Round 1 – Wayne returns Lauren Pick and wants a return to state too.
Photo of Lauren Pick, Wayne. Photo contributed. TEAM: WAYNE BLUE DEVILS CLASS: C1 LOCATION: Northeast Nebraska in Wayne County NSAA TEAM ENROLLMENT (female, grades 9-11): 104 CONFERENCE: Mid-State Conference COACH: Traci Krusemark Next up in the Hames Regional of the…
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Continue ReadingPhoto of Lauren Pick, Wayne. Photo contributed.
TEAM: WAYNE BLUE DEVILS
CLASS: C1
LOCATION: Northeast Nebraska in Wayne County
NSAA TEAM ENROLLMENT (female, grades 9-11): 104
CONFERENCE: Mid-State Conference
COACH: Traci Krusemark
Next up in the Hames Regional of the 2020 Nebraska Prep Dig Team Series is a matchup between C1 Wayne Blue Devils and D1 Johnson-Brock Eagles in the first round. To hear more about your favorite team, hop over to our Twitter feed @nebhsvolleyball to vote them to the second round until 9:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22!
Returning one of the top all-around players in 5’10 senior Lauren Pick and coming off a 29-6 record and back-to-back Class C1 State Tournament appearances, the Blue Devils look posed to make a run in the post-season again in 2020.
Coach Traci Krusemark comments on the 2019 squad, “Our team worked hard to play great defense and to serve receive well. We weren’t very tall but overcame that with tough defense and few ball-handling errors. Most of our team had been playing together since elementary school. They worked extremely hard and won the conference regular-season and tournament titles against some tough conference foes that also qualified for the state tournament.”
As Wayne has some key positions to fill, the 1-2 punch with Pick and junior setter Kiara Krusemark Kiara Krusemark 5'3" | S Wayne | 2022 State NE are a definite starting point. But, it all starts with a pass and that’s the job for junior libero Sydney Redden Sydney Redden 5'4" | DS/L Wayne | 2022 State NE .
Returning players:
⇒Lauren Pick | 2021 | 5’10 MB | UNCOMMITTED – Has visited USF, USD, SDSU, and Creighton; Looking for, a school where she is comfortable and gets along with the team
HUDL Highlights
HUDL Highlights X 2
Club: Nebraska Crush
2019 Awards: All-State player, in the top for C-1 hitters for kills
2019 Stats:
Kills/Set, Total, Hitting Percentage: 5.58, 550, .296
Serving Percentage: 96.4
Digs/Set, Total: 3.7, 356
Receptions/Set, Total: 2.4, 226
Lauren through her high school career, “As a freshman, you go to practice feeling really intimidated by the upperclassmen, but the upperclassmen that I have played with were always welcoming to me. Each year I grow in a certain area of the sport, and I have gotten stronger which helps as well. I have not switched positions, but I am able to play any position that my coach needs me.”
[player_tooltip player_id="88291" first="Kiara" last="Krusemark"], Wayne. Photo contributed.⇒
Kiara Krusemark
Kiara
Krusemark
5'3" | S
Wayne | 2022
State
NE
| 2022 | 5’5 Setter | UNCOMMITTED
Club: Nebraska Crush
2019 Awards: in the top for C-1 setters for assists
2019 Stats:
Kills/Set, Total, Hitting Percentage:
Serving Percentage: 96.7
Assists/Set, Total: 10.7, 1013
Kiara’s memories on the court, “Competing in the state tournament my freshman and sophomore year were definitely memorable moments, but winning the conference championship in 2019 was my favorite. Everyone on my team played lights out, and it was so much fun to be able to win a conference championship with my team for the first time in school history.”
⇒
Sydney Redden
Sydney
Redden
5'4" | DS/L
Wayne | 2022
State
NE
| 2022 | 5’4 Libero | UNCOMMITTED
Club:
MVP United
2019 Stats:
Digs/Set, Total: 4.1, 389
Receptions/Set, Total: 2.8, 267
Sydney comments, “I haven’t really changed my positions much. I’m 5’4, so most of the time you will see me in the back row. Freshman year I made varsity, played a little bit, and learned what I needed to do to start sophomore year. Sophomore year came and I started as and outside. Some games I would play outside all the way around, and other games I would play the back row. From freshman year to sophomore year, I learned what being a leader was. Being vocal on the court is one of the best traits as a team or player could have.”
⇒Emily Longe | 2021 | 5’9 MB
HUDL Highlights
2019 Stats:
Kills/Set, Total, Hitting Percentage: 1.1, 54, .184
Emily looks to become an all-around player, “Since freshman year I have learned so much. I have learned that to have a great team you not only have to be a great player, but you also have to have faith and connection within your teammates. I came into high school volleyball as an outside hitter; I had played this position my whole life. Coach has made me a better player by allowing me to be an all-around hitter. I have learned if you want to be good and play on a team you have to be flexible and be where your team needs you to be.”
Want more information on the Wayne Blue Devils? Vote for them on Twitter @nebhsvolleyball to push them to round 2!