Top-seeded Lady Demons open playoffs Saturday night in Burlington
By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
On Sept. 29, the Burlington High School volleyball team reached rock bottom.
Decimated by injuries to starters Quinn Spieker and Reba Thomsen, the freshmen-and-sophomore-led Westosha Central Falcons came into the BHS gymnasium and shook up the Southern Lakes Conference with a 3-0 sweep.
Suddenly, Westosha and Union Grove had a chance to knock the Demons off the SLC throne, despite Burlington’s ranking in the top three of the state all season.
Burlington coach Teri Leach was in disbelief after the loss, as she said the Demons hadn’t hit that poorly in her career.
However, Leach knew that when her squad is fully healthy, it is second to none in the area and maybe even the state.
Burlington has proved that ever since that setback, dominating Union Grove, state powers DSHA and Catholic Memorial, and culminating its run with its second straight SLC championship Saturday afternoon.
“Our goal wasn’t necessarily to get revenge on Westosha,” said Burlington senior Ali Rueter, who had 23 kills, six aces and 23 digs Saturday. “They are a very talented team. We didn’t play well the first time we faced them, so our goal was to play at the level we know we’re capable of.”
“We’re a team of 18. I think it’d be a little bit of a stretch to say that we’re all completely healthy. Regardless of injuries, we have a lot of talent on the team in every age group this year. If someone goes down, we have other players that can fill the role.”
Burlington defeated Central, 25-23, 25-22 and 25-14 in the championship game.
The teams were tied, 23-23, in game one and 22-22 in game two.
Arden Peterson and Rueter came up with some clutch kills to seal the game two win, and Spieker added an ace.
Reba Thomsen, the starting setter who missed most of the season due to injury, paced the Lady Demons with eight aces and 41 assists.
“It was really hard being out with the injury, but it was great to be back on the court with my teammates and win at the right time,” Thomsen said Tuesday. “I’m feeling great, and everything has healed well.”
Spieker led the way with 29 kills Saturday, and she added 22 digs. Tay Lewis tallied 19 kills and a team-high 11 blocks.
Peterson finished with eight kills, and Megan Wallace and Phoebe Hozeska each tallied seven.
Emma Fettig contributed 23 assists, and Brooklyn Vandehei had 12.
Thomsen added her goal is to take the WIAA playoffs one game at a time and to compete for the Division 1 state title.
Burlington will compete for its fourth trip to state in five years starting Saturday night at Burlington High School.
The Lady Demons, a No. 1 seed with a 40-3 record, will take on the winner of Kenosha Indian Trail and Stoughton.
Burlington could face third-seeded Central again, in the sectional championship, with a state berth on the line.
Alyssa Turzenski, who led the defensive attack with 34 digs Saturday, said switching from a hitter to a libero has turned her into a more well-rounded player.
While the state championship narrative has been tossed around by coaches and players all season, Turzenski got right to the point Tuesday.
“My personal goal for the playoffs is to play consistent ball and bring home a title.”
Burlington beat Union Grove, 22-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-14 and Wilmot, 25-11, 25-13, on Saturday.
Wilks’ big day helps UG take third
With only one loss to Burlington, Union Grove improved to 30-13 overall with victories over Badger (25-9, 25-9) and Delavan-Darien (25-20, 25-17, 25-18) at Saturday’s Southern Lakes Conference tournament held at Westosha Central High School.”
Lady Broncos coach Anne Sireno said the match against Burlington was tough.
“Burlington served tough at us, and we had trouble getting a good attack back,” she said. “They definitely had a lot of weapons on their team. They are a good team.”
Kylie Wilks totaled 52 kills with a .436 hitting percentage for the day, with 14 digs.
“Kylie Wilks played really well today,” Sireno said.
Wilks had 19 of her kills against Burlington.
Kelley Becker had 46 digs, Brynn Hetland tallied 92 assists and 17 digs and Frankie Pettit registered 21 kills and seven blocks.
Union Grove, a No. 2 seed in the Division 1 playoffs, hosts No. 15 Milwaukee Hamilton Thursday.
Injuries plague Waterford
With two six-rotation starters out, it was an uphill climb for the Lady Wolverines Saturday.
Seeded fourth entering the SLC meet, Waterford fell to Delavan-Darien.
“We got outworked and outhustled,” said coach Ashley Ingish. “Given the talent we have, I expected us to still come out and put up a better fight. I was disappointed in the outcome of the first match, but we made the most of it as we finished with two wins to take fifth.”
Waterford finished fifth at the tournament.
The Lady Wolverines earned a No. 4 seed in the WIAA playoffs and will host No. 13 South Milwaukee Thursday night.
The Grove and Waterford are in the same regional in Division 1.
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