They helped bring a community together to cheer them on, fighting their way to become state runner up in five sets at the Resch Center in Green Bay Saturday and bringing home the silver trophy for division 3 girls volleyball.
With frost on the ground at home and the girls varsity volleyball team competing at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Stanley-Boyd Schools cancelled the school day Friday.
“No School. State Volleyball,” the activities calendar read for Friday, Nov. 6.
The first such trip in 20 years, the girls team was sent off with fanfare and sirens on Thursday, Nov. 5, with local fire, ambulance, and police escorting the team out of town.
The 2-3 championship match against Watertown Luther Prep followed one Friday that saw Stanley-Boyd advance over River Valley 3-0, finishing the season in five sets and a 36-6 overall record. Top performers for Stanley-Boyd against River Valley included Ezra Krenzelok with hitting percentage and blocks (.308 hit percentage and one block, with four kills), and Kelly Lew, with 14 kills and a .220 hit percentage.
Statistics were not uploaded Monday for the match with Watertown Luther.
Overall team leaders this season for the Orioles include Kelly Lew with 502 kills (4.7 kills per set) and a .294 hitting percentage, Layla Klisiewicz with 48 total blocks, and Amanda Lew with 4.4 digs per set and 97 serving aces (0.9 digs per set), Megan Pilgrim with 1,032 assists, and Kennedy Reed with 581 receptions
Coach Karley Wiensch shared team reflections after results
“We battled today and just came up a little short,” Wiensch said of the state runner-up finish at Green Bay. “Watertown Luther Prep is a very good team. Both teams battled today. That was probably the best volleyball at state for state championship Saturday! Battling every point!”
“I would say the favorite parts of the season would be playing one another and as a team. We came up short but to think the girls would still say that their favorite part of the season would be making it to state and having the opportunity to play the literal last game of the season and even playing it til the last set possible.”
Set scores Saturday at Green Bay were 25-18, 23-25, 25-21, 18-25, and 12-15. Stanley-Boyd won sets 1 and 3, while Watertown Luther won sets 2, 4, and 5.
The girls were welcomed home Saturday with a drive through Boyd and Stanley, escorted by fire, police, and EMS. The caravan made its way from Highway 29 down Center Street, then Murray and D, before turning on Highway X to make its way to Stanley.
Greeted there by several well wishers, the team made its way through town to the high school, where an impromptu welcome was held in the high school gymnasium.
“I’ll get this started,” Athletic Director Jeremy Hanson said to those gathered. “I know we have some tired coaches and young ladies.” Hanson thanked those present for putting on the welcome home parade, as well as those who traveled to Green Bay to cheer the team on.
“Most of you have driven to Green Bay twice, even at 8 a.m. in the morning, either by bus or driving. So thank you for supporting the team. I’m not sure about today, but we were the best represented school division there yesterday. So thank you fans.” Along as well was the Stanley-Boyd Band, which played the national anthem at the start of the Saturday final.
“Thank you to the girls and coaches for an amazing time,” he said, the team battling in five sets to become state runner up.
Volleyball head coach Karley Wiensch also spoke.
“My name is Coach Wiensch,” she said. “If you don’t know me, I’d like to thank all of you for coming to Green Bay for two days or one day, whenever you came.” Wiensch also praised the players.
“They worked their butts off all season,” she said. “They put 100 percent in at practice, at competitions. We had a long season, a lot of tournaments, a lot of early mornings, two hours of sleep sometimes. It’s a pleasure to coach them and getting all the way to state is amazing...I would also like to thank my coaches,” she said, referencing Mariah Capra, Sam Butler, Kayla Weltzin, and Ashley Bates.
Wiensch said Capra had gone home after the game to take care of a 10 week old baby.
“Thank you coaches, for a great season,” Wiensch said. “These 15 girls, and they all get the manager as well, referencing Abby Weltzin. “Abby is a really good manager.”
“And then these 15 girls, like I said, dedicating their time, early morning practices, the last two Saturdays at 6 a.m. before we have competitions.”
Wiensch noted that four players had made All Conference listings, held by coaches until after the playoffs. Named to the West Cloverbelt All Conference for Stanley-Boyd are Layla Klisiewicz (Honorable Mention), Megan Pilgrim (Second Team), and Amanda and Kelly Lew (First Team). Wiensch shared that Kelly Lew had been named Player of the Year.
The gathering was then opened for team members and their families to take pictures with the trophy, which will be added to others in the display case by the high school gymnasium.
Chris Paradies, coach during the 2006 state trip, praised the 2026 team Monday.
“I think the girls represented Stanley wonderfully,” she said, acknowledging the outcome wasn’t quite as hoped. “But they have nothing to be ashamed of,” she said. “It’s something they’ll never forget. It’s just a fantastic thing. You don’t forget something like that. I’m just proud that the girls brought back some hardware. A great time for Stanley-Boyd.”
Former assistant coach Erika Koenig, who traveled to state in 2006, also shared thoughts.
“It was so much fun to watch the volleyball team earn their way to state this year!” she said. “Twenty years from now, I hope they look back on this experience with the same pride, gratitude, and wonderful memories that I have from 2006. They have so much to be proud of!”
