Indees win two to claim share of DC title

For the first time in 50 years, the Independence volleyball program has finished atop the Dairyland Conference.

The Indees won two Dairyland Conference matches last week to finish with a 9-1 conference record, tied with Blair-Taylor for the best mark. This was the first time the Independence program has won a conference title since 1976. Gilmanton joined the Independence program in 2023; the Panthers won the Dairyland Conference in 2004. 

Independence/Gilmanton (23-4) moves on to Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association play this week. The Indees were awarded the second seed in their Division Four bracket and will play either (7) Plum City/Elmwood or (10) Loyal on Thursday. The winner of that match will play in the regional final on Saturday. (3) Blair-Taylor is the next-highest seed, but it must defeat either (11) Osseo-Fairchild or (6) Augusta on Thursday. Augusta defeated B-T earlier this season. 

I/G   25 23 25 25

A/P  22 25 15   4

After a slow start, the Indees took control.

I/G won a close first set, but dropped the second to even the match. It was all I/G from there, however, as the Indees outscored the Eagles 50-19 in the final two sets.

Individual statistics were not available before press time.

I/G  25 25 25

E-S  9 16 19

The Indees were in complete control from the start.

I/G dominated the first set and kept Eleva-Strum to fewer than 20 points in the next two to earn the sweep and a share of the conference title.

Aces were wild for the Indees as the team racked up 14 in the match. Hannah Ekern had eight aces while Yuritza Bautista Santiago and Danika Ekern both had two. 

The Indees had a balanced offensive attack as Hadley Sylla led the team with nine kills, while Nora Schank added eight and Shauna Dejno finished with seven. Hannah Ekern had 26 assists.

Bautista Santiago led the team with 11 digs.