None of the members of the Platteville volleyball team were alive the last time the Hillmen got to the state tournament.

Twenty years after Platteville defeated Waupun to win the 1994 Division 2 title, the Hillmen will go to the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon to play Waukesha Catholic Memorial in the WIAA Girls Volleyball Championships state Division 2 semifinals Friday at 4 p.m.

The winner will play Tomahawk or Waupun for the state title Saturday at 2 p.m. The finals will be televised on Fox Sports Wisconsin.

A Community Pep Rally and sendoff will be held at Platteville High School Thursday at 8:15 a.m. The event is open to the public.

The team will then travel to Platteville Middle School, Neal Wilkins Early Learning Center and Westview Elementary School before heading to Green Bay.

Tickets for state will be on sale at the PHS office through Thursday for $8.

The Hillmen’s state trip means that Platteville Public Schools will end classes early Friday.

Students riding the fan buses to Green Bay will be dismissed at 10:45 a.m., with the rest of PHS students dismissed at 11 a.m. The fan buses will leave at 11:15 a.m. Other students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m.

The fan buses will cost $20 for students and $30 for adults, including tournament admission. Non-high-school students must be accompanied by an adult on the bus. Students and guardians must sign up at the PHS office by Thursday at noon.

If Platteville wins, fan buses will leave from PHS Saturday at 7:30 a.m.

T-shirts are available in the PHS Hillmen Outlet Store and at PMS Thursday from 11:10 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. for $10 for sizes from youth small to adult XL, with 2XL costing $12 and 3XL costing $14.

Southwestern too: Southwestern School District schools will be closed Friday for the Wildcats’ trip to state. Southwestern will play Hilbert in the Division 4 semifinals Fridy at 9 a.m. The Division  4 championship is Saturday at 2 p.m.