Power teams prevail in area volleyball

Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Area volleyball teams didn’t lose their winning momentum Tuesday night as subdistrict tournaments are now less than one week away. Senior Destiny Beacham (left) and the Wauneta-Palisade Broncos swept through a match at Wallace
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

Fists were flying across the region as clobberin’ time continued for any volleyballs drifting into range of area teams Tuesday.

“We came out in our home tournament ready to fight!” coach Jessi Thalheim declared about Southern Valley’s home invite on Saturday.

So much for resting on the laurels of a recent RPAC tournament title.

The Eagles soared to 22-5 this season by blasting Bertrand, North Platte St. Pat’s and Arapahoe while winning that home tourney.

Bertrand (17-9 record) nearly knocked down the Eagles during their title match, but S.V. prevailed 25-23 and 25-16.

Sawyer Quinn’s 17 digs, 15 assists from setter Maggie Bose and sophomore Lauryn Samuelson drilled 10 kills to lead the latest championship effort.

“Bertrand brought the fight once again and challenged us,” Thalheim commented with almost every sentence featuring an exclamation point. “The girls fought again and it proved to be one of our best serving games. We have an amazing group of seniors and what a way to send them off at their last home volleyball event of the year!”

Southern Valley hit the road and found another tough challenge from 13-12 Franklin Flyers.

The Eagles took those first two sets (25-23, 25-9) but lost those next two (25-19, 28-26) before a final 15-13 victory.

Other Gazette-area teams featured girls who just want to have fun while adding more volleyball wins.

Maywood-Hayes Center matched the Eagles’ 22-5 record when they downed Hitchcock County 25-6, 25-17, 25-23.

Senior Rebel Sjecklocha served a super 19-for-19 with 16 points in her final match.

Jaycee Widener wasn’t far off the pace (15 for 16, 13 points) and delivered 14 assists.

Senior Grace Koubek added 13 assists mostly to powerhouse hitters Avery Johnson (nine kills), Jayden Widener (eight) and Sydney Mullen-Shaw (seven).

Don’t forget the 10 stuff blocks against a talented 14-11 Hitchcock team. Koubek and Johnson each “aced” three.

“This was by far one of the best games we have played this year!” coach Kory Rohde commented with another exclamation point. “We really stepped it up defensively and at the net. I am so proud of our team!”

Wauneta-Palisade also proudly picked up win No. 18 (18-5) thanks to a 25-19, 25-20, 25-14 triumph at Wallace Tuesday night.

No individual stats were obtained. The Broncos smoothly followed up a memorable five-set victory over Hitchcock’s Falcons last week.

The Dundy County-Stratton Tigers surprised W-P during RPAC tournament play last week.

Coach Bill Wilson predicted his team would get stronger throughout this season. Though they dropped a five-set RPAC final to Southern Valley, the Tigers quickly resumed momentum with a 25-21, 25-16 sweep of Southwest Tuesday evening.

Juniors Grace Frederick and Adeline Krutsinger teamed for 16 kills led by Frederick’s nine.

Senior setter Allie Behlke sent out 15 assists in the Tigers’ 16th victory (16-13) this season.

Southwest (3-21 record) did sweep Medicine Valley 25-17, 25-13 in this triangular at Curtis. No results were obtained from the DC-S vs. Med Valley match.

One more team making a good late-season push would certainly be the Arapahoe Warriors.

Arapahoe (8-17 record) earned its fifth October win, playing five full sets to fight off the visiting Loomis Wolves Tuesday night.

Senior Melonie Myers and junior Joslyn North both jolted the Wolves’ defense with 11 kills apiece.

The Warriors also prevailed thanks to six double-digit diggers on defense. Meyers made 18 followed by senior Alayna Whipple’s 17.

Senior Morgan Deisley, North and sophomore Terri Hilker made 14 each. Sophomore Caitlin McCorkle had 10.

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