APPLETON (NBC 26) – Appleton North High School hosted the boys’ and girls’ volleyball games on Saturday.
In the girls match, No. 2 Bay Port faced top-seeded Kimberly. Despite three sets, the Pirates finished their attack against the Papermakers.
Bay Port head coach Jeremy Weis said the win was great for the team and the community.
“I mean, it’s a first,” Weis said. “It’s a big deal. For these girls to go out and play at such a high level and not have many, if any, breakdowns, it makes a huge difference.”
Middle blocker Chloe Parker found herself at the bottom of the field after Bay Port won the third set. She led her team with 12 kills and three blocks.
“It feels amazing,” Parker said. “I just love them so much, this whole group of girls, so to be able to do this with the whole group is an amazing feeling.”
After the girls’ volleyball games, the boys had their say. No. 3 Appleton North faced No. 1 Kimberly, hoping to flip the script from what happened last year in sectionals when the Papermakers defeated the Lightning.
Appleton North won the first set, but the Papermakers rebounded in the second set 31-29. After two more close matches, the Papermakers took the fifth set.
Even though Kimberly had a few match points, the Lightning won the fifth set 19-17 to advance to state.
“We obviously beat a really good team,” Appleton North head coach Michael Maass said. “Somehow we finally made it. We had to come back after a few games. I think we’re at the top right now. I’m really proud of the guys. They just played well and didn’t do a good job of quitting.”
Outside hitter Nathan Ramus said scoring the final point was the happiest feeling ever.
“It feels amazing,” Ramus said. “They had our number. They beat us in this game last year. They beat us in the regular season. There is no better feeling than beating them when it matters right now.”
Both the Bay Port girls and Appleton North boys will play in the state tournament, which begins on Wednesday, November 6.
Schedule of provincial girls’ volleyball tournaments: CLICK HERE.
Schedule of the District Boys’ Volleyball Tournament: CLICK HERE.
