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Ogallala volleyball duo joining MCC team
A pair of high school teammates from Ogallala have committed to playing volleyball next fall at McCook Community College.
Gracen Tuttle and Gabriella Caskey, were the first players for the 2022 season to sign on at MCC. The entire MCC team was able to attend the signing ceremony at Ogallala high school on the way to the Region IX tournament in Scottsbluff earlier this month
Coach Hayley Kobza said she is lucky to have gained two phenomenal athletes from the same program in the Ogallala teammates Tuttle and Caskey.
Gracen Tuttle, is a 5-11 middle blocker from Ogallala who chose MCC because she wanted a comfortable environment along with people that she can grow with while playing the sport she loves.
She is a four-year volleyball and track letter winner. Her honors include NCPA academic all-state, Keith County second team, Southwest Conference honorable mention, NSAA academic all-state. At Ogallala high school she was the vice president FBLA and Key Club, a two year member of National Honor Society and was named Banner Health student of the month earlier this month,
Her favorite volleyball memory was when Ogallala won the Southwest Conference her junior year.
"The final match was so thrilling yet so fun and we all connected so well that game," she said.
Tuttle played in 266 sets during her career and totaled 343 kills, and 273 total blocks. During her senior season she had 174 kills, 116 total blocks, 26 serving aces and 107 digs.
She looks up to her mom, who always worked so hard and never fails to do everything she can for her kids.
"I strive to be as hardworking and dedicated as her," she said.
"Gracen is a player that I believe will come into the preseason and not only push herself, but her teammates as well."
The senior's favorite quote is "Learn how to love yourself then teach others your new-found wisdom," and she advises high school underclassmen to "work hard in high school but enjoy the fun times while they last."
Gabby Caskey, 5-11, outside hitter, Ogallala High School, believes that at McCook not only will the coach going to push her to work hard and become the best athlete she can be, but her new teammates care so much about volleyball that they will push her too.
"The community of McCook also cares so much about the volleyball team so it makes the game atmosphere so much better and exciting," she said.
"I believe Gabby is going to be a player that can come in and change our offense on the pins," said Kobza.
Like Tuttle, Caskey's favorite high school volleyball memory was winning the Southwest Conference her juior at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center.
"We played Broken Bow in the championship which was highly state ranked at the time and no one thought that we could beat them. But we worked so hard and overcame them," she said, adding that when receiving the trophy the players accidentally dropped it because they were jumping around so much.
She played in 361 sets during her four hears as a starter, compiled 783 kills, 148 solo blocks, 242 total blocks, 65 aces and 507 digs. During her senior she recorded 277 kills, 43 solo blocks, 50 total blocks, 37 aces, and 199 digs.
After meeting MCC players and watching them play she said she's excited to join the team and is looking forward to being around Thaynara Isabela.
"She looks like the type of person and athlete that is going to push you to play the hardest and best you can," Caskey said. "Going into my first year of college volleyball I plan to give it everything I have because I want to get even better opportunities out of this experience."
Caskey was named first-team all-area in basketball and volleyball, first team Southwest Conference in volleyball her junior and senior years, second team in basketball, a five-time winner of the Max Preps Player of the Game, an honorable mention all-state Volleyball player her first three years, NCPA Academic All-State, the 4.0 Honor Roll four years, the 2021 US Bank Believers & Achievers Recipient, and 2021 High School Heisman Recipient.
"Gabby has a great attitude and I hope that she finds her spot as a leader on the team and on the court," said Kobza.