Burwell v. GACC // Austin Jacobsen
LINCOLN – The late fight from eighth seeded Burwell wasn’t enough to overcome a talented Guardian Angels Central Catholic, as the Longhorns fell in a sweep in the State Volleyball quarterfinals Thursday afternoon 25-18, 25-13, and 25-21.
Guardian Angel Central Catholic earned the top overall spot in Class D1 with a final regular season record of 25-5. The #1 Bluejays hoped to continue their history of success, as GACC entered the state tournament for the first time since 2020. GACC was making their twentieth state tournament appearance Thursday afternoon, having claimed four state championships so far in their history.
GACC had dispatched Kenesaw for the D1-1 District Final on Oct. 28, sweeping the Blue Devils.
Burwell was the eighth seed, claiming the D1-6 District Final as the eleventh seed. The Longhorns took down Johnson-Brock at Osceola High School in a sweep. Burwell was last state champions in 1986, and was making their tenth appearance in Lincoln as a program.
Burwell v. GACC // Austin Jacobsen
SET 1: GACC stood tall early, as the opening serve by Burwell fell into the net. The Longhorns were able to calm their pre-game nerves, trailing 4-2. GACC began to roll in the opening moments, with Julianne Ridder slamming a kill taking an 8-2 advantage after a Burwell timeout.
The Longhorns stopped the rally trailing 9-3, taking the next three points after a block by Burwell’s Jayme Bower. Trailing 12-8, a furious rally would end in Burwell’s favor giving the Longhorns a boost of energy from their visiting crowd.
Burwell again cut the lead to only three trailing 14-11, but GACC hung tight. And pushed their lead to 16-11. Out of a timeout by Burwell, GACC rattled off three consecutive points to take a 19-11 lead.
The Longhorns took two points but GACC again withstood multiple Burwell rallies. Ridder powered her sixth and seventh kill of the set, putting the Bluejays up 23-14. The Longhorns would not die easy, scoring four in a row until GACC fired a kill after a Burwell tip. GACC would take the final point, winning 25-18.
SET 2: GACC was out to an early 3-1 lead to begin the second set. The Bluejays continued their lead, forcing a Burwell timeout with a 6-2 advantage.
GACC’s Israeia Kreikemeier pushed the Bluejays to 10-3 following a kill off the right side. The Bluejays’ Charlie Dinslage added another, but Burwell was unable to cut down the deficit until a run in the middle of the set.
Cutting the lead 12-6, Burwell’s Karsyn Bower had a service error but earned a side-out after a kill by Shayley Hunt. Trailing 14-7, the Longhorns used their second timeout.
Burwell allowed GACC to go on a three point run, making a ten point deficit. The block was on for the Bluejays, as Jocelynn Skoda rejected a Burwell hit. The Longhorns could not keep GACC back, as top seed flexed to a 22-10 advantage.
Guardian Angel Central Catholic would score three of the final seven points, as Burwell staved off three set points but ultimately dropped 25-13.
SET 3: The set began on the wrong foot for both sides, as both Burwell and GACC traded service errors. The two teams would then go back-and-forth, trading points until Burwell pulled away with a three point swing, as a net violation went against GACC.
With the Longhorns up 6-3, the Longhorns continued their solid hitting as a kill was earned by Jayme Bower. As Burwell would take an 8-4 lead, GACC used their first timeout of the contest.
Coming out of the stop, GACC marched off a 4-0 run to tie the contest at 8. Shayley Hunt of Burwell powered a kill to regain the lead – however short lived as GACC tied the contest again.
The two squads continued to trade blows, with momentum swings at a minimum with the contest tied at 11. GACC would take their largest lead of the set up 14-11 and scoring three in a row – forcing Burwell into a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Burwell punched out back-to-back points trailing 15-13. Kreikemeier thundered another kill for GACC, aiding in a short run for the Bluejays. Burwell used their final timeout, trailing 17-13.
The stop allowed Burwell to get back into rhythm, but GACC would respond with their own answer extending their lead 19-16. Burwell’s Bower dug a shot from Ridder in the back row, setting up a kill by Hunt to cut the deficit down to three. Errors continued to pile up for Burwell, but the Longhorns fought to keep in the contest. A joust at the net was won by Burwell with Brookelyn Gideon and Kaitlyn Simpson setting the contest at 20 all.
Out of a GACC timeout, Burwell appeared to earn a crucial block but was instead called into the net. A long rally earned a score for the Longhorns, but GACC held firm in their control of the contest. A solo block from GACC set up match point, as the Bluejays served an ace to close out the match winning 25-21.
Burwell v. GACC // Austin Jacobsen
Burwell ends their season with a 24-5 mark.
GACC will continue their season, facing the winner of #4 BDS (27-4) and #5 Amherst (23-8). A full recap from the Amherst contest will be available later today at KGFW and Central Nebraska Today.
