Unbeaten Wolves move one win from state!

The Maywood-Hayes Center Wolves won a D-9 subdistrict title to go with their RPAC championship shown last week at Southwest High School in Bartley.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

HAYES CENTER, Neb. — Sophomore Kiley Hejtmanek served a flawless 23-for-23 with 18 points and senior Jaycee Widener's 18 kills powered Maywood-Hayes Center's 25-14, 25-20, 25-15 victory over Wauneta-Palisade Tuesday evening.

The D2-9 subdistrict champion Wolves (27-0 record) will pay in Saturday's district finals round to determine state tournament teams who start on Thursday at Lincoln.

Wauneta-Palisade (16-11 final record) was 16-7 against all foes except the Wolves. The Broncos remain an only opponent to push MH-C into five sets this season.

"Beating a good team like Wauneta-Palisade for the fourth time is quite the accomplishment," coach Kory Rohde commented. "They always play us tough."

M-HC blockers stood tall against strong Bronco hitters as Widener made four stuff blocks and junior Stevie Handsaker hammered down there.

Handsaker and sophomore Olivia Hansen hammered six kills apiece to complement Widener.

Hansen served a team-high three aces with two from Hejtmanek.

Hejtmanek delivered 14 assists while teammate Ashlin Broz totaled 16.

"I was pretty happy with the way we played tonight," Rohde concluded. "We had a few communication problems and need to clean up some stuff."

A D-2 district finals opponent and site are still to be announced.