Ithaca wins Regional, Richland Center runner-up

For the first time in school history, the Ithaca volleyball team has won a WIAA Regional Championship and will play in the Sectional tournament Thursday. The Bulldogs won a nail biter 3 sets to 2 over visiting Seneca Saturday night. The Royals won the first set 25-21, Ithaca won the next 2 by scores of 25-15, and 25-22. Seneca won the 4th 30-28 before the Bulldogs took the 5th and deciding set 15-13.

Ithaca won 4 times this season over Seneca. Once in a weekend tournament 2 sets to 0. Twice during the Ridge and Valley season and both times it went 5 sets. Saturday night was another memorable match between the Bulldogs and Royals that went the distance. Seneca finished runner up in the conference and now in the regional. Holly King, Arianna Louis, Kailey Newkirk, Alyssa Mueller, Bailey Wanless, and Tristan Peterson are this years Ithaca Seniors. They helped pave the way with support from Junior Jayden Boland, and sophomore Jacey Maxwell.

With the win, Ithaca will play in the sectional semi final. They will host Royall after the Panthers (a 4th seed) knocked off number one seed Highland 3 sets to 1.The Bulldogs are the 2nd seed in the half sectional and will host the next round match on Thursday night at 7 pm.

The Richland Center girls volleyball team took the number one ranked division 3 team, Aquinas down to the wire before losing the 5th set 16-14. It was an amazing effort for the Hornets after a regular season in which they battled for a co-conference championship. They endured a tough match win over Luther on Thursday night in the regional semi-final and than traveled to La Crosse and took a highly regarded team to a 5 set thriller. Hornet Seniors that played their final high school matches are Soleil Ewing, Lillian Tydrich, Carley Mieden, Chloe Darling, Ava Cosgrove, and Madelyn Huber. The Hornets finished with 30 wins on the season. Aquinas moves on after the 5 set win to face Cuba City which defeated Dodgeville in 3 sets Saturday night.