The Horicon varsity volleyball team closed out its 2026 season with a 15-16 overall record, finishing fifth in the Trailways Conference with a 2-4 conference mark.
The Marshladies’ season came to an end Thursday, Oct. 22, following a competitive three-set loss to The Prairie School in Racine during WIAA regional tournament play.
Horicon battled the Hawks throughout the match but came up short, 25-22, 25-23 and 25-21. Just nine total points separated the teams across the three sets.
The Marshladies kept the opening set close before Prairie School secured the 25-22 win. Horicon continued to challenge the Hawks in the second, falling by just two points, 25-23. Prairie School closed out the match with a 25-21 victory in the third to advance in postseason play.
Senior Sarah Hodgson led Horicon’s offense with nine kills on 26 attacks, finishing with a .115 hitting percentage. Junior Emily Bunkoske followed with eight kills, while junior Grace Thornton added five kills and a .222 hitting percentage.
Defensively, Bunkoske led the Marshladies with 16 digs, followed by sophomore libero Leah Holl with 14. Junior Eliana Rivera contributed seven digs.
Freshman Hadley Buechel led Horicon’s setters with 11 assists, while Rivera added seven and Holl contributed four. Bunkoske recorded two of Horicon’s three serving aces, with Buechel adding the third.
As a team, Horicon finished the match with 27 kills, 25 assists, 52 digs and three serving aces.
Season Highlights
The Marshladies opened the season Aug. 25 with a win over Milwaukee Juneau before falling to Mayville. Horicon followed with three sweeps at Poynette, finishing the opening week 4-1.
One early highlight came Sept. 1, when Horicon defeated Dodgeland in five sets behind Hodgson’s 17 kills and five blocks.
Hodgson also turned in a strong performance Sept. 15 against Valley Christian, recording 23 kills and two blocks in a five-set loss.
Horicon picked up tournament victories over Lomira and Cambria-Friesland on Sept. 19 and swept Wayland Academy on Sept. 29.
The Marshladies closed out their regular-season home schedule Oct. 15 with sweeps of Random Lake and Markesan.
Throughout the season, Hodgson led the attack, with Bunkoske, Thornton and freshman Claire Schwartz contributing offensively. Holl anchored the back row, while Rivera and Buechel handled much of the setting duties.
The Marshladies graduate seniors Hodgson and Dina Grip while returning a group of experienced underclassmen who gained valuable varsity playing time throughout the season.
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