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As the regional finals matchups are slated to kick off just hours from now, here are each sectional's headliner matchups as teams battle for a sectional berth.


Division 1
#5 Eau Claire Memorial @ #4 Wausau East – The Old Abes finished second in the Big Rivers Conference behind crosstown rival North, but fell to the #5-seed in the vast northwestern sectional. They will thus have to travel halfway across the state to Wausau to take on East, which finished in fourth place in the Wisconsin Valley. Clara Baumann and Emilie Waack each tallied over 100 kills in league play for the Lumberjacks.

#5 Milton @ #4 Kenosha Bradford – The Red Hawks’ 12-0 Badger South mark and 27-3 overall record apparently didn’t impress many of the sectional opponents, as Milton fell to a #5-seed when the dust cleared from the sectional seeding meetings. They drew Kenosha Bradford, which finished 5-2 in the tough SEC and 27-8 overall. The Red Devils are one of the taller teams in the state with four players over 6-feet tall, and have a pair of threats in Kaitlin Kentala and Stephanie Romanowski.

#6 Green Bay Preble @ #3 De Pere – Fox River Classic rivals clash for the second time this season after De Pere took the first matchup in a five-set-thriller just two weeks ago. The Hornets thusly fell into a third-place tie with Manitowoc, but will get a chance at revenge Saturday night. They will need to do so though on the road, as the FRCC co-champ Redbirds hope to get back to the sectional semis again.

#6 Waukesha West @ #3 Arrowhead – Arrowhead won the first matchup in Classic Eight play, sweeping the Wolverines three weeks ago. Yet Waukesha West—the best public school team in the city—is out for revenge against the Warhawks. Yet with a starting line featuring the likes of Jenny Smith, Rycki Ebert and Kelsey Wasilczuk, pulling off that upset might be harder than usual.

#7 Middleton @ #2 Madison West – The Cardinals fell to a disappointing fourth place finish in Big Eight play, while West went an impressive 8-1. One has to think though that this regional final should be an even battle with Kasey Williams and Sydney Toon on one side of the net. I’d fully expect head coach Franco Marcos to have his kids prepared to upset the Regents.

#5 Brookfield East @ #4 Divine Savior Holy Angels – D.S.H.A., despite a 30-14 overall record, is currently ranked No. 2 in the Division 1 WVCA coaches poll. Apparently that position didn’t sway the sectional voters as they manages only a #4-seed and will host Brookfield East, which the Dashers handled pretty easily just one week ago.

#5 Fond du Lac @ #4 Appleton North – The Cardinals are the two-time defending sectional champions, but will have their work cut out for them should they wish for a three-peat. North beat Fond du Lac in regular season play in a sweep, but defeated the Lightning in the FVA conference tournament final. Saturday’s rubber match will not only decide who wins the series, but who will move on to likely play top-seeded and FVA conference champion Neenah.

#7 Oak Creek @ #2 Union Grove – In a sectional spattered with SEC teams, Union Grove made its case and was awarded the #2-seed as it makes the jump to Division 1 this season. The Broncos host Oak Creek Saturday, which finished tied for fifth in the SEC. UG beat the Knights at the Kenosha Tremper invite earlier this season, 2-0, but will be out to prove itself as the sectional newcomer as the playoffs draw onward.

Division 2
#2 Wittenberg-Birnamwood @ #1 Tomahawk – The Hatchets have been the pride of the Northwest for two straight years, representing the sectional at the Resch Center in 2009 and 2010. This year they will have a similar path to Green Bay, that begins with Central Wisconsin Eight champion Wittenberg-Birnamwood that is also 30-8 on the season.

#2 Waupun @ #1 Berlin – The Indians proved their might this season by surging to an Eastern Valley league title, while Waupun’s season has gone the other direction. Regardless, the Warriors are historically one of the best programs in the state and that kind of playoff experience could play a role in their hopes for a return to the Resch Center.

#2 Lakeside Lutheran @ #1 Big Foot – Unbeaten Capitol North and Rock Valley South champions clash at Big Foot Tuesday, as the teams combine for a 64-11 overall record this season. The Chiefs and the senior duet of Annie Kunes and Megan Schneider should put up a slugfest against Kristy Bruni and the Warriors.

#2 East Troy @ #1 Catholic Memorial – These two teams have been No. 1 and No. 2 in the WVCA state rankings all season, and this showdown should not disappoint. The Trojans (29-5 overall) handed the Crusaders (38-6) their first loss to a Wisconsin opponent in two seasons at the Milwaukee Joust, yet CMH remains the team to beat in all of Division 2. In what could double as a state final matchup, this war in Waukesha will feature a handful of all-state shoe-ins come state tournament time.

Division 3
#2 Cameron @ #1 Regis – A small shift among the northwest sectional teams tossed Regis and Elk Mound in with a quintet of “C” schools. The best of those--#2 seed Cameron, ranked No. 9, has already beaten former unbeaten and No. 1 Grantsburg this season. Regis meanwhile won its second straight Cloverbelt West title as the Ramblers hope for a berth into the sectionals again this season. Molly Brion of Cameron and Heather Bowe of Regis headline this pair of teams, as depth may be the key to victory.

#2 Algoma @ #1 Kewaunee – Will it be third time’s a charm for the Wolves? Algoma has lost the first two meetings against Packerland Conference champ Kewaunee, both in sweeps during the regular season and in the league tournament. Though with a roster with winning experience across all sports, Algoma should not be taken lightly this time around. Kewaunee is no slouch either, as these schools seem to meet more often than not come playoff time.

#2 Southwestern @ #1 Deerfield – Deerfield has remained in the top five rankings of Division 3 all season long, thanks in large part to the heavy arm of 6-3 outside hitter Maddie Lobenstein. The Demons will match up with Southwestern, a former Division 4 powerhouse, for a berth in the sectional round at Deerfield. The Wildcats’ comparatively will ride the arm of Kaitlyn Hoopman, who led the squad to a second consecutive SWAL championship.

#3 Howards Grove # #1 Oostburg – In our season preview we picked the Tigers over the Dutch for the Central Lakeshore title. Oostburg proved us wrong, but barely by squeaking past Howards Grove in five sets. These two teams are so evenly matched, the home court advantage may be the only difference in this regional final as Jo-Leigh VerVelde and Alexis Lindstrom are set for a round two rumble.

Division 4
#2 McDonell Central @ #1 Owen-Withee – This pair may play in different Cloverbelt divisions, but its more than just conference bragging rights on the line. The Macks, two-time sectional champions, are after another berth in the sectional semis while Owen-Withee’s first loss of the season came in the conference crossover to Regis. The Blackhawks were also ranked No. 5 in the latest WVCA Division 4 coaches poll, right behind No. 4 McDonell Central.

#2 Newman Catholic @ #1 Tigerton – the Tigers are the likely favorites to come out of this sectional, but are trying to finally make that breakthrough after years of coming close. Erin Ortner is a likely all-state nominee, but she and Tigerton will get its greatest postseason test as they host Newman Saturday. In a sectional relatively open, whichever team survives tonight should be overwhelming favorites to make it to the Resch.

#2 Potosi @ #1 River Ridge – Members at the seeding meeting must have known River Ridge, despite losing the first matchup between the two teams, was going to beat Potosi the second time around rightfully earning its top seed. The Timberwolves and Chieftains ended up sharing the Six Rivers West crown, and Saturday will be Part 3 of the season series—this time for a sectional berth.

#2 Lake Country Lutheran @ #1 Living Word Lutheran – The Midwest Classic North heavyweights earned the top two seeds in their regional, and not surprisingly meet again for a sectional berth. The Lightning’s Emily Wineinger surpassed the 1,000 career kills mark earlier this season, while Jen Schleg and Taylor Luce provide equivalent firepower for the Timberwolves.