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Sectional 1

#1 Grantsburg (30-1, 12-0 Lakeland West) vs. #2 Fall Creek (27-7, 4-3 Cloverbelt West)
7 pm at Boyceville

The top-ranked Pirates are defending Division 3 runners-up, but there were a lot of questions entering this season. Several of those questions have been answered as first-year head coach Deb Allaman-Johnson has her kids picking up right where the program left off last season, winning its first 27 matches of the season. Yet now in sectional play—and probably the toughest sectional in Division 3—can the Pirates make it three trips to the Resch in a row? …Not if Fall Creek has anything to do with it. The Crickets finished in a three-way tie for third in the Cloverbelt West and will look to play sectional spoiler after knocking off top-seeded Arcadia in the regional final.

#1 Regis (30-6, 7-0 Cloverbelt West) vs. #1 Washburn (23-3, 5-0 Indianhead West)
7 pm at Cameron

Regis head coach Jimmy Burg has sent a challenge to his Ramblers this season, and with a handful of playmaking seniors that challenge will come to a head this weekend. Heather Bowe is one of the state’s most efficient hitters out of the middle while classmate Lexi Papke’s similar all-around skill has handed the Ramblers their second straight undefeated league title. Though the time for those seniors is now as they will tussle with equally strong Washburn in what should be a war of a sectional semifinal. The Castle Guards play a relatively humble schedule nestled along the shores of Lake Superior, but behind the arm of Stefanie Siroin, Washburn is also after its first state tournament berth since 2002.

Semifinal winners play Saturday, 7 pm at Clear Lake

Sectional 2

#1 Spencer (30-7, 8-1 Cloverbelt East) vs. #1 Marathon (19-11, 6-0 Marawood South)
7 pm at Auburndale

The Rockets’ sweep of Auburndale in the regional final was big for two reasons—first, it marked the first regional title for Spencer in 28 years, and second, it’s the first time since 2008 the Apaches aren’t in the sectional semifinals. Earlier this season, Courtney Schultz also recorded her 1,000th kill as this could finally be the breakthrough year the Cloverbelt East runner-up has been threatening to have. Though on the other side of the net will be an equally potent Marathon team that won the Marawood South division. The Red Raiders and Rockets met once this season at Marathon’s home invite with the host team getting swept. Revenge could be that much sweeter should Marathon advance to Saturday’s sectional final.

#1 Oconto (25-8, 6-1 Packerland) vs. #1 Kewaunee (28-7, 7-0 Packerland)
7 pm at Gillett

The Packerland Conference is very well-represented this postseason with three teams still battling for the right to play on the big stage in Green Bay. Two will face off Thursday as Oconto and Kewaunee will rumble for the third time this season after the Storm took both meetings in sweeping fashion. The Blue Devils have one of the league’s top athletes in Sara DePouw, who will need a performance for the ages to offset Kewaunee’s balanced attack. Kewaunee is another team who will look to use momentum from other sport success, as the Storm earned a state tournament berth in hoops last spring. While on paper Kewaunee looks like pretty overwhelming favorites, sectionals are where the lights are a bit brighter and the starts come to shine.

Semifinal winners play Saturday, 7:30 pm at Edgar

Sectional 3

#2 Aquinas (15-11, 5-7 Mississippi Valley) vs. #1 Wisconsin Heights (33-4, 10-0 Capitol South)
7 pm at Riverdale

Aquinas and Division 2 Rice Lake are arguably the best examples of the infamous “drop-down” effect of teams playing in a conference with much larger schools and accompanying tougher competition—come playoff time those two teams always seem to make deep runs in respective divisions. This season is no different for the Bulgolds, who won their sixth straight regional title last Saturday. Wisconsin Heights has been the pride of southwestern Wisconsin since the WIAA/WISAA merger—as long as the Vanguards could get past Cuba City. This season Heights will play familiar sectional foe Aquinas, who they’ve knocked out of the sectional semis four straight seasons.

#1 Markesan (19-14, 7-2 Trailways North) vs. #1 Southwestern (28-2, 11-1 Southwest Wisconsin Activities)
7 pm at Deerfield

Markesan narrowly avoided upsets in both regional semi and final rounds, being pushed to five sets against both Watertown Luther Prep and upset-minded Poynette. In fact, both rounds saw the Hornets overcome 2-0 deficits to survive and advance. Led by Kelcey Symmons’ 252 season kills, Markesan might not be able to afford falling into such a hole against a surging Southwestern squad. The Wildcats, behind an experienced squad led by senior Kaitlyn Hoppman, upset top-seeded Deerfield to earn a sectional berth, despite being one of the smallest schools in Division 3. Two-time SWAL champ Southwestern is out to prove that divisions don’t matter, as it is just two wins away from earning its first ever state tournament berth.

Semifinal winners play Saturday, 7 pm at Mineral Point

Sectional 4

#2 Pacelli (16-7, 6-1 Central Wisconsin Eight) vs. #1 Oostburg (37-2, 8-0 Central Lakeshore)
7 pm at Laconia

Pacelli finished runner-up in the CWC-10 this season behind Division 2 Wittenberg-Birnamwood. Yet the Cardinals needed a trio of very closely played sets (25-19, 29-27, 30-28) against league rival Weyauwega-Fremont to advance to the sectional semifinals. Pacelli will have its hands full playing Central Lakeshore powerhouse Oostburg as the Dutch have not surprisingly reloaded this season. Led by Jo-Leigh VerVelde, Oostburg has yet to drop a set in the 2011 postseason, including beating league foe Howards Grove in a regional final sweep. In reality, it may take a very strong showing from Pacelli to break that streak Thursday evening.

#1 Random Lake (22-16, 6-2 Central Lakeshore) vs. #1 Kenosha Christian Life (26-6, 6-2 Midwest Classic South)
7 pm at The Prairie School

Random Lake finished in the second tier of Central Lakeshore teams again this season, but placed opposite league champion Oostburg could keep up its already impressive postseason run. The Rams, regional champions two straight seasons, were knocked out by eventual state champion Racine St. Catherine’s last year. This year they draw Kenosha Christian Life, which could post just as much of a threat than St. Cat’s. The Eagles have one of the most prolific hitters in the state in Brie Tennyson, who will likely tally over 400 kills this season alone while hitting well-over .500 individually. KCL also has picked up plenty of experience, playing in the very strong MCC South division.

Semifinal winners play Saturday, 7 pm at Cedar Grove-Belgium