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Young McCook spikers tangle with unbeaten Tigers
McCOOK, Neb. — They were jumpy, noisy, laughing and diving all over the place Thursday night.
What better ways for the young McCook Bison volleyball team to relax their new head coach?
“I was a little nervous but now I’m so proud,” Aubrey Feeney declared about her first chance to lead McCook’s varsity volleyball team into a match against undefeated Hastings.
Hastings left the McCook High gym still unbeaten at 5-0 with a 25-13. 25-12, 25-12 win.
Yet neither coach was making too much about this final score.
“Honestly, I think they (McCook) are going to have a nice year,” veteran Hastings coach Dave Hepner said.
“Scrappy, scrappy, scrappy. They didn’t have the blocks obviously, but they did a nice job of adjusting,” he added as McCook did eventually make seven blocks along with 51 digs. “I thought their coach did a great job of making some adjustments and they did get some blocks. Two in a row.”
Not an easy task considering Hastings brought one of Class B’s best in 6’ senior Cecilia Beahm.
Beahm blasted 15 kills past the Bison — but that was just barely above her average of 14.25 (57 total) through Hastings’ first four wins.
The Tigers also served 12 aces, added six stuff blocks and made an amazing 83 digs. Sophomore Darcy Sealy totaled a match-high 23 to highlight another high-level Tiger performance.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Hepner confirmed. “Oh we missed a few serves but we’re an aggressive serving team. We need to block a little better...a coach can always find a few things.”
Feeney found more than a few efforts to praise about her young Bison team.
Remember, McCook only returned one starter (senior Jayceea Hanson)and three others with much varsity experience from last year’s school record-setting district finalist team.
Hanson drilled a team-high eight kills while junior Mackenzie Smith smashed the other four of McCook’s 12 total.
They were also 1-2 on blocks (Hanson four, Smith three) while sophomore Tiara Matson made two.
However, exciting Bison plays were everywhere when checking freshman starter Payton Doucet’s 18 digs and another 16 from senior Robin Grigg.
Coach got an extra-close look at one memorable Doucet sideline save.
“She almost tackled me on that one,” Feeney admitted with a laugh. “Payton’s a gamer like I’ve said before.
Sophomore Charity Malleck added seven more digs and just about every other Bison made an impact even if not prominent on the stat sheet.
“I had a lot of young girls that I did not expect tonight step up to make perfect passes, huge hits and blocks,” Feeney said. “Plus the team unity is some of the best I’ve ever seen for Bison volleyball.”
“I was a little nervous but now I’m just proud,” she concluded. “I’m ready for the next practice, the next game and this season.”
The Bison varsity are scheduled to play Tuesday night against Ogallala.