FALL RIVER — For the first time since 2007, the Black Hawk Warriors are regional champions in volleyball.
Black Hawk’s program has been one of the more consistently successful schools in southwestern Wisconsin over the past 20 years, but just twice before — 2000 and 2007 — have the Warriors been able to get out of the regional tournament. Seven other times since 2000, Black Hawk saw its season end in the regional final, including each of the last four seasons.
In 2015, Burlington Catholic Central knocked off the Warriors, with Argyle and Randolph following suit in 2016 and 2017. Last year, it was again Catholic Central — one of the premier teams across all divisions in Wisconsin — that ended Black Hawk’s season. Catholic Central has six titles and seven state appearances since 2006 and has been a sectional qualifier in 12 of the past 14 seasons. The school is also the defending Division 4 state champion.
Black Hawk, ranked No. 8 in the final Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association poll, swept the Six Rivers East during the regular season and has kept winning in the postseason. After the Warriors dominated 10th-ranked Fall River 25-10, 25-15, 25-9 in the Oct. 26 regional final this year, another date with destiny was set — or rather, another date with third-ranked and top-seeded Catholic Central, which swept Randolph 25-14, 25-15, 25-20.
I think our girls found their groove and went with it. You’ve got to like that. They were fun to watch and they brought the energy.Black Hawk coach Rachel Wolff
The winner of Black Hawk-Catholic Central will get either Green Bay NEW Lutheran or Gibraltar Nov. 2 at Central Wisconsin Christian High School for the rights to go to the state tournament.
To get to the sectional, Black Hawk also had to dispose of two conference opponents. On Oct. 22, the Warriors trounced Albany 25-10, 25-8, 25-11. Two days later in the regional semifinals, Black Hawk was hardly tested and dispatched Argyle 25-10, 25-12, 25-16.
“I like that we played Argyle to get into this — they bring out the best in us and it gets us prepared for Fall River,” Black Hawk coach Rachel Wolff said.
Defending conference player of the year Hannah Butler, a senior, had her way with the Orioles, collecting 12 kills, five blocks, five digs and five aces. Sister Bailey Butler, a junior, had 15 kills and five digs and senior Maddy Huschitt dished out 17 assists.
“Great serving by Hannah and the rest of the team. I don’t think we missed a serve in that first set,” Wolff said.
Argyle briefly led 4-2 in the first game, but with Hannah Butler at the line, Black Hawk scored eight straight points to take a commanding 10-4 lead. Four of the 10 points came on aces from Hannah.
“The first set I usually have butterflies, but then they fly out,” Hannah Butler said. She said that playing the final match of her career on her home court was fun, yet sad.
Argyle’s only other lead in the match was in the third set, when the Orioles quickly jumped out to a 4-1 advantage. Bailey Butler then scored three straight points on kills — one from the back row, one on a tip and another a hammer at the net — which tied it at 4. The Warriors scored four more points to take control of the set.
“I think our girls found their groove and went with it,” Wolff said. “You’ve got to like that. They were fun to watch and they brought the energy.”
The third set was also the closest the Orioles hung with their counterparts, as they trailed 15-13 midway through. But the Warriors closed the set — and the match — on a 10-3 run.
“I think we could have given a little bit more, but it was a tough match. They are a very good team,” said Claudia Miller, the Orioles’ lone senior that’s been with the program all four years. “I’ve had a really great time over the last four years. I had a really great group to come up with, then this year, I was kind of on my own, and I got a couple more girls to come out and play with me. For three years, I was the only girl in my grade in volleyball.”
I’ve had a really great time over the last four years. I had a really great group to come up with, then this year, I was kind of on my own, and I got a couple more girls to come out and play with me. For three years, I was the only girl in my grade in volleyball.Claudia Miller, Argyle senior
Tori Lantz led Argyle with six kills, while Maggie Godfrey collected five kills, an ace and 14 digs. Megan Johnson had 15 assists for Argyle.
“We just have to find more consistency, and I think with being young, that’s kind of a struggle. Hopefully they learn from it and bounce back next year,” Argyle coach Jennifer Green said. “Black Hawk is a good team and I wish them the best of luck.”
Oct. 24, WIAA Division 4 Regional Semifinals
Randolph 3, Monticello 0
RANDOLPH — The young Ponies had thoughts of an upset against fourth-seeded Randolph in an Oct. 24 Division 4 regional semifinal. Instead, the Rockets swept fifth-seeded Monticello 25-19, 25-15, 25-17.
Ellie Gustafson had 10 kills and 13 digs for the Ponies, with Hannah Clark, Mackie Errthum and Maggie Bak finishing with five kills each. Bak added four blocks, and Alexa Siegenthaler had 17 assists.
Monticello had zero aces in the match.
In other area results, seventh-seeded Pecatonica fell in four sets to 10th-ranked and second-seeded Fall River, 25-23, 22-25, 15-25, 9-25 in a regional semifinal Oct. 24.
