GREEN BAY, Wis. – Hamilton won the championship of the 61st State Boys Volleyball Tournament Friday evening at the Resch Center.
After winning the first set, the Chargers (39-4) needed a rally to overcome a 2-1 set deficit to post 25-10, 23-25, 22-25, 25-21,15-10 victory over former defending champion Middleton (34-5).
Ben Bayer led the Chargers hitting attack with a game-high 36 kills, which ranks third-most in State Tournament history for a five-set match. Henry Mrotek delivered a match-high 54 assists. Defensively, Mrotek and Craig Oberlin each had five blocks, and Ezra Mitchell recorded a game-high 28 digs.
Caden Van Buren paced the Cardinals’ offense with 27 kills, and Vance Ferry also recorded double figures in kills with 17, and Bryce Stuttgen dished out a team-high 51 assets. Defensively, Porter McGee made eight blocks at the net, and Van Buren led the team in digs with 15.
The Chargers defeated Kenosha Indian Trail 25-18, 25-18, 25-11 in the quarterfinals and Germantown 25-22, 27-25, 25-21 in the semifinals to advance to the final. The Cardinals reached the championship game by posting a 25-14, 25-21,19-25, 25-20 win over Westosha Central in the quarterfinals and swept Marquette in the semifinals 25-19, 25-21, 25-23.
Hamilton wins the championship in its first-ever State Tournament appearance. Middleton finishes runner-up in its 15th State appearance.
Game Boxscore