COLUMBUS CATHOLIC VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS PACELLI TO WIN DIVISION 4 REGIONAL TITLE

Columbus Catholic senior Dorci Walker slams a kill attempt during the second set of the Dons' 3-0 win over Stevens Point Pacelli in a WIAA Division 4 regional final Saturday night at Columbus Catholic High School in Marshfield. (Photo by Paul Lecker/Zaleski Sports)

By Paul Lecker

Zaleski Sports

MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Columbus Catholic Dons won its third-straight regional championship with a dominating 3-0 sweep of Stevens Point Pacelli in a WIAA Division 4 regional final Saturday night at Columbus Catholic High School.

The top-seeded Dons won 25-20, 25-19, 25-14, to roll into a D-4 sectional semifinal on Thursday at home against No. 3 seed Edgar, which won a five-set match at No. 2 Athens on Saturday.

Dorci Walker had 23 kills and 20 digs, Courtney Sommer had 21 assists, 11 digs and nine kills, and Lily Stratman had 20 assists to lead Columbus Catholic, which had its offense rolling throughout the match.

“The girls have worked so hard to get here,” Columbus Catholic coach Kat Egle said. “This is my ninth year here and to see it develop and get better has been great.”

Walker had 10 kills in the opening set as Columbus Catholic slowly built its lead.

Pacelli's Laine Ilkka slams a shot during the first set of Saturday's WIAA Division 4 girls volleyball regional final at Marshfield Columbus Catholic. (Photo by Paul Lecker/Zaleski Sports)

With the match tied 8-8, Walker had two kills and Izzy Hoglund had a service ace to give the Dons an 11-9 lead. They never trailed again.

A block kill by Grace Wilczek made it 20-16, and after Pacelli got to within two on a kill by Grace Auer, Walker had four kills and Sommer another to finish off a 25-20 win.

The second set was tied 8-8 as well before the Dons pulled away. Three kills by Jenna Kibbel, who finished with nine in the match, and two more from Sommer helped Columbus go on a 14-7 run to take control.

Kills by Walker and Kibbel ended it with a 25-19 win.

Columbus controlled the third set as well, finishing off the sweep 25-14 as Walker had six more kills in the set.

“It’s a team sport,” Walker said. “We have a very high volleyball IQ, hit the weaknesses and move the ball around.”

Izzy Hoglund had a team-high 22 digs, Walker added 20 digs, and Kibbel had 10 digs for the Dons defensively.

Laine Ilkka had 11 kills, Kyle Struble had 23 digs and three service aces, and Emma Reinke had 13 assists for Pacelli.

Casey Vaughn added eight kills and 13 digs, Isabelle Hinaus also had eight kills, and Claire Sobcak had 14 assists as well for the Cardinals.