Trojans fall, but still finish in fourth straight state tourney

Cambridge senior Erin Johnson played through a torn ACL and challenged the tough Exeter-Milligan-Friend blockers during Thursday’s Class D-1 state volleyball match at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Johnson clobbered 21 kills in the Trojans’ district finals win one week ago.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Cambridge Trojans and senior Erin Johnson made quite a comeback to reach their fourth straight Nebraska State volleyball tournament this week.

Yet ultimately, all their seasoned big-game experience couldn’t quite match a super hitting force in Exeter-Milligan-Friend’s Kaydence Haase.

Haase hammered 26 kills past the Trojans Thursday afternoon as D-1 No. 5 EMF scored a 25-20, 25-20, 25-19 victory over No. 4 Cambridge at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Cambridge junior Mallory Springer (left) and sophomore Brooklyn Holtze go for the block against Exeter-Milligan-Friend top hitter Kaydence Haase Thursday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

The Trojans (22-11 final record) had earned a D-1 No. 4 seed as they aimed for another spot at Saturday’s state championship match.

Overton topped Cambridge for the D-1 title one year ago.

“We planned to use our experience but in the end, our nerves got the best of us unfortunately today,” coach Lauren Carpenter said. “We just couldn’t get good momentum going.”

The Trojans still battled tough through all three sets, also reminding fans that most of their top players can make another state run next fall.

Sophomore Brooklyn Holtze led the Trojan hitting attack while junior Mallory Springer covered all angles as Cambridge’s setter.

Others like Brooklyn Holtze, Elisabeth Kubik and Chloe Gooden gained more great state experience.