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While the 2010 conference volleyball season is still quite young, several huge showdowns between conference contenders have arleady taken place. Many of those have come already this past week.

Thursday Madison La Follette took care of Verona in what is shaping up to be the Big Eight early-season championship game 3-1. University of Wisconsin commit Crystal Graff tallied 19 kills, while Verona's Jillian Bauer tallied 14 kills for the Wildcats. While the match wasn't very pretty (with 16 service errors and plenty of mental errors for Verona), the Lancers successfully swung the momentum in its direction and took the learly lead in the Big Eight regular season title race.

Tuesday evening, a similar showdown occured in Lodi as the Blue Devils hosted Capitol North rival Lakeside Lutheran. Wihle the match featured several errors of its own, including three Lodi service errors in the waning moments of the fourth set, sevearl talented athetes put on a show. One of the most athletic setters in the state in Lodi's Jaclyn Barette put up 38 assists, while teammates Olivia Ramsfield and Brenna Redemann tallied 19 and 17 kills respectively for the Devils. Lakeside middle hitter Sara Willems registered eight kills of her own, including putting three away in the integral fourth set to pull out the 3-1 road win for the Warriors.

In Cloverbelt West action, Regis earned a sweep over McDonell Central Thursday thanks to 15 kills, 10 blocks and six aces from Heather Bowe. The Ramblers, who also knocked off the Macks on opening weekend at the Diocaesan Invite in Chippewa Falls, remained unbeaten at 9-0 this season. Not far down the road, Altoona swept Osseo-Fairchild to keep pace with Regis in the league race after 21 kills, three blocks and seven digs from Peyton Eckwright.

Speaking of dominant programs in the Northwest, Grantsburg may have taken care of Webster Thrusday night, but the Tigers were able to do something no West Lakeland opponent has been able to since 2007--take a set from the Pirates. While the final set scores may look lopsided, the Tigers' third-set victory broke a streak of at least 62 consecutive Grantsburg set victories in the WLC.

In a reamatch of last year's Division 1 State quarterfinal, Kaukauna was able to rally from an 0-2 deficit to knock off Fox Valley Association rival Fond du Lac by scores of 22-25, 18-25, 25-23, 25-22, 15-12. Jenni Fassbender recorded 24 kills while setter McKinzie Friemuth added 48 assists for the Ghosts. Fondy got 18 kills from Kayla Pickart and 14 from Morgan Nick. Cardinal setter had a match-high 50 assists in the loss.

Watertown knocked off an improved Beaver Dam squad 3-1 Thursday, despite 25 kills from the Golden Beavers' Kaitlyn McIntyre, while Cambria-Friesland knocked off fellow Trailways North unbeaten Valley Christian 3-2 Tuesday. Waupun blasted Two Rivers Tuesday, yet Sheboygan Falls owns a half-game lead in the Eastern Wisconsin conference with Tuesday's sweep of Kiel.

Sparta remained unbeaten in Mississippi Valley play with a 3-1 victory over Aquinas, while Coulee leaders Arcadia and West Salem each moved to 4-0 in league play with respective sweeps over G-E-T and Viroqua Thursday. Cochrane-Fountain City also knocked off Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran in Dairyland play 3-1.

Southern Door picked up an arguable upset over Algoma 3-2 behind McKayla Dantoin's 12 kills. The true story appeared to be the Eagles' block party as Annie Felhofer and Cora Baudhuin tallied 15 and 10 blocks respectively. Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran and Oconto also picked up Packerland victories Thursday.

Tournaments abound
Saturday several big tournaments will take place around the state. Perhaps the most prolific will occur at Brookfield Central at the annual Lancer Invite where several of the top Division 1 teams will strut their stuff. Pool A contains Menomonee Falls and state quarterfinalist Nicolet, Pool B boasts state semifinalist Burlington and Green Bay Preble, Pool C has the host Lancers and defending state champ Muskego, while Pool D is headlined by Westosha Central and state runner-up Kaukauna. For volleyball fans in the area, this should be one tournament you won't want to miss.

Speaking of Division 1 powerhouses, last weekend Arrowhead took home the invitaional championship at Muskego defeating Burlington and Nicolet, which finished second and third respectively, in the Gold Bracket pool. The Warhawks got back senior middle hitter Taylor Sieth, who stands a dominating 6-3, as the full-strength squad looked more than able to compete with the state's best programs.

Also this weekend will be invitationals in Sparta and Holmen, both of which should have an interesting and competitive slate of teams.

On the boys side, Catholic Memorial won a huge tournament at Kettle Moraine last weekend, knocking off Marquette and Franklin to win the title. The invite also boasted some of the state's top boys squads, including Westosha Central, Arrowhead and 2009 state champion New Berlin United.