Colby High’s Voelker suits up for UW-Whitewater

Hailey Voelker, a native of Colby, and Class of 2020 graduate of Colby High, will be returning to Wisconsin and will play for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks women’s basketball team during the 2021-22 season, which begin on Tuesday.

The Warhawks, who finished 8-3 and reached the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship game during a shortened 2020-21 season, are predicted to finish second in the WIAC by the league’s coaches and athletic communications personnel. They are currently ranked 18th in the D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25.

The Warhawks are coached by Keri Carollo, who enters her 20th season with the program. The Warhawks start with a two-game set at UW-Stevens Point Nov. 12-13, taking on Concordia Wisconsin and Benedictine (Ill.) out of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

The WIAC Tournament will be played the week of Feb. 21, and the NCAA Tournament begins with regionals on March 4-5. Following sectionals (March 11-12), the NCAA Championship is slated for March 18-19 in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Voelker was a stand-out for the Colby Hornets girls basketball program, and finished with over 1,000 points in her career.

She was named first team all-conference in the Eastern Cloverbelt in 2020 and 2019, and second team all-conference in 2018. Voelker was also a two time allstate recipient in Division 4 in 2019 and 2020.

As part of the Hornets, Voelker helped Colby win back-to-back conference and regional titles in 2018 and 2019, and was part of the first ever Colby Hornets team to earn a berth in the WIAA D-4 state tournament.

Voelker earned a scholarship for her basketball talents, signing her official letter of intent to play for the NCAA D-2 Lake Superior State Lakers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Voelker played in 13 games in the 202021 season, starting in seven.