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Republican Valley aims for 'six-peat'; Cambridge trojans take on Ravenna
When the Nebraska state volleyball tournament begins Friday in Lincoln, two area teams will be marking back-to-back appearances, although in different classes this year.
With 12 state appearances under their belt, the Republican Valley Mustangs will be trying to extend their state title streak to six straight.
The Mustangs won Class D1 in 2002 with a 3-set win over Falls City Sacred Heart.
RV (23-2) received the top seed in Class D1 and will play Lawrence-Nelson (19-6) at 2 p.m. Friday at Lincoln East High School.
The winner will play at 8:30 p.m. against the winner ofthe Exeter-Milligan/Elm Creek game.
The Mustangs' two losses this year have been at the hands of Elm Creek, including the district final Friday night.
Along with a possible rematch with Elm Creek, the Mustangs will have a tough road to the state title this year with two top D2 teams now in their class.
The Mustangs are in the same class as 21-1 Paxton, which won the state title in Class D2 in 2002.
Orchard, undefeated this season and ranked first by the Omaha World-Herald, also returns to the state tourney after losing to Paxton in the championship game in 2002.
"We've got two defending champions and the D-2 runner-up (Orchard) all going to state in our class," Republican Valley Coach Dennis Troester told the Omaha World Herald.
"It's going to be another uphill battle."
Outside hitter Caitlin Schaffert has proven tough at the net with 212 kills and from the service line with 40 aces.
Savannah Noyes, a 6-2 junior, is close behind in the middle-hitter position with 205 kills.
Senior Jaime Coolidge has passed the century mark with 106 spikes. Setter Brittany McConville, a 5-8 junior, is at 429 set assists in the season.
Cambridge, 19-10 and ranked ninth in Class C2 by the World-Herald, opens the state tournament Friday at 11 a.m. against a 27-1 Ravenna team at Waverly.
The winner will play at 7 p.m. against the Elkhorn Valley-Wood River winner.
Cambridge returns to Lincoln for a second-straight year, moving up to Class C2 from Class D1 last year.
The Trojans dropped their first match in 2002 to Adams-Freeman.
Cambridge last won a state volleyball title in 1993 in Class C1. This is the fourth trip to the state volleyball tourney for Cambridge.
The Trojans are led this season by 5-9 senior Amy Edgerton, who has notched 210 kills and 41 service aces.
Also reaching triple digits for the Trojans is junior Lisa Minnick at 181 and senior Dana Volk with 163.
Chelsea Ruf has accumulated 492 set assists to lead her team in a bid for the state title.
The final for Class C2 will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in Pershing Auditorium.
Class D1 is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday at Pershing.