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.

Fall River is trying to make it back to the state tournament with a roster full of returning players. Randolph is trying to show off new faces and much more this season.

Here are five things to know for the 2024 season.

Fall River is a state contender

Eleven players return including senior hitters Jenna Vermillion (409 kills) and Hannah Dietzenbach (352 kills) and setter Alexa Schultz (838 assists and 68 aces).Starting libero Brooke Koegler and hitter Maggie Book return along with Emma Sampson.

“Everybody has come back, which is kind of unusual for a small school to have eight seniors,” coach Laura Trautmann said. “I haven’t had that happen at Fall River.”

Trautmann said team chemistry will help the Pirates get back because of their experience against quality opponents.

“Chemistry is important, I think we had good chemistry last year,” she said. “When you’re a senior and it’s your last year, you can just tell the group of girls want it even more.”

Randolph shakes rebuilding tag

Among its departures, Randolph must replace its leading attacker and blocker as All-State hitter Macy Kohlbeck (3.0 kills per set) graduated and middle Karlys Arjana (30 blocks) decided to be home schooled.

Coach Jeff Kohlbeck will have a young team with two freshmen in the starting rotation, and he only returns three starters. Freshman Bryelle Hollander will play middle and classmate Annika Reed slots in at defensive specialist.

“I really expect us to be playing really good by the end of the year,” Kohlbeck said, who mentioned he still expects them to contend with Fall River for a Trailways West Conference title.

Sophom*ore setter Tessa Reed had 878 assists and senior libero Karly Bairdhad 427 digs last season.

Kohlbeck has a lot of confidence with the Rockets, who he said have lost five All-State players over last two seasons.

“We’ve been super talented in the past and this team is also super talented and very young,” he said. “I know a lot teams in our conference are thinking Randolph is going to have a down year and I hope they do think that. We’ve always been good and that’s what I’ve been telling these girls. It’s not going to be any different, we’re just going to be young.”

Sauk Prairie looks to contend in Badger Small

Allison Steinmetz led Sauk Prairie to a 36-8 record and a sectional final appearance in her first season as coach.

The Eagles were hope to contend in the Badger Small Conference after finishing behind McFarland and Madison Edgewood. It will be tough as they lose Ellery Apel and Jozie Braud, who started at libero and outside hitter, respectively.

“It’s definitely something we know it’s doable for us. I think in order to get over that hump to win conference this year, we need to be consistent, and we need to get our passes where they need to be so that we can run an offense," Steinmetz said. "Consistency is going to be key for our team.”

Steinmetz said she’s most excited about the offense because it will be strong with the return of senior setter Greta Shadewald, outside hitter Mallory Hartwig, outside hitter Marisa Kruckman and middle Gracyn Meyer.

Wisconsin Dells, Horicon going through changes

Middle Natalie Field and twins, Ari and Sade Partlow are expected to step up for along with new setter Izzy Johnson.

“We’ve done a lot of work this summer on just shifting culture, shifting different strategy and mindset,” Preston said. “I coach a little bit different from what the girls were used to.”

Horicon went 34-8, losing to Winnebago Lutheran in regionals, and will be replacing setter Natalie Boehmer, outside hitter Aubry Pufahl and libero Ella Vorlob. In those new roles will Breonna Buechel at setter, Clara Dykstra outside and Maddie Boeck at libero.

“We just had our scrimmage which gave me the opportunity to play around with various lineups,” Horicon coach Tara Boehmer said. “ We as coaches were pleased with what we saw on the court. We know what we need to emphasize on in practice to improve our game."

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 Division 3-5 have 91 teams.

“I think it’s a long time coming,” Kohlbeck said. “I think it’s great for the sport of volleyball because it’s most popular sport in girls sports in the state of Wisconsin. They also have the most high schools to participate in girls volleyball."

One notable team that will make the transition to a new division will be Sauk Prairie in Division 1. Sauk Prairie lost in the Division 2 sectional final to McFarland. Sauk will now play teams like DeForest, Waunakee and Middleton.

“Last year, we had an awesome run,” Steinmetz said. “I wasn’t surprised by how far we made it because I knew we had a really strong team and I knew the girls who were on our team were committed pushing us to that final point. ... I think you’re going to see Sauk Prairie get into that sectional final and hopefully make it to state.”

Fall River will be in the Mineral Point sectional and have to play Randolph, which moves down from Division 3, Beaver Dam Wayland, Markesan and Montello in its grouping.

“We always had to go up against the Howards Groves,” Kohlbeck said. “…We’ve always tried to play the better (higher division) schools to get us prepared for that. We’re going to still do that, but dropping down a division, we’re more where we’re supposed to be.”

Editor's note: Schools in the WiscNews coverage area are: Beaver Dam, Waupun, Columbus, Dodgeland, Horicon, Hustisford, Fall River, Rio, Randolph, Cambria-Friesland, Wayland Academy, Central Wisconsin Christian, Portage, Poynette, Pardeeville, Lodi, Sauk Prairie, Reedsburg, Baraboo, Wisconsin Dells and Mauston.