Witt-Birn, Suring volleyball teams earn No. 1 seeds for playoffs

Several area high school volleyball teams earned high seeds for the postseason after strong regular seasons. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association released all postseason brackets Oct. 12.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Suring both earned No. 1 seeds.

Witt-Birn picked up its top seed after winning the Central Wisconsin Conference-East Division title. The Chargers have a bye into the regional semifinals and will either host No. 8 Amherst or No. 9 Coleman at 7 p.m. Oct. 20. Witt-Birn would also host the regional title game on Oct. 22 if it advances.

Suring finished tied for second in a balanced Marinette & Oconto Conference this fall. The Eagles also have a bye into the regional semifinals and will host either No. 4 Lena or No. 5 Gillett at 7 p.m. Oct. 20.

The regional quarterfinal between Lena and Gillett will take place in Lena at 7 p.m. Oct. 18.

Bonduel and Menominee Indian are also on the same side of the bracket as Witt-Birn.

Bonduel is a No. 4 seed and will host No. 13 Oconto at 7 p.m. Oct. 18. Should Bonduel win, it would host either No. 5 Peshtigo or No. 12 Manawa at 7 p.m. Oct. 20.

Menominee Indian is a No. 14 seed and will travel to face No. 3 Iola-Scandinavia in a regional quarterfinal match at 7 p.m. Oct. 18. If the Eagles pull off the upset, they would travel to either No. 6 St. Mary Catholic or No. 11 Shiocton on Oct. 20.

The regional pod with Suring, Lena and Gillett also includes Gresham and Bowler.

Gresham, which won the CWC-North title, is the No. 2 seed and will host No. 7 White Lake at 7 p.m. Oct. 18. Bowler got the No. 3 seed and will host No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas Academy at 7 p.m. Oct. 18.

If Gresham and Bowler both win on Oct. 18, the two CWC-North teams would battle at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 in Gresham.

Tigerton and Marion are part of another Division 4 regional pod.

Tigerton received a No. 12 seed and will head to No. 5 Hilbert for a regional quarterfinal match at 7 p.m. Oct. 18. If the Tigers win that match, they will either host No. 12 Oneida Nation or hit the road again for a battle with No. 4 Rio.

Marion received a No. 14 seed and will open the postseason playing at No. 3 Sevastopol at 7 p.m. Oct. 18. The Mustangs would travel to No. 6 Cambria-Friesland or No. 11 Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah on Oct. 20 if they win their first matchup.

After a strong showing in a brutally tough North Eastern Conference, Oconto Falls picked up a No. 2 seed in Division 2. The Panthers got a bye for their efforts and will host either No. 7 Lakeland or No. 10 Antigo in a regional semifinal match at 7 p.m. Oct. 20. Oconto Falls would also host the regional final on Oct. 22 if it won.

In another regional pod, Shawano got a No. 5 seed. The Hawks will battle No. 12 New London at 7 p.m. on Oct. 18 in Shawano, with the winner facing either No. 4 Waupaca or No. 13 Rhinelander in the regional semifinal match on Oct. 20.

Pulaski is a No. 11 seed up in Division 1. The Red Raiders open the postseason on the road against No. 6 Hortonville at 7 p.m. on Oct. 20. A win would either have Pulaski hosting No. 14 Green Bay East or traveling to No. 3 Green Bay Southwest for a regional final match on Oct. 22.

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