The city of Manitowoc is well represented in this week’s state Max Preps high school girls’ volleyball poll.
The defending two-time state champion Manitowoc Lutheran Lancers are ranked ninth in Division Three, Roncalli is ranked 12th in Division Four, and Manitowoc Lincoln checks in at number 13 in Division One.
The Shipbuilders played a very difficult non-conference slate prior to the start of FRCC competition, winning seven of nine matches against opponents at the Kimberly Quad and the Sun Prairie East Volleyball Showdown in late August.
That difficult schedule has them rated 18th overall regardless of division heading into their conference opener at Notre Dame Academy of Green Bay tomorrow night.
The defending two-time state champion Manitowoc Lutheran Lancers have dramatically upgraded their non-conference schedule, but it hasn’t fazed them much.
They are 4 and 1 against Division One schools, including victories over De Pere, West De Pere, Marshfield and Appleton East.
The Lancers return to Big East Conference play Thursday night at Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah.
The surprise might be the early season success of the Roncalli Jets.
The Jets had won four consecutive matches heading into Tuesday night’s home match against Sheboygan Falls.
Underclassmen have led the way early on as sophomore Elise Culligan is the team leader in serving aces (10) Aces per set (0.8) and digs per set (4.1).
Sophomore Gracie Hermann leads Roncalli in kills per set (2.5), while junior Ava Cvetezar is the team leader in hitting percentage (.294) and total blocks (10).
Juniors Bailey Keller and Aubri Riesterer, along with sophomore Addison Manis have also made major contributions to the Jets early season success.
The Lady Jets return to action next Tuesday night (September 15th) at New Holstein against the Huskies.
Other local and area schools that are ranked this week include undefeated Brillion (9-0) in Division Three.
St. Mary Catholic comes in at number 12 and Oostburg checks in at number 21 in the D-3 poll. In Division Four, Sevastopol is 13th, and Valley Christian of Oshkosh is ranked 23rd.
In Division Two, Fox Valley Lutheran of Appleton is ranked second, Luxemburg Casco is 11th, Freedom is 14th, Plymouth and Oconto Falls are 18th and 19th respectively, and Little Chute comes in at number 24.
In Division One, Fond Du Lac is fifth, Kimberly is 6th, Neenah is ranked 8th, Bay Port is ranked 20th, with West De Pere holding the number 24 spot.
Meanwhile, in this week’s Bound boys’ soccer coaches’ poll, Sturgeon Bay is ranked first in Division Four.
Kohler is fourth while Kiel debuts at number 10.
Oostburg is second in Division Three with Notre Dame Academy of Green Bay ranked fifth. Pulaski is ranked eighth in Division Two, with Fox Valley Lutheran of Appleton ranked 10th and Green Bay Preble checks in at number seven in Division One.
