The stage was set, the lights were on, and volleyball history was made Tuesday night as Mayville High School hosted the first-ever outdoor varsity volleyball triangular in Wisconsin at Ray Dunn Field with marsh-area schools, Horicon and Waupun, participating.
The event, called the Battle on the Marsh, drew not only fans from across Dodge County but also multiple media outlets, from local and area newspapers to Milwaukee television crews, including TMJ4 and CBS 58.
Mayville Head Coach Alan Capps reflected, “The moment it really hit me was the night before, when our team practiced on the court for the first time. A parent snapped a picture of the girls with the sun setting behind them, and when I saw it later, along with the timelapse video of the court being built, I knew we had created something special.”
The event preparation took months of planning. Dozens of volunteers and students gathered Monday night to build a wooden platform over the football field’s crown, topped with a Sport Court surface. The wood was donated by Drexel Lumber, with additional support from area businesses and sponsors, helping transform the football field into a one-of-a-kind volleyball venue.
“I get a little emotional. We worked so hard on this,” Capps shared. “I always tell the girls to dream big, then work your butt off to make your dreams happen.”
Fans also showed their school spirit by purchasing custom-designed T-shirts in each school’s colors, created by Leah Seiler, while 50/50 raffles throughout the evening helped raise funds for Mayville’s volleyball program in addition to a local family affected by health issues.
The evening opened with Mayville taking on Waupun, and the Cardinals didn’t disappoint the home crowd. Mayville won in straight sets, 25-18 and 25-22, to kick off the night.
In the second matchup, Waupun faced Horicon, rolling to victory with scores of 25-13 and 25-10.
The nightcap featured Mayville versus Horicon under the lights, but as temperatures fell, condensation made the outdoor court slick. For safety reasons, officials made the call to move play indoors to the Mayville High School gym. At the time of the move, Horicon held a slim 3-2 lead. After a 20-30 minute delay to set up the indoor court, play resumed in front of a packed gymnasium. Mayville quickly regained momentum, winning the first set 25-18 and closing out the night with a 25-14 victory.
Between matches, the spotlight shifted from the court to history. Members of the 1973-74 Mayville volleyball team, the school’s first-ever girls’ varsity team, formed just one year after the passage of Title IX, were recognized on the football field. Three alumni attended the event, standing side by side with today’s athletes in a symbolic passing of the torch.
“It was the ‘73 season, they didn’t even have jerseys, they didn’t have matching shorts. They had smocks that tied on the sides,” said Capps.
“The game has evolved totally from when we played,” said one alum.
“The 1973 girls’ varsity volleyball team, the very first in school history. These trailblazers paved the way for a generation of athletes to come, and their courage and determination continue to inspire us 50 years later,” Capps said.
Following the ceremony, both current players and alumni were interviewed by area news stations, highlighting the generational impact of the sport in Mayville.
For Mayville Head Coach Alan Capps, the event was the realization of an idea sparked by watching the University of Nebraska’s record-breaking outdoor volleyball match in 2023.
From the opening serve to the final point indoors, the “Battle on the Marsh" lived up to its billing, a mix of competition, community, and celebration that will be remembered as a milestone in Wisconsin high school sports.
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