Norse finish second in DC after loss to B-T

The Whitehall volleyball team had a chance to win its first Dairyland Conference title since the early 1990s, but a loss to Blair-Taylor in the last match of the regular season meant the Norse had to settle for second place.

The Norse went into last Thursday’s regular season finale tied with B-T and Independence/Gilmanton for first place in the Dairyland Conference. That was because all three teams won their matches on Tuesday to take 8-1 records into Thursday. Whitehall just couldn’t match B-T at the net, however, as the Wildcats swept the Norse to share the conference championship with I/G (see story elsewhere in Sports).

A new season begins for all teams in the state this week as the playoffs begin. The Norse (19-8, 8-2) earned the fourth seed in its Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association bracket. After a bye in the quarterfinal round, the Norse will play the winner of the match between (5) Cochrane-Fountain City and (12) Alma Center Lincoln in the semifinal on Thursday. Should Whitehall win that match, it would play again on Saturday, likely at (1) Columbus Catholic for the regional title. I/G is the second seed and B-T the third in the bracket. 

WHS   25 25 25

E-S      19 17 16

The Norse were in control, not allowing the Cardinals to reach 20 points in any of the three sets.

Bria Pank had a big match for Whitehall, leading the team with 10 kills, while adding 11 assists, six digs, two aces and one block. Rani Waldera had a big night at the net, finishing with seven kills and five blocks. Paige Lisowski had eight kills, and Hadley Kulig had five. Chloe Paulson led the team with 15 assists. 

Lisowski added nine digs, three aces and two blocks.