Movers and Shakers in new classes this season!
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We had some classification shake-ups this season!! Class C1 added the 2019 Class C2 State Champion Grand Island Central Catholic and Runner Up Hastings St. Cecelia and 2019 Class B state qualifier Sidney. Class C2 added 2019 state qualifiers in…
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Continue ReadingWe had some classification shake-ups this season!! Class C1 added the 2019 Class C2 State Champion Grand Island Central Catholic and Runner Up Hastings St. Cecelia and 2019 Class B state qualifier Sidney. Class C2 added 2019 state qualifiers in C1 Norfolk Catholic and D1 Overton. And then the champions of Classes D1 and D2 flip-flopped with BDS now in D1 and Diller Odell in D2. D1 also added 2019 C2 state qualifier Summerland. D2 added 2019 D1 state qualifier CWC.
How are they doing after the (almost) conclusion of subdistricts?
C1
⇒Grand Island Central Catholic – 24-3, 4th in wild card points
The Crusaders graduated a lot of talent from their 2019 C2 state championship team, but they definitely reloaded. Freshman setter Carolyn Maser Carolyn Maser 6'1" | S Grand Island Central Catholic | 2024 State NE (6’0, 2024) uses all of her front row weapons in Chloe Cloud Chloe Cloud 6'2" | MB Grand Island Central Catholic | 2022 State NE (6’1, 2022), Evan Glade Evan Glade 5'11" | OH Millard West | 2023 State NE (5’9, 2023), Gracie Woods Gracie Woods 6'0" | OH Grand Island CC | 2023 State NE (5’11, 2023), Lucy Ghaifan Lucy Ghaifan 6'1" | MB Grand Island Central Catholic | 2023 State NE (6’0, 2023) and Rylie Rice (5’9, 2022). Hailey Asche Hailey Asche 5'3" | DS/L Grand Island Central Catholic | 2021 State NE (5’3, 2021) takes care of the defense in the back row.
Grand Island Central Catholic and St. Paul (31-0, 2nd in wild card points) faced off for the first time this season in the subdistrict finals with St. Paul winning in five crazy sets! The Crusaders won the first two sets only to succumb to the undefeated Wildcats. Even with the loss, GICC will be seeded in the district finals with a wild card.
⇒Hastings St. Cecelia – 23-9, 17th in wild card points
Setter Jill Parr Jill Parr St. Cecelia | NE (2022) leads class C1 with 10.6 assists/set and looks to Katharine Hamburger (5’11, 2021) and Addie Kirkegaard (6’2, 2022) in the front row. Erin Sheehy Erin Sheehy St. Cecelia | NE (2022) defends the back row.
The Bluehawks lost in the first round of subdistricts to Hastings Adams Central (21-11, 14th in WC) and will be waiting to hear if their season will continue. Kearney Catholic (29-5, 3rd in WC) defeated Hastings Adams Central (21-11, 13th in WC) in the sub finals.
⇒Sidney – 24-5, 8th in wild card points
In a 2-setter system, setters Brynna Ross (5’3, 2022) and Reagan Biesecker (5’10, 2021) have options in Karley Sylvester (6’0, 2021), Alecca Campbell (5’8, 2022), Emma Wintholz (5’10, 2021), and Emilee Wieser (5’7, 2022). Rheagan Stanley Rheagan Stanley 5'3" | DS/L Sidney | 2023 State NE (5’3, 2023) covers the back row in serve receive and digs.
In the C1-12 subdistrict, Sidney and Ogallala (23-10) have split and will face each other in the finals on Wednesday. Both teams will advance to district finals, one on a wild card.
C2
⇒Norfolk Catholic – 22-7, 2nd in wild card points
With a good core of hitters in Chanatee Robles (5’10, 2023) and Mary Fennessy (6’0, 2021), a veteran setter in Carly Marshall Carly Marshall 5'7" | OH Norfolk Catholic | 2021 State NE (5’7, 2021), and back-row defenders Taylor Kautz (5’5, 2021) and Anna Neuhalfen (5’8, 2021) returning, the Knights added in Addison Corr (5’9, 2023), Avery Yosten Avery Yosten 6'1" | MB Norfolk Catholic | 2024 State NE (6’1, 2024), and Alli Brungardt Alli Brungardt 5'6" | OH Norfolk Catholic | 2024 State NE (2024) to the rotation.
Wow! The Class C2-6 subdistrict was loaded with 3 out of 4 of the top teams in wild card standings going into the tournament. The Knights beat Clarkson/Leigh (20-7, 4th in WC) in the first round, 25-23, 25-21, 25-19, only to face Lutheran High Northeast (32-1, 1st in WC) in the subdistrict finals. Norfolk Catholic has dropped two games to Lutheran High Northeast this season. Lutheran High Northeast defeated Norfolk Catholic 3-1 in the finals. Norfolk Catholic and Clarkson/Leigh will enter district finals on a wild card.
⇒Overton – 25-2, 3rd in wild card pointsJ
With the 1-2 punch of middles Haley Fleischman (6’0, 2021) and Rachel Ecklund Rachel Ecklund 5'10" | MB Overton | 2021 State NE (5’11, 2021), add in Kenzie Scheele Kenzie Scheele 5'7" | OH Overton eagles | 2022 NE (5’7, 2022), JoLee Ryan JoLee Ryan 5'9" | OH Overton | 2024 State NE (2024), and Anna Brennan Anna Brennan 5'6" | OH Overton | 2021 State NE (5’6, 2021). JoLee and Anna run a 6-2 and swing away in the front row too. The Eagles have big wins over Class C1 Kearney Catholic (28-5) and C2 South Loup (21-7) during the regular season. Their only two losses are to D1 Pleasanton (28-0)
Overton beat Southern Valley (9-19) in the first round and Elm Creek (19-8) in the sub finals to move onto district finals on Saturday.
D1
⇒BDS (Bruning Davenport Shickley) – 27-3, 2nd in wild card points
As one of the strongest players in the state (and uncommitted!), Macy Kamler Macy Kamler 5'9" | OH BDS | 2021 State NE (5’10, 2021) can swing from any location on the court. But don’t put anything past Mariah Sliva Mariah Sliva 5'9" | MB BDS | 2022 State NE (2022), that came on strong last season in the state finals. Other returning players for the Eagles include Taylor Sliva Taylor Sliva 5'8" | RS BDS | 2022 NE (2022), Jordan Bolte Jordan Bolte 5'6" | S BDS | 2021 State NE (5’5, 2021), Taryn Fiala Taryn Fiala 5'6" | OH BDS | 2022 NE (5’6, 2022), and Malory Dickson (5’10, 2023)
BDS beat Meridian, 3-1, in the subdistrict finals to advance to district finals.
⇒Summerland (Clearwater-Ewing-Orchard) – 21-8, 11th in wild card points
Setter Kyra Nilson looks to Brenna Wagner (5’9, 2021) and Hadley Cheatum (5’8, 2023) in the front row. Avery Cheatum (5’9, 2021) and Adyson Mlnarik (2024) hold down the back row. The Bobcats serve 94.2% as a team.
Summerland defeated Neligh/Oakdale (11-17), 3-0 in the first round, and lost to Elgin Public/Pope John (18-9). They wait for a wild card.
D1
⇒Diller Odell – 29-1, 1st in wild card points
With sisters Addison Heidemann (setter, 5’10, 2021, Iowa St. Recruit) and Karli Heidemann Karli Heidemann 6'1" | OH Diller-Odell | 2023 State #124 Nation NE (hitter, 5’11, 2023) connecting, add in Madelyn Meyerle Madelyn Meyerle 5'11" | OH Diller-Odell | 2022 State NE (5’11, 2022), Elecea Saathoff (5’8, 2023), and Ava Lovitt Ava Lovitt 5'5" | DS/L Diller-Odell | 2021 State NE (5’5, 2021) for a very strong Class D1 team!
Coach Reba Hestermann sums it up best, “It has been different switching from D1 to D2. We have been working hard each and every game to make ourselves better to get to our end goal which is the state tournament. In my mind, I have a very balanced team in which each person does their role on the floor. Of course, we have some key players but everyone is committed to their role. Addison has committed to Iowa State but my other senior on my team is looking into some college volleyball as well but is undecided where at this point. Our team is really committed to making things happen on the floor and will push ourselves to be the best that we can be. Our motto is “Chase the Feeling”. We want the feeling we had last year and this team will give 110% to do it. I remind them to never waste an opportunity to compete regardless who is on the side of the net.”
Diller Odell defeated Falls City Sacred Heart, their only loss of the season, in the subdistrict finals, 3-1, to advance to district finals.
⇒CWC (Chambers/Wheeler Central) – 30-1, 2nd in wild card points
With their only loss is to Class C1 Wayne, CWC breezed to a sub-district championship with wins over St. Mary’s and Twin Loop.