Meet and Greet Nebraska Class C-1 State Volleyball: Wayne
Listed as the #1 goal for many of the teams involved, winning the Mid-State Conference proves to be a challenge year after year. A feat that #4 seed Wayne (29-5) never accomplished until this season. Beating C-1 State #8 seed…
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Continue ReadingListed as the #1 goal for many of the teams involved, winning the Mid-State Conference proves to be a challenge year after year. A feat that #4 seed Wayne (29-5) never accomplished until this season. Beating C-1 State #8 seed Battle Creek (28-5) and C-1 State #7 seed Norfolk Catholic (23-6) in the regular season and Battle Creek again in the conference championship, Wayne also won the regular season conference title.
And then, the Blue Devils, in one of the most challenging C-1 sub-districts, faced Battle Creek again resulting in a 5 set loss. With the aid of a wild card, Wayne beat Chase County (24-8), 3-1, in the district final to punch a ticket to the C-1 State Tournament.
Head coach Traci Krusemark in her 8th year at Wayne, leads her team to Lincoln on Thursday to face #5 seed Broken Bow (32-2) at 3:30 at Lincoln North Star. With a win, the Blue Devils will face #1 seed St. Paul (33-0) or #8 seed Battle Creek (28-5) on Friday at 1:00 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in the semifinals.
The Blue Devils 95.7% team serving percentage ranks the highest of the C-1 tournament field. No player serves lower than 93%.
Kiara Krusemark – Setter, Sophomore, 971 assists, 97% serving, started as a freshman
Lauren Pick – MH, Junior, 2018 Class C-1 Honorable Mention, 523 kills, 96.3% serving, 31 blocks, 341 digs, 3 year starter, school record 36 kills in one match
Emily Armstrong – OH, Senior, 2018 Class C-1 Honorable Mention, 261 kills, 99% serving, 408 digs, 330 serve receptions, 4 year starter
Hailey Backer – Libero, Senior, 32 aces, 485 digs, 448 serve receptions
Sydney Redden -OH/DS, Sophomore, 34 aces at 94%, 377 digs, 251 serve receptions, great passer and defensive player
Frankie Klausen – RS, Senior, 203 digs, helps keep everyone calm and organized
Erin O’Reilly – Senior, 96.7% serving
The competitive spirit will be high in Lincoln this weekend! But, really, it all comes down to these young ladies being great stewards of the sport and we appreciate them for that. Volleyball proves to be a big part of their life, but read on and you might learn a little more about these athletes. Their ever-thinking minds are amazing!
Lets meet the Blue Devil seniors:
If you could mic up anyone on your team who would it be and what would they say?
Emily Armstrong – Emily Longe, she was say something she is thinking which is usually funny
Frankie Klausen – Hailey Backer, good job guys
Erin O’Reilly – Lauren Pick and she would yell something to get pumped up.
Hailey Backer – Emily Longe would be encouraging everyone and definitely laughing a ton
What does coach tell you to do time after time?
Emily – “Get to the sideline”
Erin – High toss when serving
Favorite go to app and why
Emily – TIK TOK
Frankie – Snap chat.. easy to take pregame pics
Erin – Twitter because my timeline is filled with jokes, memes, and gifs.
Hailey – tiktok
Pregame superstitions
Emily – Singing the National Anthem aloud with Syd
Frankie – Dancing to a certain song
Erin – We have to listen to 2 specific songs before every game.
Hailey – I wear the same headband and have to chew a piece of peppermint gum EVERY game
Pregame music
Frankie – Press
Erin – Hot shower, 223, The Git Up, and UCLA
Hailey – Panini
How many pictures do you take of yourself with your phone a day?
Emily – 15+
Erin – One or two
Hailey – Maybe 10
Has anyone asked for your autograph?
Emily – No
Frankie – Yes
Erin – No
Hailey – No
Who was your volleyball role model and why?
Emily – Tali Fredrickon -WSC
Erin – Jordan Larson because she came from a small town and made it big
Hailey – my sister Meagan because she had a passion for the game and always encourages me to do my best… and she’s a stud
Favorite drill in practice
Emily – Deep court exchange
Frankie – Deep court
Erin – Deep court exchange
Hailey – deep court exchange
Least favorite drill in practice
Erin – Butterfly serve receive
Hailey – running
What other sports do you participate in high school?
Emily – Track
Frankie – Basketball, Track
Erin – Track
Hailey – Club Volleyball, Track
Do you plan to play volleyball in college?
Emily – No
Frankie – No
Erin – No
Hailey – Yes
Is your dad oblivious to the rules of volleyball? What is the best advice your dad has given you?
Emily – Yes, “Just put the ball down hard on the other side of the net”
Frankie – No, Have fun and win
Erin – No
Hailey – No, Just go out there and have fun
What have you worked on extra hard this year to improve your volleyball skills?
Emily – Playing as one team and not individually
Frankie – My vertical
Erin – Passing
Hailey – Playing as a team
You make up the question and answer it here. Be creative!!!
Emily – Are we excited for state? YES!!!!
Frankie – Are we ready for state? Oh ya!!!
Erin – Are we pumped up and ready to win???? Yesssss sir
Hailey – Are we ready for another year at state?? You know it!
GOOD LUCK TO THE WAYNE BLUE DEVILS THIS WEEK!!!