Redbirds Rise: De Pere Sweeps Appleton West to Advance in Postseason Play

The De Pere Redbirds showed both power and composure Thursday night, sweeping Appleton West in straight sets to move forward in the postseason tournament. De Pere’s mix of energy, precision, and smart defensive play was on full display as they controlled the match from start to finish.

Right from the first serve, the Redbirds came out firing, winning 10 straight points purely through their serving game. That opening stretch sent the student section into a frenzy and kept parents and fans fully engaged from the start. As the match went on, De Pere’s dominance was clear both offensively and defensively.

One player who stood out was junior middle blocker and outside hitter Erin O’Connor, who continues to be a force at the net. O’Connor leads the team in kills, hitting percentage, and blocks, and her leadership doesn’t go unnoticed. After the win, she reflected on her team’s mindset heading into the match. “I think as a team we were mostly thinking just have fun, and do whatever we can to finish the game as quickly as possible,” O’Connor said. She also shared her personal approach to attacking, “I personally always say c-ball, hit-ball, and just try to do what I can to get the ball on the ground.” The Redbirds certainly lived up to that mindset, finishing the match quickly and clearly having fun doing it. When asked about preparing for more postseason play, O’Connor said the team is focused on staying sharp both physically and mentally. “I know a lot of us play Club so we’re also getting ready for that, and mentally all the tough competition coming down the road, we’re just gonna keep working in practice and doing what we need to do so that we’re ready for those tough teams.” Her excitement for the next challenge was obvious. “I’m most excited to play some really hard teams and have some fun, those are my favorite. When we’re playing a really good team, I can get some good blocks.”

As the postseason continues, De Pere will look to carry Thursday’s momentum into their next matchup—a home contest against the Hortonville Polar Bears in the WIAA Regional. If their performance against Appleton West was any indication, the Redbirds are heating up at just the right time.