Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

Special contribution to WSN by UW-Stevens Point communications student Chris Damerell

Thirty-five years is a long time to wait.

But the wait is finally over for the Wausau East girls volleyball team. 

When the Lumberjacks (33-8) take the court against Neenah (41-4) on Thursday night in a WIAA Division 1 quarterfinal at the Resch Center in Green Bay, it will mark their first competition on the state tournament stage since 1978.

"(We) are here to make sure high school is a good experience for the kids," said Wausau East coach Ken Zoromski. "Making it to state is kind of surreal and just adds to the great experience."

Zoromski had high hopes for his team at the start of the season. He knew his team was talented, but he didn't know how they would progress, especially with three freshmen and limited returning experience. 

While turnover and inexperience can sometimes present challenges for team unity and cohesion, Zoromski said this team jelled almost immediately. 

"The girls are all very close. They are all treated as equals among each other," said Zoromski, who is in his 12th season as coach.

One member of the Lumberjacks that has experience is captain Clara Baumann. The senior outside hitter is the Lumberjacks' leader on the floor and on the stat sheet. Baumann leads the Lumberjacks in kills and hitting percentage (.306%). 

Baumann said the team's unity helped pave the way for its success this season.

Wausau East started the season by winning an 18-team tournament in Oshkosh, and won 12 straight matches to start the year. And the Lumberjacks never found themselves on an extended losing streak, something Baumann said was important. 

"We never had a roller-coaster," Baumann said. "We were a constant team throughout the whole season."

Wausau East entered the playoffs as a No. 2 seed, and has defeated Wisconsin Rapids, D.C. Everest, Eau Claire North and Chippewa Fall en route to the state tournament. 

Zoromski credited his players for their tenacity over the course of the season in reaching this point.

"They are an unusual bunch," Zoromski said. "They pushed themselves to get better every day. As coaches, we only had to steer them and give them advice. They did the rest.”