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These Wolves pull closer even in year of distance
LINCOLN, Neb. — Facing and chasing rockets from Renegades or Irish girls doesn’t sound like a great way to bring people together.
Yet coach Kory Rohde loved how three days in Lincoln of state volleyball brought Maywood even closer to Hayes Center — or vice versa.
“Being a teacher at Hayes Center, I don’t see the Maywood girls on our team as much every day,” he explained about his historic 29-2 Class D-2 Final Four team. “So it was great to get down here not only to see the intensity it takes (to win state). But also with all our matches being early, we got to do a lot of team bonding and get to know each other even better.”
Both towns cheered on the Wolves’ historic first tourney match which was a three-set sweep over Mullen Thursday morning.
They joined the M-HC girls’ basketball and football teams as Wolves who’ve made tourneys/playoffs during these past 12 months.
However, No. 2 CWC (33-1) turned senior Morgan Ramsey’s 26 kills into a 25-17, 25-20, 25-21 semifinal sweep Friday morning.
Ramsey had ripped 33 kills during the Renegades’ first-round win on Thursday.
However, each set being closer shows the tenacity of this champion M-HC team.
“These girls never quit. They play with a focus in each and every set which has been true all year,” Rohde observed.
The Wolves rebounded to take another state tourney set from Falls City Sacred Heart, 25-23, in Saturday’s D-2 consolation final.
Those Irish retaliated with Erison Vonderschmidt’s 28 kills and six stuff blocks in 25-12, 25-18, 25-17 wins.
“She was tough, and I think Sacred Heart was one of the best teams down here (at state),” Rohde said.
The Wolves still took home a top four prize for their school trophy case while remembering only one starter is set to graduate in May.
“Granted, she is a real good one,” the coach confirmed about Class D-2 All-State Tournament performer Jaycee Widener.
The 5’10” Widener clobbered 33 kills and made even more digs to cap a stellar career which started as an M-HC setter.
Widener earned a spot on the Lincoln Journal-Star’s Class D-2 All-State Tournament team.
Yet the Wolves will happily welcome back their other three top hitters/blockers, both setters and every other experienced varsity player.
“Hopefully, most of these girls will be back for state basketball and track,” Rohde observed. “We have some very good athletes, and every big game will help. We’re disappointed, but at the same time this was experience was incredible.”
The coach also reserved some praise for all those fans following Wolves into Lincoln.
“Both towns are phenomenal and so supportive,” Rohde concluded. “It’s tough sometimes (to consolidate) but they all seem to get along. It really feels genuine.”
Leaders from Friday:
Maywood-
Hayes Center
KILLS: Jaycee Widener 9, Olivia Hansen 5, Alexis Wood 4. BLOCKS: Olivia Hansen 3, Widener 2, Stevie Handsaker 2. ASSISTS: Ashlin Broz 10, Kiley Hejtmanek 9. ACE SERVES: Jaycee Widener 1, Wood 1. DIGS: Olivia Hansen 11, Wood 8, Broz 6, Karlie Erickson 4.
CWC
KILLS: Morgan Ramsey 26, Tessa Metschke 12, Rachel Dierks 11, Michelle Koenig 6. BLOCKS: Morgan Ramsey 4, Metschke 1. ASSISTS: Ryann Haburchuk 44, Koenig 1. ACE SERVES: Michelle Koenig 3, Ramsey 2, Haburchuk 1. DIGS: Tessa Metschke 13, Aleix Butterfield 10, MaKenna Pelster 9.
Leaders from Saturday:
Maywood-
Hayes Center
KILLS: Jaycee Widener 12, Alexis Wood 7, Olivia Hansen 6, Stevie Handsaker 4. BLOCKS: Jaycee Widener 1, Olivia Hansen 1, Alexis Wood 1. ACE SERVE: Jaycee Widener 1. ASSISTS: Ashlin Broz 18, Kiley Hejtmanek 8, Hansen 1. DIGS: Alexis Wood 21, Widener 18, Broz 14, Hansen 14, Karlie Erickson 5.
Falls City
Sacred Heart
KILLS: Erison Vonderschmidt 28, Danielle Bippes 11, Taylor Frederick 5. BLOCKS: Erison Vonderschmidt 6, Rachel Magdanz 2, Lainey Ebel 1. ASSISTS: Rachel Magdanz 41. DIGS: Lauren Malone 25, Emma Frederick 21, Magdanz 16, Vondreschmidt 14. ACE SERVES: Emma Frederick 3.