Bad voodoo bites Wolves at D2-10 final

Freshman Jaycee Widener (8) and the Maywood Hayes-Center Wolves reached Tuesday’s D2-10 subdistrict final but lost to No. 3-seed Brady.

Diane Stamm/Wauneta Breeze

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — It felt like opening that Halloween trick-or-treat bag and finding a lemon.

A good shot of healthy momentum would have been happily accepted, but Maywood-Hayes Center could never find that during the D2-10 subdistrict volleyball title match.

Instead, No. 3-seed Brady continued its holiday magic that knocked out No. 2 Wauneta-Palisade Monday evening.

The Eagles turned Tuesday’s title match into a too-tight pirate mask with 27-25, 25-19, 25-22 victories over No. 1 Maywood-Hayes Center.

“We just never really got going tonight,” coach Kory Rohde commented as his Wolves slipped to 23-6. “Our girls had a great season. I am very proud of what they have accomplished.”

Actually, the Wolves still have an “outside shot” to reach next week’s Class D-2 state tournament in Lincoln.

They’re still listed eighth among D-2 power points (44.5172) just ahead of No. 9 Brady (43.8621).

The Brady Eagles (20-9 record) advance into Thursday’s district finals round against Mullen (16-12). Any upsets would likely end the Wolves’ state hopes.

Senior Sydney Mullen-Shaw’s eight kills led M-HC Tuesday night with junior Jayden Widener also drilling eight.

Freshman Jaycee Widener sent out 16 assits and served eight points (one ace).

The Wolves’ front line featured 11 ace blocks from sophomore Avery Johnson (four), seniors Rebel Sjeklocha (four) and Grace Koubek (three).

Koubek contributed 10 assists. The state tournament spots will be finalized by Friday.