Shelton won their first state title in school history Saturday, while Superior won their first title in six years during the NSAA State Volleyball Championships at the Devaney Sports Center. Minden capped off Central Nebraska volleyball for the year with their second straight C1 championship, winning in four sets over Wahoo.
D2 CHAMPIONSHIP: SHELTON def. Leyton 3-0 (25-18, 26-24, 25-16)
The first set was all Bulldogs in the first set, with Erin Gegg’s 5 kills in the first 8 points. Shelton kept the Warriors out of reach in the first, with Macy Willis service errors sandwiching a Gegg kill extended the lead out to 17-8 before Leyton’s first timeout. Leyton would take 7 of the next 9 points to make it uncomfortable, but Shelton would prevail in the first set 25-18.
Leyton would not allow for any breathing room in the second set, leading midway through at 16-14. In a set that featured nine ties, Shelton took 4 of the last 5 points to take the second set.
The third set had all the momentum in the Bulldogs favor, as Shelton two early service aces from Jalyn Branson to start the set and another one from Ellie Morgan. Then the Bulldogs had a 9-0 run after the set was tied early on 4-4. Shelton’s lead was extended to a 20-11 en route to their first state title.
Shelton hit .218 as a team, let by Gegg who hit .490 with 24 kills. Branson added 16 kills, while Macy Willis and Parker Lowe both had 20 assists. Morgan had 25 digs for the Bulldogs, who finish their season 32-3 while spoiling Leyton’s undefeated season.
Shelton players embrace after winning their first state volleyball title / Mitchell Brandt, NRG Media
D1 CHAMPIONSHIP: SUPERIOR def. Exeter-Milligan/Friend 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-17)
It was all Reagan Meyers for the Superior Wildcats, who broke a state record for kills in a season that stood for over 20 years.
After the first few points were back and forth, Superior rattled off five straight, including a Meyers ace to force the first EMF timeout. The Bobcats weren’t able to overcome the early rally, as Superior won 25-19.
Like the first set, Superior had an early 4-0 run to go ahead 8-4, but EMF would rally with 6 of the next 7 points to tie the game at 10. Superior would slowly build back their lead, led by a service ace from Sadie Cornell and two from Cora Schnakenberg, sandwiching an EMF Timeout.
Superior would jump out to another early lead, taking 8 of the first 10 points in the third set. After EMF got within striking distance at 13-7, Superior rattled off six straight points, and would lead in the third set 21-8 at one point. EMF would make two runs of their own to extend their season, including a four point rally at set/match point, but the Wildcats would win their first state title since 2017.
Superior hit .216 in the match, with 23 kills from Reagan Meyers alongside 15 digs. Faith Butler had 31 digs, and the Wildcats held EMF to .025 hitting
C1 CHAMPIONSHIP: MINDEN def. Wahoo 3-1 (25-22, 25-12, 21-25, 25-12)
In the second of the four set victories in the championship, Minden was able to claim their second straight state championship, this time over Wahoo.
Neither team was able to take momentum early on, and when Wahoo had a 6-1 run, Minden responded with an 10-3 run of their own, including service aces from Rebbeca Lempka and Meridith Johnson. Neither team had momentum, with Minden hitting .154 and Wahoo hitting .106.
Minden absolutely dominated in the second, pushing to an early 7-3 lead and forcing 10 attack errors from Wahoo. Wahoo hit -.116 in the set.
After the first two sets, Wahoo dominated the front half of the third set, jumping out to a 11-3 lead, hitting .583 at that point, before Minden was forced to call timeout. Minden was able to go point for point with the Warriors the rest of the way, but was not able to climb out of their early deficit.
In the decisive fourth set, Minden would rattle off 12 straight points after the score was tied at 10, including a pair of service aces from Makenna Anderson in the rally. Wahoo was in the negatives for hitting percentages again, hitting -.077 to Minden’s .200.
Two Whippets had triple-doubles, with Mattie Makery having 17 kills and 22 assists, alongside 2 digs. Myla Emery also had 17 kills, with 24 assists and 10 digs. Makenna Betty hit .667 on 10 kills. As a team, the Whippets had a .206 hitting percentage.
Tears of joy for the Minden Whippet Seniors after their second straight C1 Championship over Minden / Corbey Dorsey, NRG Media
C1 3RD PLACE: Pierce def. Kearney Catholic (19-25, 25-22, 25-13, 25-18)
Payton Dzingle and Hazel Haarberg let the Stars w/ 13 kills apiece, while Jenna Bosshammer has 18 kills with Lainey Murphy’s 11 and 3 service aces. Pierce has 15 total aces, led by 6 from Skylar Scholting.
Kearney Catholic ends their season with a record of 25-8.
