Sun Prairie Takes a Set From Middleton in Volleyball Loss

Sun Prairie United closed its Big Eight boys volleyball schedule with two demanding matches in three days. The team visited Edgewood on Tuesday, October 6, and hosted Middleton on Thursday, October 8.

United beat Edgewood in four sets, 25-14, 26-24, 19-25 and 25-20.

Sun Prairie ends Middleton’s conference set streak

Middleton entered the Thursday match as the defending Big Eight and WIAA state champion after an undefeated 2025 season. The Cardinals were ranked No. 1 in Wisconsin and No. 4 nationally in the MaxPreps boys volleyball polls.

Middleton had not dropped a Big Eight set since September 2024. Sun Prairie ended that streak by winning the opening set 26-24, although Middleton recovered to take the match 25-12, 25-18 and 25-18.

The first set stayed close throughout. Neither team built a lead of more than two points.

Senior libero Harrison Fenton kept rallies alive with digs against Middleton’s powerful attacks. He played while recovering from an ankle injury that had kept him out of Wednesday’s practice.

Senior captain Logan Stephenson contributed two kills during a 4-2 Sun Prairie run. United moved ahead 22-20, prompting a Middleton timeout.

Middleton responded with three kills and an ace to take a 24-23 lead. Sun Prairie then called timeout.

On the next decisive exchange, senior Adam Siemion and junior Ezra Haesler combined for a block that landed in Middleton’s court and tied the score. Sophomore Jake Fenton followed with a kill through a block attempt by Middleton’s 6-foot-10 middle, Henry Dailey.

After another Middleton timeout, senior Kimball Richards blocked the Cardinals’ next attack to finish the 26-24 set win.

Coach Ethan Hughes praised the team’s effort, execution and energy. He said the performance earned United the opening set and gave the players positive momentum despite the eventual loss.

Middleton rallies to win in four

Middleton took control in the second set, at one stage winning 16 of 18 points on its way to a 25-12 result.

Four early Middleton service errors kept the third set closer. Siemion recorded consecutive kills, and Richards added a kill and a block on back-to-back points. Dailey’s play at the net helped Middleton hold on, and a Sun Prairie lifting violation ended the set 25-18.

Sun Prairie opened the fourth set with two kills and an ace. Later, another United kill was followed by one from Haesler. Richards then scored three consecutive points on a tip and two blocks.

With a Middleton rotation error contributing to the run, Sun Prairie scored six straight points and went ahead 12-10.

The set was tied at 16 when a Middleton attack appeared to go long. Instead, officials called a Sun Prairie net violation and awarded the point to the Cardinals. Middleton followed with a 5-1 run.

United called timeout while trailing 22-17, but Middleton closed out the fourth set 25-18, using two late kills to secure the match.

Program-best conference finish

Sun Prairie ended the regular season at 6-2 and in third place in the Big Eight standings. The record and finish were both program bests.

United was scheduled to play two more tournaments before the 2026 WIAA state tournament: the Madison Memorial Spartan Invite on Saturday, October 10, and an invitational at Neenah on Saturday, October 17.