Volleyball archrivals to face off in playoffs

All four local teams win first round matches

The Edgar and Stratford volleyball teams will collide in a WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal match at 7 p.m. this Thursday, Oct. 24, in the Stratford High School gym.

Edgar and Stratford both won their regional semifinal matches against their opponents in straight sets on Tuesday.

The No. 7 seed Wildcats beat No. 10 Necedah by scores of 25-20, 25-22 and 25-19 at home. Edgar now has a 15-4 match record this season.

No. 2 seed Stratford, meanwhile, defeated No. 15 Spencer by scores of 25-8, 25-17 and 25-15 at home.

The Tigers improve to 36-3 in matches this season, even though they fell two spots in this week’s Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association (WVCA) Division 3 rankings. No. 1 seed Fall Creek, 36-3 in matches, is now ranked No. 3 and Stratford is No. 5.

Senior Mikayla Guldan led Stratford with 10 attack kills in its playoff match win against Spencer on Tuesday. Junior Abby Oertel paced the Tigers with three ace serves, while junior Tanaya Schillinger had five digs.

The winner between Edgar and Stratford this Thursday would play in a Division 3 regional championship match this Saturday, Oct. 26. Should Stratford beat Edgar, then the Tigers would play a home regional final against either Auburndale or Cadott.

Red Raiders beat Orioles

WIAA Division 3 No. 5 seed Marathon defeated No. 12 seed Stanley-Boyd 3-1 in a home regional semfinal match on Tuesday.

Marathon won the first two sets, 2520 and 25-14. The Orioles took the third set, 25-22, before the Red Raiders rallied to win the fourth set, 25-18, to advance in the playoffs. Red Raiders senior Elizabeth Boehm achieved her 1,000th career kill against the Orioles. Boehm led the Red Raiders with 19 kills and 13 digs. Junior Vanessa Krueger paced the team with three aces, while senior Breanne Karlen had 20 assists.

Marathon improves to 17-9 in matches this season. The team will play against No. 4 seed Abbotsford in an away regional semifinal match this Thursday, Oct. 24.

Bluejays advance

Athens, a No. 4 seed in the WIAA Division 4 playoffs, beat No. 13 seed Northland Lutheran in straight sets at home on Tuesday. The Bluejays won sets by scores of 25-20, 25-19 and 25-22.

The Bluejays now have a 9-19 match record this season. Athens plays against No. 5 seed Wisconsin Rapids Assumption in a home regional semifi nal match this Thursday, Oct. 24. Should Athens win, then it would likely play at No. 1 seed Marshfield Columbus in a regional final this Saturday, Oct. 26.

Senior Courtney Murkowski led Athens with seven kills and eight blocks against Northland Lutheran. Senior Kiera Weiler paced the team with four aces and 13 assists.