Here is the schedule for this weekends Sting Elite Series. If you have any questions, please contact Colleen Houk.

There has been a storm of commitments at Milwuakee Sting of late. Sting 18 Gold member, Aleisha Bagin has committed to UW Oshkosh. Also of Sting 18 Gold, Caroline Langer has committed to UW Parkside. Several members of Sting 17 Gold have also made their verbal commitments recently. Alaina DiGiogio-Verdin has committed to Western Illinois University. Rachel Neuberger has said 'yes' to the UW Milwaukee Panther program in the Horizon League. Lindsay Zabkowicz is also heading to the Horizon League as she goes north in 2010 to UW Green Bay. Kristin Wetzel of Sting 17 White has also made a verbal commitment to Northern Michigan University. Congratulations all around....whew.

Milwaukee Sting 18 Black player, Christie Graf, has chosen to play volleyball at George Washington University. GW University is located in, where else, Washington, D.C.! Graf (A.K.A "Silent Bob") chose GW because of her undying affinity for the oratory sciences and firece debate in our nations capital. When asked if she was excited to get on a podium and participate in the debates of our time, in both discourse and harmony, Christie replied, "Mm Hm."

George Washington University participates in the NCAA DI Atlantic 10 (A10) Conference. Great job Christie! We are all very proud of you.

Day three of the Badger Tour proved to be the day where all of the pieces fell into place for the 16 White team. The team has been working really hard over the past few months; learning and putting together some new and different strategies. They had been hearing all season long, “….. You guys have some really young coaches…..” Yes, they do, but young brings a lot of fresh perspective with it. James and Alex put together a different defense that most of the girls had not used before, and an amazing offense that keeps everyone guessing. It took a little bit of getting used to for the girls, but they definitely had it down to a science on Sunday.

They began the day with Southwest VBC. After some interesting referee moments in game one, the girls were determined. They took that match to three games, and came out the dominant force. After that match, it was no looking back. Match two was against Raytown. Rumor had it that they were out for revenge after their last meeting in the prior Badger tour date The girls easily took game one, but Raytown fought back hard in game two. The Sting girls never gave up, and in one of the most exciting matches of the day, they came out on top 32-30. The final match of pool play was against Power Sauk County, a team that Sting had lost to in Day 1 of the Badger tour. That didn’t stir the girls at all. The Sting girls, once again, kept a strong offense and defense going and easily came out on top in two games.

In the semi’s, the Sting girls faced River City. Once again, Sting stayed on top of every ball, and played until the whistle blew, and occasionally even after. They won that match in two games as well. The Championship match of the day was against Wi Volleyball Academy Black. This is a team that Sting has met up with many times already this season, and are evenly split on matches won. They are a very good, very disciplined team and great competition. Game one went point for point most of the way through and then Sting went on a hitting run…………. smokin’ kills on the other side of the court.. And in a controversial call about fan vs player hitting the ball, the picture is a little blurry, but clearly shows Taylor, not Grandma Girard hitting the ball that went into the chairs. Good call Ref !!! Sting convincingly won game one. Game two was the highlight of the day. Every girl on the team was pumped and did their job to the best of their ability….. and then some. Rachel G, Rachel K and Sara drilled kills on the other side of the court that knocked their opponent off their feet. Taylor set up an offense that kept everyone on their toes. Alyssa’s serves were very well placed and hard to return. Ashley, Mikeala and Libby were a brick wall at the net. Aly dug, and dug and dug in the back. The girls very easily won game two and became the 2009 Badger Tour Champions.

“Wow” is the only word to describe watching 16 White play on Sunday. They truly represent what hard work and determination can accomplish. Awesome job girls and coaches !!!! You certainly earned your “Pay Day” !!!! Strive for perfection….. attain excellence!!!! Your not even half way through the season yet. Sky is the limit on what you can accomplish together with hard work and discipline.

To bring home the gold and coveted long sleeved t-shirt and 1st place title, the 13 Gold team had to overcome a lot of adversity. Pat and Margaret had their hands full with juggling positions and developing coaching strategies due to the many injuries and illnesses that befell our team during the Badger Tour run. It took 42 days, 21 practices, multiple bottles of Tylenol, Mucinex, not to mention MRI’s, bloody noses and athletic tape to complete this monumental task.

Each leg of the Tour proved to have many obstacles. Whether it was a heated rival out to get us, interclub battles, b-ball tourneys, or our own growing pains, it left the team with many must win games in order to stay in the gold bracket. The girls showed great resiliency, effort and scrappiness that eventually paid off in W’s.

The final game of the Tour featured an exciting hands down play (nice dive Foogie) to start a run against Lightning to ice the victory in the final match of the Tour. Congratulations to all, for each player took part in several crucial situations throughout the 3 legs of the Tour to make this team 2009 Badger Tour Champions.

With the many injuries, the one thing that has remained unscathed is the team’s eyesight. I’m sure everyone is focused on getting back to working hard and having fun. Next stop, Badger Regionals!

Nothing could deter the 12 Black team from their mission! Not a 3+ hour drive to Wausau, nor a $264 speeding ticket, nor the threat of an impending snow storm to impede the drive home, nor a disappointing performance at the final Badger Tour the previous weekend. After a productive week of practice, the 12 Black team was determined to make a statement.

From the beginning, players stepped up to the challenge. Several players, such as Marie Bitant (#10), Caitlin Koska (26), Brianna Greefkes (#2) and Clara Stedman (#11), led the team with their all-around play, from setting to beastly hitting to making great digs. Autumn Schwenn (#7) stepped up to play libero, covering the court and playing great defense. Morgan Primasing (#22) was a rock-steady setter and had huge serves, while Maggie Stolpa (#5) took advantage of the overpass “gifts” by slamming them right back down. Kelly Payant (#13) and Alyssa Hinkel (#14) were not to be out-done, making sure they contributed with great kills. Told to make the most of their minutes, Hayley Levenhagen (#21) took that to heart, stepping in cold (sorry, Hayley!) on match point to serve an ace!

A great weekend was had by all, made extra special by team bonding time at the Lodge and Cedar Creek…thanks parents! Special thanks have to go to team mom, Beth Bitant, Vicky Koska, Becca and Aly for making the coach’s jobs so easy by taking care of all the details! Coach Patti and Assistant Coach Teresa are so proud of our entire team...GREAT JOB GIRLS!

If you get a chance, ask one of us what “D.I.F.” means…we’d be happy to share with you!

Playing in Power League this past weekend with a reduced roster due to injury, and specifically without a setter (although kudos go to Christie Graf for stepping in and doing a really admirable job), they knew every point would be a hard earned.

In their second match against Club Fusion 17 White they were up 2 games to 1 and leading midway through game 4, but Fusion was making a run. During that run Fusion’s leftside hitter attacked a ball down the line – toward the deep corner. The ball landed and the first referee looked to the line judge for a call – but the line judge was distracted clearing a ball from the neighboring court and did not see the play. Nor did the 2nd referee see the play, her attention also distracted by the ball from the neighboring court. The first referee’s few was obstructed. He was about to signal replay because no one knew whether the ball was in or out.

At that moment, in what I think was a really sporting act, Coach Steph Behm told her floor captain to tell the referee that we knew where the ball had landed and that the ball was in. It was an Honor call and it was appropriate to make an Honor call at that time because of the external interference impacting the officiating crew.

So I would just congratulate the entire 18 Black team for being a class act and thank them for representing Milwaukee Sting so well!

Milwaukee Sting is very proud to announce a number of commitments! Morgan Bartkowiak of Sting 18 Black has verbally committed to the UW-Stevens Point. Mariska VanDenbergh also of Milwaukee Sting 18 Black has committed to the Illinois Institute of Technology. Tori "Sparky" Kroll of Sting 17 Gold has committed to one time Sting coach, Matt Houk and the University of South Dakota. Last but not least, Catie Fredrichs of Sting 17 Gold has committed to Ball State and the Cardinal Volleyball program. Congratulations all around! We are proud of you.