The WIAA girls volleyball playoffs begin Tuesday, with several teams in the Manitowoc and Sheboygan area with true state championship aspirations.
Here are the seven teams which have the best opportunity to reach the state tournament which runs from Nov. 7-9 in Green Bay.
Manitowoc Lincoln Ships
Manitowoc Lincoln has made four previous trips to the state tournament, the last coming in the alternate fall season of 2021.
In the Ships Division 1 sectional bracket there are two teams ranked in the top 10 in the state according to the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association. No. 3 ranked Slinger which is actually the No. 2 seed behind top-seeded Menomonee Falls which is ranked No. 6.
The Ships, seeded fourth, would potentially meet Menomonee Falls in a possible sectional semifinal. Manitowoc Lincoln lost 2-0 in a previous meeting on Sept. 27.
Sheboygan Falls Falcons
It’s been 41 years since Sheboygan Falls won the Division B state championship in 1983.
The Falcons will look to make a fifth state appearance, and first since 1994, as a No. 4 seed in Division 2.
In order to do so, Sheboygan Falls would have to potentially face seventh-ranked Kewaskum in a regional final and sixth-ranked Grafton in a sectional semifinal.
Possible sectional final opponents are a trio of state-ranked teams in Luxemburg-Casco (No. 2), Fox Valley Lutheran (No. 3) and Freedom (No. 9).
The Falcons lost 3-2 to Kewaskum on Oct. 8 and fell to Fox Valley Lutheran 2-0 on Aug. 30.
Valders Vikings
Valders earned the top seed in its Division 3 half sectional which is dominated by area teams as both the Cedar Grove-Belgium Rockets and Oostburg Flying Dutchmen are top three seeds.
The Vikings have reached state just once in program history, finishing as runners-up in Division B back in 1984.
Likely sectional semifinals opponents would be either Cedar Grove-Belgium or Oostburg. On the other side of the sectional, just top-seeded Bonduel is listed on the state rankings as honorable mention.
Valders already owns a win over Bonduel, a 2-1 victory on Aug. 27.
Oostburg Flying Dutchmen
Oostburg is the No. 2 seed in its half sectional, having made eight state appearances in program history with the last being when the Flying Dutchmen won the Division 3 state title in 2012.
In total, Oostburg has won three state championships and finished as runners-up another three times.
The Flying Dutchmen have faced both Bonduel and Cedar Grove-Belgium in the regular season, falling to Bonduel 0-2 on Oct. 5 while losing two of three meetings with the Rockets.
More playoff previews: These 6 Manitowoc, Sheboygan teams have best shot at WIAA boys soccer state tournament
Cedar Grove-Belgium Rockets
Cedar Grove-Belgium, seeded third in the same half sectional as Valders and Oostburg, has never reached the state tournament.
A meeting with the Flying Dutchmen at the regional final level would be a distinct possibility followed by taking on Valders potentially for a trip to the sectional final.
As previously mentioned, the Rockets have gone 2-1 against Oostburg but haven’t played either Valders or Bonduel.
Manitowoc Lutheran Lancers
Manitowoc Lutheran enters the postseason ranked No. 2 in the state in Division 4 and as the top seed in its half sectional.
The Lancers have reached state just one back in 2009 but have a great opportunity this season.
A meeting with No. 1 ranked and second-seeded Living Word Lutheran is a real possibility at the sectional semifinal level while third-seeded and state honorable mention Valley Christian is another potential sectional semifinal opponent.
Should Manitowoc Lutheran advance to the sectional finals a possible opponent includes No. 4 ranked Heritage Christian.
Of these potential matchups, the Lancers did defeat Heritage Christian 2-1 on Oct. 5.
More Manitowoc Lutheran volleyball: 'Are you mad yet?': Manitowoc Lutheran rally gives Howards Grove 1st home loss since 2016
Sheboygan Christian Eagles
Sheboygan Christian, ranked No. 6 in the state in Division 5 and seeded No. 1 in its half sectional, is looking for a first-ever state trip.
The Eagles would likely meet state honorable mention and fellow top seed Central Wisconsin Christian at the sectional semifinals, which Sheboygan Christian is 2-0 against on the year.
Possible sectional final opponents could include No. 9 ranked Barneveld and honorable mention Belmont.
Complete Manitowoc/Sheboygan Girls Volleyball playoff pairings
Tuesday, Oct. 22
Division 2: No. 9 Two Rivers at No. 8 Oshkosh North; No. 9 Plymouth at No. 8 Ripon; No. 11 Sheboygan South at No. 6 Waupun; Division 3: No. 9 Mishicot at No. 8 Winnebago Lutheran; No. 11 New Holstein at No. 6 Brillion; Division 4: No. 9 Random Lake at No. 8 Kohler; No. 11 Roncalli at No. 6 Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah; No. 10 Ozaukee at No. 7 Reedsville;
Thursday, Oct. 24
Division 1: No. 10 West Bend East at No. 4 Manitowoc Lincoln; No. 14 Sheboygan North at No. 3 Neenah; Division 2: No. 5 Howards Grove at No. 4 Notre Dame; TBD at No. 4 Sheboygan Falls; Division 3: TBD at No. 1 Valders; No. 5 Kiel at No. 4 Chilton; TBD at No. 3 Cedar Grove-Belgium; TBD at No. 2 Oostburg; Division 4: TBD at No. 1 Manitowoc Lutheran; No. 5 Sheboygan Lutheran at No. 4 Lourdes Academy; Division 5: TBD at No. 1 Sheboygan Christian
Contact Tom Dombeck at 920-686-2965 or tdombeck@htrnews.com . Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Tom_Dombeck .
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: WIAA girls volleyball: These 7 Manitowoc, Sheboygan teams have best shot at state tourney
Local News
