Appleton North girls volleyball rolls past Bay Port in WIAA Division 1 sectional final, earns fifth-straight state tournament berth

AppletonSportsPage.com

KIMBERLY – The Appleton North girls volleyball team is heading back to state for fifth-straight season after the top-seeded Lightning rolled to a 3-0 sweep of No. 2 seed Bay Port in a WIAA Division 1 sectional final Saturday night at Kimberly High School.

The Lightning won 25-17, 25-21, 25-19, to earn a berth in the 2023 WIAA State Girls Volleyball Tournament, which will be held Nov. 2-4 at Resch Center in Green Bay. Appleton North is the No. 3 seed and will play No. 6 Franklin in a Division 1 quarterfinal Thursday at 1 p.m.

Appleton North has made the state tournament every year since 2019, which includes the 2020 alternate season in the spring of 2021 in which the Lightning won its only state title. This will be North’s ninth trip to state overall.

“So happy for these girls and the way they play for each other,” Appleton North coach Steve Scheuerell said. “They have put in the work and I can’t wait to see them perform at state!”

Ella Demetrician had 22 kills, five digs and two blocks, Teegan Charapata added 10 kills and six service aces, and setter Emerson Van Lannen was on point again, finishing with 30 assists and five kills.

Maggie Hahnke added 10 digs and three service aces, Madalyn Walschinski had three blocks, and Taylee Jones three kills as well for the Lightning.