in his sixth year as head coach at Falls. “They had planned to do that before the season started. They knew how close we came last year (losing to DSHA in the group finals) and they wanted a different ending this year. We were proud of our performances and passes this season. When we had some setbacks, we always found a way to get back on our feet.”

Falls, which won gold in 2013, will face sixth-seeded Bay Port (29-2), the Fox River Classic champions, in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 5 p.m

Senior outside Kennedy Nimmer leads the Phoenix with 325 kills. Other stat leaders for Falls include junior libero Cassie Bruns (378 digs), junior setter Kaylee Harder (65 aces) and senior center Chassidy Anderson (29 1/2 blocks).

The Phoenix didn't play the Pirates in the regular season, but certainly saw footage of Chloe Parker. The 6-foot-2 senior midfielder has 318 digs and 41 blocks. The key to getting past a Bay Port team that has lost just once in its last 22 games will be a matter of limiting the addition of Bradley.

“Bay Port is one of the best teams in the Green Bay area,” Rabe said. “They are big at the front and put up a big block. (Coach Jeremy Weis) knows how to put together great teams. He had a long run at East Troy and won a couple of state championships with them.”

And if they advance, the Chargers will likely be waiting for them in Friday's semifinals. Hamilton won his only match this season against Falls in four sets.

Mukwonago wants to get his own spot at DSHA on Friday.

The fourth-seeded Indians (34-9) mastered their sectional game and avenged an early-season loss to Oconomowoc with a three-set victory, securing their second-ever ticket to the state championship.

“We have a great group of seniors who have worked extremely hard throughout their high school careers,” said Morgan Funk, who is in her first year as Mukwonago’s head coach. “For some of them, this is their third or fourth year at university, so their experience has been important in big moments. We prepared as a team and really focused on pushing each other to get better every day in practice.”

This group of seniors includes 6-foot-1 outside attacker Gabriella Pitcel. The Illinois recruit has 433 kills on over 1,000 attempts this season and also has 250 digs, 58 aces and 25 blocks.

Senior setters Natalie Powers (441 assists) and Keira Robidoux (399 assists) lead the offense at 6-2, while senior libero Alexis Gardner has 416 digs and junior midfielder Mya Gemoll leads the way with 58 blocks.

Next up for Mukwonago, which is seeking its first state win in program history, is fifth-seeded Hudson (36-2), which won the Big Rivers Conference, in a state quarterfinal on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Raiders' program, a balanced offensive attack in which three players achieve more than 200 kills.

“Before the state tournament, we had already played four of the eight teams, some multiple times, so we know how talented this group is,” Funk said, as Mukwonago has already played Hamilton, Menomonee Falls, DSHA and Oak Creek. “Going to Hudson we have the opposite and haven't competed against them nor do we have any common opponents so we really need to prepare, especially with their strong front row. We’re excited to get to Green Bay and start playing.”

The D1 semifinals will take place on Friday at 1:00 p.m., with the championship game scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

“The rest of the field is full of talent,” Rabe said. “There will be some good games on all three days of the tournament.”