VOLLEYBALL: Aquinas is full of hitters, but it’ll need to stop just one to beat Howards Grove today at state

No. 3 Blugolds (31-4) vs. No. 1 Howards Grove (40-4) at 1 p.m.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — For the first time in school history, Aquinas High School’s volleyball team is in the WIAA state tournament. 

At 1 p.m. today from the Resch Center, the Blugolds (31-4) take on Howards Grove (40-4). Aquinas – which won a WISSA state title back in 1984 – came into the playoffs the No. 3-ranked team in Division 3, while Howards Grove came in No. 1.

To get here, the Tigers knocked off No. 2-ranked Lake County Lutheran in five sets, getting 23 kills from 6-foot senior middle hitter Samantha Yancy.

And it’s Yancy – a Division II Truman State signee – who the Blugolds will have to worry about the most. She has 535 kills on the season (4.8 kills per set)

“She can put the ball down anywhere she wants, so they are really relying on a lot of big guns,” Aquinas coach Bri Ebenhoe said. 

The other big gun for Howards Grove is 5-8 senior right side Olivia Stauss, who has 264 kills this season (2.4 kills per set).

It’s stark in comparison to what Aquinas does. The defense has always been the Blugolds’ specialty under Ebenhoe, and they can really focus their attention on two main hitters – the Tigers next best hitter has 143 kills – but they aren’t a one-dimensional offense.

“They are completely dynamic, anywhere on the court,” Ebenhoe said of Yancy and Stauss. “We really rely on a more balanced approach, asking anyone to contribute. We’re very different.”

In other words, Howards Grove won’t have the same advantage putting up the block on Aquinas’ hitters.

“We’ve been a defensive team for a number of years and,” Ebenhoe said, “this year, we were able to put in a high-powered, dynamic offense in place as well, so it’s a total package.”

Anyone on Aquinas can put it down. There are a number of ways to break it down but, while Howards Grove runs most of its offense through Yancy, the Blugolds just run an offense.

The centerpiece might be senior setter Danielle Dolan (pictured on right setting Shaya Nickelatti), who decides who’s going to get to hit. She has a lot of options: Courtney Conway (310 kills), Lexi Donarski (241), Nickelatti (200), Ellie Copps (138) and Kyah Steiner (107) all take turns. Even the 5-10 Dolan can swing (87 kills). 

And, while being at the WIAA state tournament for the first time in school history will be something new for the Blugolds, it won’t be much different.

“We’ve had a lot of players play club volleyball in so many types of different types facilities, in front of so many fans,” Ebenhoe said. “So, I expect that they’re going to walk in and enjoy the moment but then take a step back and say, ‘We have a job to do,’ and play our game.