GIRLS VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW Preseason rankings
Three storylines to watch
Hello, Wisconsin: The whole state is back to playing in the fall season after some schools, especially those in the Fox Valley and Madison areas, opted to play in the spring season last year. That means competition at the state tournament will be tougher, though recent history tells us Milwaukee-area teams at the top won’t be too bothered by that. Since 2011, every season but one has ended with the Division 1 champion coming from southeast Wisconsin.
The Last Dance: The 2021 season will be the last for one of the state’s top prep players ever, Mckenna Wucherer of Brookfield Central. The Minnesota recruit and U18 Team USA member is a three-time selection to the Division 1 all-state first team and three-time Greater Metro player of the year. She led the state in kills per set last season by more than one and has finished second in total kills the past two seasons. Defending the crown: The target will be planted firmly on the back of Sussex Hamilton as the reigning D1 state champ. The Chargers, however, lost three-all state players to graduation, including first-teamers Lakyn Graves and Janelle Stuempfig. They will be led by junior Sylvie Zgonc, the team’s top hitter a year ago. 1. Brookfield Central: The Lancers return the area player of the year (Mckenna Wucherer) and the core of a lineup that reached the sectional final last season.
2. Oconomowoc: Despite the loss of all-state performer Maleah Howe to a knee injury, the Raccoons return four all-conference players from a team that won the Classic 8 title.
3. Kettle Moraine: The Lasers have a deep, versatile and experienced lineup. Every all-conference player from 2020 returns.
4. Burlington: With a formidable front row, the Demons are again the team to beat in the Southern Lakes.
5. Germantown: The combination of talented hitters and senior setter Maddie Connor could be dangerous.
6. Sussex Hamilton: The Division 1 state champion will build around talented tandem of outside hitters, Sylvie Zgonc and Mya Trafficante.
7. Cedarburg: The Bulldogs return the top three players from a team that finished second in the North Shore.
8. DSHA: Senior middle Julia Wojciak leads a young, defensive-minded group.
9. Kettle Moraine Lutheran: The Chargers graduated just two key players from last season’s East Central Conference championship team.
10. Lake Country Lutheran: With experience back-row players returning and promising hitters in the front row, the Lightning expects variety in its offense.
Players to watch
Abby Alan, sr., MH, Burlington: A first team all-conference and honorable
mention all-state member last year, Alan presents a strong blocking presence and when faced with a single block with almost always put the ball way. Kyleigh Coghlan, jr., L, Kettle Moraine: Coghlan finished 12th in the state last fall with 366 digs. An active defender that makes the Lasers’ potent attack all the more dangerous with her ability to keep points alive.
Morgan Daugherty, sr., MB, Brookfield Central: The Marquette recruit was a first team all-conference and second team all-state member last year. She tallied 2.7 kills per set while hitting 33.6% and has 172 career blocks.
Ally Eckel, jr., L, Kenosha Bradford: Eckel was named the Southeast Conference defensive player of the year as a sophomore following a campaign in which she averaged 7.2 digs per set.
Elise Gillen, sr., S, Slinger: Gillen earned second team all-state recognition in 2020 and has been the top setter in the North Shore for all three years of her career.
Grace Grocholski, jr., OH, Kettle Moraine: Grocholski led the Lasers with 307 kills and 39 aces while finishing second in digs with 170 en route to earning second team all-state honors.
Riley Hamilton, sr., OH, Hartford: Hamilton was not only among the state’s leaders in kills, but did it with a 42.7% hitting percentage. She was named honorable mention all-state.
Lilly Lutz, sr., S, Catholic Memorial: Lutz was the first team all-conference setter in the Classic 8 a year ago, averaging 8.9 assists per set to go along with 154 digs, 30 blocks and 37 aces. Brooke Porter, sr. OH, Muskego: Porter finished third in the Classic 8 with 201 kills, hitting 35.6%, to go along with 144 digs.
Adriana Studer, sr., L, Lake Country Lutheran: Studer, a Villanova recruit, finished fifth in the state with 389 digs in 2020 and was named honorable mention all-state.
Lily Wagner, jr., OH, Germantown: Wagner earned honorable mention all-state recognition as a sophomore after burying 350 kills to go with 299 digs and 61 blocks.
Mckenna Wucherer, sr., OH, Brookfield Central: A three-time first team allstate honoree, Wucherer has tallied 1,584 kills while hitting 38.3% in her career.