Top-seeded Germantown (45-3) defeated second-seeded Kimberly to win the championship of the State Boys Volleyball Tournament Saturday evening at the Recreation Center on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College. 

After each team won a set, the Warhawks flexed their offensive arsenal behind the exploits of Bryce Behrendt and Carter Schmidt. They ignited a rally late in the third game to give Germantown a 2-1 advantage that would result in a 26-24, 20-25, 25-23, 25-15 decision. 

Behrendt finished with a team-high 18 kills and five services aces, and Schmidt chipped in with 14 kills and three aces. Hans Stelpflug distributed a game-high 39 assists. Defensively, Jack Leininger led the Warhawks with 11 digs and six blocks, including two solos and four assists.

The Papermakers were led offensively by Landon Krause with a match-high 20 kills, with Trey Anderson and Tommy Clausz each adding seven kills apiece. Chase Robinson recorded assists on 35 of the team’s 42 kills in the match, and he led the team defensively with nine digs.


The Warhawks capture their first State championship in their sixth State tournament appearance, and Kimberly (35-3) finishes runner-up in their first State tournament experience.