Badger Power League 14's & 16's Championship Weekend-Feb 25/26

On Saturday play went long at both the 14's & 16's levels because plain and simply each team spent the day playing opponents of like abilities. That makes for a long day-- like it or not. 49/92 matches went to 3 sets and with-in those sets there were numerous times when scores were going 25-23 or 26-24. If you are a true volleyball enthusiast would you want it any other way?

Sunday’s pools, as expected were also very evenly matched.

At the 16's level, the final field of eight was extremely strong as was witnessed by the crowd during the quarter and semi-final matches. Both teams that arrived in the finals did it in different fashions. The Championship went to Muskego Stars 16 Blue who proved that they were a contender right from the start as they only dropped two matches during all of league play (4 dates). On the other hand, Fox Valley Thunder 16-1 proved that even a team that found themselves on the losing end of eight matches during league play, could still fight for that Gold medal on the final day because they won the matches that were important along the way. The Stars team was quite enjoyable to watch throughout the weekend as they are a team with few weaknesses. Their serving game is better than most but it's their exciting style of defense that keeps rally's going just long enough until their offense has a chance to shine.

At the 14's level Southwest Milwaukee 14-1 & Midwest Penguins 14-1 earned the 1 & 2 seeds going into the final Gold bracket on Sunday. Southwest made it to the finals by defeating Trailblazers 14-2 & East Troy Heat 14 Red along the way. Penguins had a strong 1st match and defeated a very scrappy Fox Valley Thunder 14-1 team but succumbed to the strong serve/pass game of Wisconsin Volleyball Academy 14 Black in the Semis. The Gold medal and Championship t- shirts were earned by Southwest 14-1 in a match that had moments of greatness by both teams.

I would also like to mention that the region is very excited about the coaching that is displayed at our BPL. The following coaches should be commended on their positive and unique styles of coaching:

1. Al Capps (Eclipse 16 Solar)

2. April Pichelman (Wisconsin Ice 16 Black)

3. Elizabeth Kubiszewski (Muskego Stars 16 Blue)

4. Lauren Ditscheit (Milwaukee Sting 15 White)

5. Jeremy Weis (East Troy Heat 14 Red)

6. Joel Golsteyn (Southwest 14-1)

7. Darrin Matthies (FC Elite 14-1)

8. Eric Brandenburg (Wisconsin Volleyball Academy 14 Silver)

The Badger League has one more weekend until completion. The 13's & 15's Divisions will finish up on March 10/11.