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Today is Monday, October 12, 2026
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The national championship game will stream from Salem, VA this afternoon, Saturday, December 7, at 3 p.m. CST. Unfortunately, the game will only be shown on ESPN+, a pay service that is only available through an app.
Previously posted on The Banner:
Salem, Va. — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball topped Johns Hopkins 3-2 bolstered by an incredible fifth set to advance to secure their spot in the national title match. The Warhawks will play the winner of Hope and Juniata for a chance to hoist the national championship trophy on Saturday at 4 PM EST/3 PM CST. [The Warhawks (No. 6) will play Juniata of Pennsylvania (No. 1) for the championship after Juniata beat Hope 3-2. Juniata has been the champion the past two years.] The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Thursday’s national semifinal featured big wins by each squad with Johns Hopkins taking sets one and three while UWW cruised to wins in sets two and four. It all came down to the decisive fifth set and the Warhawks showcased why they are the best blocking team in the nation.
Outside hitter Alayna Jansky tooled the block for the first point of the fifth. A fantastic serve by Riley Braunschweig had JHU out of system, but a UWW miscue tied the set 1-1. On the next rally setter Aubrie Krzus and middle hitter Hannah Proctor teamed up for the Warhawks’ first block of the set. A Blue Jay kill from the right side made it 2-2.
The Johns Hopkins float serve sailed well long of the end line for a 3-2 lead. The Blue Jays set to the right side again but outside Jenna Weinfurt and Proctor turned their hands in on the attack sending the ball back to the floor quickly for the second block of the set — 4-2 Warhawk lead.
The next rally had Proctor teaming with right side Chloe Werner to shut down another Blue Jay attack to force a timeout with UWW leading 5-2. On the other side of the break, Jansky’s tough serve forced a free ball and Weinfurt capitalized hammering down a kill from the outside for a 6-2 advantage.
Weinfurt and Proctor made it five straight for UW-Whitewater with yet another block, this one deflected straight back into the hitter for the point and a 7-2 advantage.
A cut shot for JHU hit the floor to end the run, but the Warhawks responded quickly with the team’s fifth block of the set. Werner and Proctor shut down the outside to force the side switch with UWW leading 9-3.
A Blue Jay kill after the brief intermission made it 9-4, but once again, UW-Whitewater answered. An attack from Werner nearly hit the floor but a pancake kept the play alive. JHU was able to get the ball over the net and Krzus went back to Werner. This time she opted for the deep corner with the ball landing just inside the lines for a 10-4 lead.
Back-to-back points for the Blue Jays narrowed the gap to four, 10-6.
On the next play, Krzus pushed the set to the pin and Weinfurt elevated hitting over the block down the line for a kill and an 11-6 lead. The best blocker in the nation, middle Abbie Dix, got in on the block action on the next rally. She teamed up with Krzus for a huge one to force the final Johns Hopkins timeout of the set.
Out of the timeout it was Dix and Krzus yet again for the Warhawks’ seventh block of the set to make it 13-6.
Following a UWW service error, the Blue Jay server was whistled for going over the line on her serve to force match point. UW-Whitewater ended it in perfect fashion, with their eighth, yes eighth, block of the set as Krzus and Proctor sealed the win.
The Warhawks ended up out-blocking the Blue Jays 14-9 with Dix leading all players with eight. Krzus and Proctor each had six while Werner added four and Weinfurt three.
Offensively, Jansky hammered down 17 kills while Weinfurt posted 16. Krzus dished out 43 assists. In the dig column, Weinfurt registered 17 with libero Jaedynn Evans tallying 12 and Jansky adding 11.
On Saturday, the Warhawks will play for the national title for the third time under Head Coach Stacy Boudreau. UWW hoisted the trophy in 2005, her first season at the helm, and finished as the national runner-up in 2007.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This view from 1957 features Marilyn Hull and Minnie Rowland from the Whitewater Cooperettes at their craft table for what appears to be a Christmas craft sale. Note the interesting Christmas tree decoration. The Cooperettes were the organization of women members of the Whitewater Co-op, later the Midland Co-op, a membership organization that provided reduced rates on goods and services, particularly those that appealed to farmers, such as fuel and farm supplies. The co-op had a service station on East Milwaukee Street during the first half of the 20th century and even a retail store in downtown Whitewater.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(2612P, Whitewater Historical Society)
2024 Whitewater Holiday Extravaganza: Parade of Lights and More
Friday, December 6th, 4 PM – 8 PM
3:30-5:30 PM
Visit with Santa at First Citizens State Bank
- Location: Main Branch, 207 W Main Street
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Holiday Market at Cravath Lake Community Center
- Location: Cravath Lakefront Community Center – 341 S Fremont Street (please note the parking lot is closed for a portion of the evening to accommodate parade entries after the parade)
- Explore unique gifts, handmade crafts, and holiday treats from local vendors in a cozy indoor setting.
- Warm up by the s’mores pit just outside the community building
6:00 PM
Annual Parade of Lights
- Parade Route: Intersection of 4th and Main down to Whitewater Street, ending at the Cravath Lakefront Park
- Enjoy the illuminated parade as it makes its way through Whitewater, concluding at Cravath Lakefront Park for an up-close look at the dazzling displays.
- Warm up as you await the parade with a cup of hot cider from Discover Whitewater at 150 W Main Street and don’t forget to snag a take and make craft for the kids!
Shortly After the Parade
Park Lighting Ceremony & Pallet Tree Display
- Location: Cravath Lakefront Park 341 S Fremont Street
- Be part of the grand debut of Whitewater’s first-ever walk-through 8-foot light displays.
- Enjoy the community-favorite pallet trees decorated by local businesses, organizations, and community members. The trees and lights will be on display through January 6th.
After the Lighting Ceremony
Free Chili Dinner
- Location: Living Word Fellowship 212 W Main Street
All Evening
- Celebrate the holiday spirit, shop local, and make memories with family and friends in the heart of Whitewater!
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives.
Barb and Harry Penington are WUL Hometown Heroes, and were nominated by Suzanne Chenoweth “For their unwavering commitment and selfless service that has profoundly enriched our community.”
Suzanne said, “I am thrilled to nominate Barb Penington and her husband, Harry, for the Hometown Hero Award. Four years ago, Barb spearheaded the Book Buddy program at First English Lutheran Church, which now provides one-on-one reading support to approximately 30 children. Her dedication to literacy and education has significantly impacted young minds.”
“Barb and Harry are also deeply involved in several community organizations, often working behind the scenes to drive positive change. Among the many causes they support, their contributions to Bethel House, Delta Kappa Gamma, UWW alumni events, Tone Chimes & Handbells Choir, Evangelism, WELCA, scholarship committee, and various other activities at FELC stand out. Barb leads book studies and discussions, fostering a spirit of learning and community engagement. Harry is always positive and willing to help anywhere as needed, smiling and happy,” said Suzanne.
She added, “Barb and Harry are always generous with their time and talents, consistently contributing to the betterment of our community. Barb is also a trusted advisor and a compassionate listener, providing wisdom and empathy to those in need. We want Barb and Harry to know how much we appreciate their efforts to improve our world. Their dedication and kindness have not gone unnoticed. THANK YOU Peningtons!!”
Following are quotes from others:
“They are truly a treasure to the Whitewater community: youth, students, seniors, and everyone in between.”
“She is a very gifted lady and serves others in many, many ways.”
“They are tireless in their commitment to the Whitewater kids and community.”
“They are constant public-spirited people who put the needs of others before their own, a well-deserved honor!”
“She is a very gifted lady and serves others in many, many ways. Great couple to nominate and honor!”
WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.
Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com
The UW-Whitewater Women’s Basketball team is hosting the Hoops4Hunger Event on Wednesday, December 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Kachel Gymnasium in Williams Center. As of December 5, the team’s record is 5-1.
Editor’s note: This announcement was submitted by Kendall Roquet, grad assistant, who welcomes any questions at roquetk23@uww.edu
By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Salem, Va. — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team opened play at the NCAA Division III Championship with a phenomenal three-set sweep over Emory Wednesday morning. The Warhawks took down the Eagles 25-13, 25-23, 25-19 in the Cregger Center in Salem, Virginia.
With the win, the Warhawks advance to the semifinals to face the winner of a match between Johns Hopkins and UW-Oshkosh currently underway at the Cregger Center. UWW’s semifinal match is slated for Thursday, December 5 at 4 PM CST. [Per the bracket, Johns Hopkins beat UW-O by 3-2.] The championship is being streamed exclusively on ESPN+.
UW-Whitewater set the tone early in set one to draw all of the momentum in the arena. The Warhawks followed up a 6-2 run with five consecutive points to open up an 18-9 advantage. The five-point spurt featured a pair of kills from Alayna Jansky and a huge block by Chloe Werner and Hannah Proctor. UWW capped the set with a 6-1 run to take an early match lead.
The second set was a back-and-forth affair with the teams trading the lead eight times. The battle came down to the wire in the end. With the Eagles leading 22-21, Jenna Weinfurt hammered down a kill to knot the set. After a miscue from each team, the squads were tied for the 14th time in the set, 23-23. Jansky gave the Warhawks set point with a cue and another Eagle mishap had UWW enjoying a 2-0 lead in the match.
Set three was all Whitewater from the first serve. The Warhawks scored the first three and never looked back, leading the entire way through to secure their spot in the semifinals.
Like it has been all season for UWW, defense was a key difference maker in the match. The Warhawks held the Eagles to a .000 attack percentage in the first set and a negative hitting efficiency in the third. Meanwhile, the offense was working in tandem as UWW hit .234 for the match with double digit kills in each set.
Jansky led all players with 13 kills, adding 17 digs. Weinfurt also posted a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs. Jaedynn Evans tallied 16 digs in the match.
Aubrie Krzus averaged over 10 assists a set with 37 total in the sweep. Middles Abbie Dix and Hannah Proctor combined for seven blocks in the match.
UW-Whitewater has now won their last 14 matches and is a perfect 25-0 in three-setters this season. The Warhawks are amid the program’s 11th trip to the final eight.
Date change for Scholarly scoop, now Friday, December 13th at 10:30 a.m. [The program was scheduled for Friday, December 6.] Our apologies for any inconvenience.
Protect yourself and others online: Come learn some of the ways to keep yourself and the ones you love stay connected to online safe from the scammers, hackers and data thieves. Jay will give you some basic safety skills and what to look out for while you shop and share online this holiday season. Enjoy some stories and laugh a little as he gives you some insight as to what current scams look like and how to best avoid being an online victim from someone who’s on the front lines.
Jay Jones is a UW-W grad of 2000 and earned his masters in Cybersecurity from UC-Berkley in 2023. He’s currently an IT Infrastructure manager at Douglas Dynamics in Milwaukee, a cybersecurity analyst for Public Partnerships and an adjunct professor at UW-Whitewater.
Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by Seniors in the Park. The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Esmoth from Pixabay.
Obituaries
Sally A. Schutte, age 73, of Whitewater, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 21, 2026, while at Hearthstone Memory Care in Whitewater. Sally was born on November 6, 1952, to Roy and Elsie (Rohloff) Haas. Sally married William Schutte in the spring of 2003. Sally grew up on the family farm in the Town of Hebron and graduated from Jefferson High School. She dedicated nearly her entire career to Fort HealthCare, where her hard work and versatility shone through various roles. Over the years, she served in housekeeping and medical records, Center for Dermatology. Sally … Read more
Zachariah “Zach” Schoenke, 41, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. He was born April 4, 1985, to Keith W. Schoenke and Kathleen Schoenke in Fort Atkinson, WI. He grew up and graduated from Whitewater High School in 2003. Zach worked various jobs over the years but was currently working at Cracker Barrel in Janesville. He was a big Packers Fan and liked to play fantasy football. He enjoyed reading, cooking, and watching horror shows. Zach fiercely loved his son, Lincoln, his sisters, Cami and Cary, his mom and stepdad, and his aunt Robin. He will be dearly … Read more
Carla Winn, 82, died September 5, 2026. Funeral Service will be at 12:00 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026, at East Heights United Methodist Church, 4407 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67218, followed by a burial at 2:00 PM at White Chapel Memorial Garden 1806 N Oliver Ave. Carla is preceded in death by her parents, Vivian Dwight and Wilma Lois Krehbiel; and sister, Jennifer Krehbiel. She is survived by husband, Stephen; daughter, Ashley (Clint) Gagel, of Overland Park; siblings, Paul (Kay) Krehbiel, of Socorro, NM, Lynn (Bill) Oetting, of Wichita, Ellen (John) Querner, of Wichita, Teresa Woodson, of Lawrence, KS, … Read more
Susan Miller Celebration of Life There will be a gathering of friends and acquaintances at Susan’s Farm Store to celebrate Susan’s life on Saturday, September 19th from 2-5 p.m. at N6623 Lake Lorraine Rd., Delavan, Wisconsin
Our loving mother, JoAnn E Harrop, age 95, passed away on September 11, 2026. Our sorrow is deep, but we are filled with gratitude for the many years we had with her. Even as her mind was failing, she remained strong and appreciative of all who cared for her. JoAnn was born on January 13, 1931, daughter to Fred Braun and Evelyn Braun {Storck). She was raised in Whitewater, Wisconsin by her grandparents, Otto and Edith Storck. She attended Whitewater High School and helped at the Storck tavern where she met her husband Earl C. Harrop. They married on November … Read more
Russell O. Johnson “Russ,” 88, passed away on September 4, 2026 in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Russell was born on July 12, 1938, in Janesville, Wisconsin. Russ grew up in Janesville, and after high school he joined the Air Force on May 1, 1958, serving as an aircraft mechanic until June 12, 1962. He then worked at Parker Pen in Janesville for a time, where he met his future wife, Avis. After marrying Avis Mason in April 1964, Russ worked for Gillman Manufacturing for a time, then began a career at Dana until its closing in 1980. In 1981, Russ started working … Read more
Marcia Zingg, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, at the age of 75. Marcia will be remembered for her unwavering love, remarkable strength, generous spirit, and lifelong devotion to her family. She shared 40 wonderful years of marriage with her husband, Jeffrey Zingg, who considered her not only his wife but also his best friend, business partner, and the love of his life. Together, Marcia and Jeffrey built a successful life rooted in perseverance, hard work, laughter, and love. As entrepreneurs in Whitewater, Wisconsin, they owned and managed new car franchises and … Read more
Amanda Jean Hunter was born to Ralph and Malinda (Thomas) Hunter of Whitewater, Wisconsin, on October 6, 1976. She passed away on August 4, in Fort Worth, Texas, where she lived with her family. Amanda passed peacefully in the hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. Amanda was a kind-hearted free spirit with an unmistakable hippie warmth. Generosity, spontaneity, a quick wit, a macabre sense of humor, and an open heart were traits that she embraced. She was a tireless champion of those in need, an innate characteristic that became among the best of her qualities. She proved to be a … Read more
Ellen Eichmiller, 82, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Ellen was born on September 10, 1943, in Monroe, Wisconsin, to Chester “Guy” and Irene (née Holmen) Steig. She married the love of her life, Paul Eichmiller, on December 7, 1963, and together they made their home in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Ellen spent much of her working life as a secretary at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where she formed many lasting friendships and memories. Ellen cherished her family and friends and treasured the time she spent with those closest to her. She was known for her love of … Read more
Janet Quinn, age 71, of Jefferson passed away on Thursday, August 20th. Janet was born on December 22nd, 1954 in St. Joseph, MI to Robert Mounsey and Edith Christison Mounsey. She was a granddaughter to Herbert Bragg Mounsey, Charlotte Mounsey, and Ester Christison West. She married Michael Durden in 1979 and later married Eury Quinn Jr. (J.R.) in 1988. Janet grew up in Benton Harbor, MI, and subsequently lived in New York and Arkansas before moving to Wisconsin in 2016. She was a dedicated caregiver to her disabled Mother, and worked as a custodian for various employers over the years. … Read more
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