Let’s go back to nearly one year ago. The date was November 8th, 2025, as Manitowoc Lutheran and Watertown Luther Prep met for the WIAA Division Three girls’ volleyball championship at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon.
The Lancers defeated the top-seeded Phoenix in four sets to capture their second straight state championship. Many thought the Phoenix would be back with a lot of talent returning from their state runner-up team. Manitowoc Lutheran, on the other hand, graduated several talented players, leading pundits and many others to think they certainly couldn’t do it again.
Fast forward to October 31st, 2026. Not quite Deja vu all over again, but it might as well have been, as these two teams met in front of a capacity crowd in Chilton for a Division Three sectional title and a return trip to state, and what a match it was…