The sound of squeaking sneakers, bouncing balls and cheers echoed throughout the North Division High School gym, 1011 W. Center St., over the weekend as student athletes from across the city competed in Milwaukee Recreation’s Middle School Citywide Coed Volleyball Tournament.

A student from Lloyd Barbee Montessori School dives for the ball.

A student from I.D.E.A.L. School serves the ball.

A student from Highland Community School bumps the ball.

The single-elimination tournament brought together middle school volleyball teams that participated in Milwaukee Recreation winter youth sports league. The tournament was held on Thursday and Friday culminating in championship matches on Sunday, March 8.

Supporters cheer on their team during a volleyball tournament at North Division High School.

Parents, coaches and supporters filled the stands, applauding the players for their efforts as teams advanced through the bracket in pursuit of a city title.

A student from Anna F. Doerfler School bumps the ball.

A student from Morse Middle School for the Gifted and Talented plays.

A student from Woodlands School gets into the action.

A student from MacDowell Montessori School serves.

The tournament serves as a capstone to the winter volleyball season, giving young athletes an opportunity to compete in a high-stakes setting after weeks of league play.

Spectators purchased tickets in advance, and multiple courts were used during earlier rounds before the final matches moved to the main court.

A student from Wedgewood Park International School .

A student from HOPE Christian School Semper.

A student from George Washington Carver Academy serves.

Students from Milwaukee School of Languages cheer on their team.

A student from Lloyd Barbee Montessori School serves the ball.

The four final teams in the tournament were Story School, Maryland Avenue Montessori School, Nativity Jesuit Academy and Fernwood Montessori School.

Story School secured the citywide title on Sunday, closing out a weekend of competitive matchups and school pride with a two sets to one victory over Nativity Jesuit Academy.

Students from HOPE Christian School Semper celebrate scoring a point.

Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.

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Set, spike, celebrate: Milwaukee Recreation hosts citywide volleyball tournament

by Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
March 8, 2026

<h1>Set, spike, celebrate: Milwaukee Recreation hosts citywide volleyball tournament</h1>
<p class="byline">by Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service <br />March 8, 2026</p>

<p>The sound of squeaking sneakers, bouncing balls and cheers echoed throughout the North Division High School gym, 1011 W. Center St., over the weekend as student athletes from across the city competed in Milwaukee Recreation’s Middle School Citywide Coed Volleyball Tournament.</p>
<div class="wp-block-columns alignfull is-not-stacked-on-mobile">
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G86A7107-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1708&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-148875" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A student from Lloyd Barbee Montessori School dives for the ball.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G86A6969-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1708&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-148878" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A student from I.D.E.A.L. School serves the ball.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G86A7051-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1708&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-148868" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A student from Highland Community School bumps the ball.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<p>The single-elimination tournament brought together middle school volleyball teams that participated in Milwaukee Recreation winter youth sports league. The tournament was held on Thursday and Friday culminating in championship matches on Sunday, March 8.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G84A9868-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1708&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-148870" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Supporters cheer on their team during a volleyball tournament at North Division High School. <br /></figcaption></figure>
<p>Parents, coaches and supporters filled the stands, applauding the players for their efforts as teams advanced through the bracket in pursuit of a city title. </p>
<div class="wp-block-columns alignfull is-not-stacked-on-mobile">
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G86A7123-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-148879" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A student from Anna F. Doerfler School bumps the ball.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G86A7120-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-148867" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A student from Morse Middle School for the Gifted and Talented plays.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G86A6961-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-148871" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A student from Woodlands School gets into the action.<br /></figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G84A9865-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-148876" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A student from MacDowell Montessori School serves.</figcaption></figure>
<p>The tournament serves as a capstone to the winter volleyball season, giving young athletes an opportunity to compete in a high-stakes setting after weeks of league play.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Spectators purchased tickets in advance, and multiple courts were used during earlier rounds before the final matches moved to the main court.</p>
<div class="wp-block-columns alignfull is-not-stacked-on-mobile">
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G86A7147-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-148869" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A student from Wedgewood Park International School&nbsp;.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G86A7070-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-148880" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A student from HOPE Christian School Semper.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G86A7186-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-148873" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong>&nbsp;</strong>A student from George Washington Carver Academy serves.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G84A9910-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1708&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-148872" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Students from Milwaukee School of Languages cheer on their team.</figcaption></figure>
<div class="wp-block-columns alignfull is-not-stacked-on-mobile">
<div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-bottom" style="flex-basis:33.33%">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G86A7088-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-148865" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A student from Lloyd Barbee Montessori School serves the ball.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:66.66%">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G86A7132-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C2048&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-148866" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A student from Anna F. Doerfler School bumps the ball.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<p>The four final teams in the tournament were Story School, Maryland Avenue Montessori School, Nativity Jesuit Academy and Fernwood Montessori School.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Story School secured the citywide title on Sunday, closing out a weekend of competitive matchups and school pride with a two sets to one victory over Nativity Jesuit Academy.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/G86A6995-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1708&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-148874" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Students from HOPE Christian School Semper celebrate scoring a point.</figcaption></figure>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
<p><em>Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between </em><a href="https://www.catchlight.io/local"><em>CatchLight Local </em></a><em>and </em><a href="https://www.reportforamerica.org/"><em>Report for America</em></a><em>.</em></p></p>
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Set, spike, celebrate: Milwaukee Recreation hosts citywide volleyball tournament

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