Nebraska State Volleyball – Sights and Sounds of Day 2
WE MADE IT TO THE FINALS!! A feat that many didn’t know if it would happen in the crazy year of 2020. The NSAA and Pinnacle Bank Arena switched some things up for the tournament this year with all games…
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Continue ReadingWE MADE IT TO THE FINALS!! A feat that many didn’t know if it would happen in the crazy year of 2020.
The NSAA and Pinnacle Bank Arena switched some things up for the tournament this year with all games at PBA rather than Lincoln high schools during the first round and the tournament was extended to four days rather than three. Classes A, B, and C1 played the first round on Wednesday, and C2, D1, and D2 on Thursday. All semifinals on Friday. And the finals on Saturday!
With two courts and three different sessions each day, fans could see two games and four teams each session, and then the arena would be cleared as PBA staff worked diligently to clean and sanitize. Many workers looked like “Ghostbusters” with their backpacks on spraying the seats down. They taped off seats and rows to aid in social distancing. How many rolls of yellow painters tape do you think was used?
With the changes, the atmosphere was still on par for a great Nebraska State Volleyball Tournament!
The Fan Spirit Award
With the limits on attendance and state football playoffs on Friday at many of the participating schools, the fans were still fun to watch. The usual chants back and forth between student sections of competing teams existed, but parent watching is great. The Lincoln Lutheran dads win my spirit award. As I sat there, I wondered who’s dad was who… The first was a shorter guy. Because of height, I am guessing Raegan Holle Raegan Holle 5'5" | DS/L Lincoln Lutheran | 2022 State NE , the Warriors 5’5 libero. The next three had letters on their shirt to spell out A-C-E. Lutheran has many players that start with vowels. So the A could go with Ashlyn DeBoer Ashlyn DeBoer 5'10" | S Lincoln Lutheran | 2022 State NE , Addi Ernstemeyer, Abi Wohlgemuth, or Abby Wachal Abby Wachal 5'10" | OH Lincoln Lutheran | 2023 State NE . The E with Erika Young. And then the C. This was the dad that did not have a mask big enough to hide behind with every Lutheran serve. These dads cheered on their daughters during every single rally in the five-setter against St. Paul.
The Player Spunk Award
Molly Ramsey (2021, 5’4, Libero) of Norris wins the spunk award. The Kansas State recruit is not only the leader in the back row of the Titans, but is also the first to REALLY celebrate a kill by her attackers. Keep an eye on her during their championship match against Skutt Catholic! You go Molly!
The WOW Award
With numerous Nebraska and Division 1 recruits playing in the arena, fans just sat and watched Omaha Skutt Catholics Lindsey Krause (2021, 6’4, OH) in awe. If it wasn’t for the masks, we would’ve seen some jaws drop. Nebraska fans should be and are excited to see this player in red next fall! Don’t get me wrong, Krause has amazing teammates around her that keep everything in sync, but to see her attack the ball at a very high point and bounce it at the 10′ line, is AMAZING! The Class B Finals will match up Norris and Skutt Catholic tonight at 7:00. A game that fans have been waiting for. Will this be Skutt’s 6th consecutive title or will the Titans prevail??
The injured List
Unfortunately, fans saw some injuries during the day. With a few points needed to win the game, #11 Aubrey Herbolsheimer Aubrey Herbolsheimer 6'0" | MB Lutheran High Northeast | 2021 NE (2021, 6’0, MH) of Lutheran High Northeast went down after a play at the net. #3 Kendra Petersen (2024, 5’9, OH), with only three kills on varsity, stepped up. Although she didn’t touch the ball, she played the role with poise and helped push her team into the finals.
In the fifth set of the St. Paul Vs Lincoln Lutheran game, I believe it was St. Paul’s Josie Jakubowski and Ashlyn Lukasiewicz Ashlyn Lukasiewicz St. Paul | NE (2021, 5’11, MH) colliding and Ashlyn suffered a large cut above her eye. As the court was cleaned up, the Wildcats regained their composure and Camryn Morgan Camryn Morgan 5'9" | DS/L St. Paul | 2021 NE (2021, 5’9, DS) stepped in and helped guide her team to a win.
As Ashland-Greenwood and Omaha Skutt, were playing in the semifinals, Saige Craven (2021, 5’7), one of the setters in Ashlands 6-2 system, went down with an ankle or foot injury in the first set. The Jays switched to a 5-1 system and Anna Vavak (2021, 5’6, DS) finished the set while Craven was taped. Craven was back in set 2.
Well wishes to those injured for a quick recovery!
What was missed
The bands… It’s always interesting how bands compete for air time with two games running simultaneously, but it works. The playlist at PBA was great, but still doesn’t bring it like a high school band.
Paper tickets. Not sure that I personally missed them, but just different. Do you hit validate before you go to the arena to see the tickets or not? NO, don’t hit validate until you see the gate attendant. For those that don’t do technology very much, there is a learning curve to paperless tickets – and nothing against grandparents – we want you in the stands watching your grandchildren!!
Good job on a great season and good luck to all teams in the finals! WE MADE IT!