Wolves take RPAC again with gritty win over Roughriders

Maywood-Hayes Center seniors (from left) Ashlin Broz, Kiley Hejtmanek, Mataya Roberts and Olivia Hansen after her 21 kills celebrate the RPAC finals win over Southwest at McCook's Graff Events Center Tuesday night.

McCOOK, Neb. — Brilliant on both sides best describes Tuesday’s RPAC championship match at the Graff Events Center.

How could fans not appreciate the Southwest superhero dual of seniors Caylin Barnett and Bailey Truksa?

Varsity teammates for all four seasons, they nearly delivered identically awesome title performances.

Senior libero Anaiah Seiler made 46 digs and certainly earned her RPAC champion medal from coach Shayne Lawson Tuesday evening.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

Barnett launched a match-best 22 kills along with 22 digs: Truksa was also “smoking” (not literally) with 14 kills and 10 digs after 20 vs. Cambride Monday. Junior setter Bryn Lampe was rolling out 55 assists which was nearly twice as many as an yoneon the floor.

Don’t forget the Nelms name because Kyra had 13 kills, Atleigh seven and Anikka six.

““We knew it was going to be a tough match going in and that we were going to have to battle for each point. Southwest is a solid team all the way around,” M-HC coach Shayne Lawson said. “And it came down to our girls overcoming some frustration with a few unforced errors there early on.”

Senior Ashlin Broz caught the Southwest Roughriders a little flat-footed while tipping over a point in Maywood-Hayes Center's RPAC finals win Tuesday night.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

That’s exactly what the defending champs did through a 23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 28-26 comeback win.

Among all the plays, senior Ashlin Broz’s lunging one-handed dig seemed to turn momentum for M-HC.

Remember, this is Broz who hit a game-winning shot in the 2020 RPAC basketball championship game.

Maywood-Hayes Center senior Alexis Wood keeps a tough ball in play with teammates Kiley Hejtmanek, Ashlin Broz and Mataya Roberts ready to assist Tuesday night.

She didn’t play volleyball or b-ball a year go due to injuring her knee.

Yet she returned and ran on an M-HC state medal-winning relay.

The clutch momentum suddenly returned and these Wolves were on their way to winning three consecutive tight sets.

“It was such a roller coaster ride of a game with the momentum shifting back and forth so much but we did what we could to keep it on our side,” Lawson confirmed. “We focused on each point and to control what we could on our side of the court.”

Set four really was like skydiving and pulling your parachute just in time — several times.

They couldn’t decide anything at 25 or 25.

Yet the Wolves got two more of Hansen’s 21 kills, including that ultimate clincher for a 28-26 win.

“I’m very proud of the way these girls fought against a very strong Southwest team and hope to keep this energy and momentum going into the post season,” Lawson concluded.

Post-season volleyball starts next week and the RPAC could be well-represented.

Remember, Southwest is playing Class C-2 this season do there will be no rematches with M-HC or mighty Cambridge.

The Trojans are 26-2 which these three schools are combined 73-9 this season.

Pairings will appear soon in the Gazette and at mccookgazette.com.

Leaders from both teams:

M-HC (23-1)

Kills: Olivia Hansen 21, Mataya Roberts 11, Alexis Wood 9, Maddie Doyle 5, Ashlin Broz 4. Ace serves: Olivia Hansen 3, Aniah Seiler 3, Wood 1, Roberts 1. Blocks: Alexis Wood 10 (3 stuffs), Hejtmanek 9 (1 stuff), Hansen 7 (2 stuffs). Digs: Aniah Seiler 46, Wood 33, Hansen 24, Broz 19, Hejtmanek 19. Assists: Kiley Hetmanek 28, Broz 20.

Southwest (24-6)

Kills: Caylin Barnett 22, Bailey Truksa 14, Kyra Nelms 13, Atleigh Nelms 7, Anikka Nelms 6. Ace Serves: Kyra Nelms 2, Bryn Lampe 1. Blocks: Annikka Nelms 7, Kyra Nelms 3, Lampe 2. Digs: Caylin Barnett 22, Allison VanPelt 17, Atleigh Nelms 14, Lampe 12. Assists: Bryn Lampe