5 things to know about high school girls volleyball in 2024 (2024)

It’s fitting that Tuesday is the first day of competition for high school girls volleyball teams across Wisconsin, the same day the University of Wisconsin opens its season.

Both Waunakee and McFarland represented the State Journal coverage area in last year’s WIAA state tournament. Tuesday represents a blank slate, an opportunity for some to venture to the Resch Center, and for those two to get back.

From new talent, teams trying to make another state tournament run to a team with a loaded roster, here are five things to know as the season gets underway.

Tournaments to prepare Waunakee, McFarland

New players will try to insert themselves into the starting rotation and the coaches are trying to figure out this year’s strengths, and they’ll do that through strong nonconference schedules.

Waunakee will be in the Homestead Joust on Aug. 30-31, the Charger Invite and the SPRAWL Invite in September, in hopes that it will prepare them for a long postseason run.

“We will have a very competitive schedule yet again in hopes that it will serve us well in figuring out what chemistry and players are needed to have success,” coach Anne Denkert said.

McFarland will travel to UW-Whitewater on Aug. 30-31 and the Sussex Hamilton Invite in September to prepare for the postseason.

“I think we’ve built a schedule that is extremely competitive,” coach Tommy Moriarty said. “We’ve put ourselves to really get pushed over the course of the season, and hopefully develop that competitive edge. We’re excited about the challenge.”

Big Eight Conference title could be down to 2 teams

Verona will be heading into the 2024 season with a target on its back after winning the Big Eight Conference title with an undefeated record last season.

“I’m excited to see how they deal with that, how they deal with the pressure of that,” Verona coach Jenn Bahler said.

The team is shaping up well in the early going of practices for Bahler, and likes the core group returning, with the exception of conference player of the year Reagan McIntosh, who graduated.

Senior Grace Grant will move back to setter after playing a hitter role last year. She played setter for two seasons at Monticello prior to transferring to Verona. Junior Anna Haines was the team’s backup last year.

“We’ve got some experience, but it’s definitely hard to replace the player of the year,” Bahler said.

But the Wildcats will have to find a way in a Big Eight that features “a number of teams on any given night that can knock off one of the top teams.”

Sun Prairie West coach Mackenzie Walter said her team’s confidence is building after going 7-2 in conference play last year, but the goal is to win it this year.

Walter likes what she has with setter Sari Marks and hopes she can have some fun game planning different ways to direct the front row. They also return Dani Smith, whose serving was key for the Wolves.

“I know we have a target on our back as one of the teams to watch out for, so I think our chances are pretty high, but we still have to manifest it and prove it on the court,” Walter said.

Badger Small rivalry shaping up for battle

McFarland, Madison Edgewood and Sauk Prairie seem to be the three top teams in the Badger Small Conference.

McFarland won the conference tournament to earn the title and went 6-1 in league play while Edgewood and Sauk Prairie both went 6-2 last season.

“Last year, (we all) were ranked in the top 10 in Division 2 pretty much the entire season,” Moriarty said. “It was extremely competitive the whole year. I’m expecting another battle between the three of us.”

The Spartans lost three All-State players in setter Ava Dean, libero Katelin Eggers and middle blocker Ainsley Pennekamp from last year’s roster. Seven returners include junior middle blocker Kayla Landerud and senior outside hitter Julia Ackley, who were also All-State honorees.

The Crusaders bring back NC State recruit Rebecca Ring, a senior outside hitter, and had 256 kills and 30 blocks last season. Junior setter Addie Oeth will guide the offense.

Sauk Prairie returns of senior setter Greta Shadewald, outside hitter Mallory Hartwig, outside hitter Marisa Kruckman and middle Gracyn Meyer.

“I’m most excited about our offense,” Allison Steinmetz said. “We’ve got a really strong offense. The girls have been working really hard in the offseason to fine-tune all those little skills.”

Madison Abundant Life/Saint Ambrose looking for three-peat

Abundant Life/Saint Ambrose coach Becca Mast has five girls moving up from a strong junior varsity team in 2023 and is switching around the lineup in order to help the Challengers earn a Trailways South Conference title for the third year in a row.

“We’re playing with a lot of different things and moving things around,” Mast said. “I think it’s going to work out pretty well.”

Junior Penny Schell returns and is 210 kills from breaking Abby Quam’s record of 483 set in 2023. Schell enters the season with 273 kills for her career.

“She’s huge,” Mast said. “She’s the anchor for our team, honestly. In my opinion, she will be Player of the Year this year. She’ll step into that role.”

Senior Magdalen Simon is moving from the outside to become a middle hitter.

“She’s really quick,” Mast said. “She’s smart and she’s willing to learn. She’s one of those players who’s like, ‘I’ll learn whatever you need. I’ll play whatever you need me to play, whatever’s best for the team.’”

WIAA adds division to state tournament

The 2024 state tournament will look a little different with five divisions playing for state championships. Division 1 will have 116 teams while Division 2 has 92 teams and Divisions 3-5 have 91 teams each.

Notable teams that have been affected by this has been McFarland and Sauk Prairie, which have moved up to Division 1.

“It will be tough,” Moriarty said. “We have Oconomowoc in our sectional. They’ve been in the state final, is seems like every year the last five years. It’s definitely a big hurdle to try to get back to state, but we’re excited for the challenge.”

Editor’s note: The Wisconsin State Journal’s high school coverage area includes the following schools: Madison Memorial, Middleton, Verona, Madison La Follette, Sun Prairie East, Sun Prairie West, Madison West, Madison East, DeForest, Waunakee, Mount Horeb, Stoughton, Monona Grove, Oregon, Madison Edgewood, McFarland, Deerfield, Marshall, Belleville, Wisconsin Heights, Madison Abundant Life, Madison Country Day, St. Ambrose, Lodi and Sauk Prairie.