By Andrew Horschak
Sports Correspondent
Another year, another WIAA Division 1 regional championship for the Burlington girls volleyball program.
On the heels of capturing the Southern Lakes Conference Tournament crown, the second-seeded Demons advanced to the sectional round for the 15th consecutive season thanks to a pair of impressive three-set regional victories at home.
Burlington cruised to a 25-11, 25-8, 25-11 victory over 15th-seeded Elkhorn in a regional semifinal on Thursday, Oct. 20, and then took care of seventh-seeded Kenosha Tremper, 25-14, 25-23, 25-19, in the regional final on Saturday, Oct. 22.
“(We were) challenged by a great Tremper team,” Burlington co-coach Teri Leach said. “They have incredible defense and pressure from the serving line, so we are very happy to come away with the win.”
After top-seeded Westosha Central was disqualified from the postseason for playing in too many tournaments during the regular season, Burlington (35-9) is now the team to beat in the upcoming sectional.
In semifinal matches on Thursday at Stoughton, fourth-seeded Fort Atkinson will face ninth-seeded Kenosha Bradford at 5 p.m., while Burlington will battle third-seeded Stoughton in the second match at approximately 7 p.m.
The winners will then meet for the sectional title 7 p.m. Saturday at Burlington.
In the snappy regional semifinal victory over Elkhorn, Abby Koenen (8), Angie Tuchel (6), Megan Wallace (5) and Reba Thomsen (5) combined for 24 kills with only four errors.
Kaley Blake handed out 26 assists and collected three of her team’s nine service aces.
Brooklyn VandeHei led the defense with 11 digs.
In the regional final victory over Tremper, Koenen once again led the offensive attack. The junior outside hitter pounded down 13 kills, but she had plenty of help.
The senior foursome of Alyssa Turzenski (9), Wallace (7), Tuchel (6) and Thomsen (5) teamed up for 27 more kills courtesy of 33 assists from Blake, the freshman setter.
“(I) thought we moved the ball around,” Leach said, “and created some good offensive matchups with our diversity.”
Maddie Berezowitz (16), Thomsen (12) and Blake (10) all finished in double digits in digs, while Turzenski and VandeHei chipped in nine apiece.
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