Listen to the interview with Gretna coach Mike Brandon following the match:
OMAHA – For whatever reason, the Gretna volleyball team doesn’t seem to like spending more time than it needs to on the volleyball court so far this season. That trend continued Tuesday night at Elkhorn South.
Gretna improved to 15-0 on the season with a 25-16, 25-19, 25-22 win over the Storm, marking the 14th time in 15 matches that the Dragons have swept their opponent in racking up a set record of 33-1. The only team to take a set from the Dragons this year? Elkhorn South in the Heartland Crossroads Invitational championship the first weekend of the season.
After Gretna was able to control most of the first two sets, it appeared Elkhorn South, 8-5, was poised to take the third set and fight its way back into the match early on. With the score tied 5-5, the Storm went on a 7-1 run behind three kills from Gabrielle Peterson, two from Logan Connealy, one from Sophie Auch Moedy and an ace serve from Josie Givens to go up 12-6.
Gretna, however, was able to scratch its way back and eventually took a 21-20 lead on a kill by Mallory Yost. A net violation on the Dragons tied it again at 21-21, but then Gretna senior Halie McArdle, a Wyoming recruit, took over, pounding two kills and getting an ace block to push the Dragons to a 24-21 lead. McArdle’s attack to try and end the match sailed just wide, giving Elkhorn South temporary life before a Storm hitting error ended the match.
McArdle had a match-high 17 kills to lead the Dragons while Jaisa Russell had nine and Yost 8. Junior setter Cameron Scott finished the night with 38 assists in the three sets to go with a kill and ace serve.
For Elkhorn South – which was playing without injured all-stater Kesley Green – Auch Moedy had a team-high nine kills and Peterson finished with eight.
The game also featured outstanding defense by both liberos – Gretna’s Amanda Young (a Colorado State recruit) and Elkhorn South’s Jaden Thiem (a Northern Kentucky recruit).
Gretna def. Elkhorn South 25-16, 25-19, 25-22
Gretna (15-0) Ranked #3 in Class B
Cameron Scott – 1 kill, 1 ace, 0 blocks, 38 assists.
Amanda Young – 0 kills, 0 aces, 0 blocks, 1 assist.
Taylor Atkins – 0 kills, 1 ace, 0 blocks, 0 assists.
Mallory Yost – 8 kills, 0 aces, 0 blocks, 0 assists.
Halie McArdle – 17 kills, 1 ace, 1 block, 2 assists.
Jaisa Russell – 9 kills, 1 ace, 0 blocks, 0 assists.
Lauren Leapley – 4 kills, 0 aces, 1 block, 0 assists.
Jaiden Sila – 4 kills, 0 aces, 0 blocks, 0 assists.
Team Totals – 43 kills, 4 aces, 2 blocks, 41 assists.
Elkhorn South (8-5) Ranked #6 in Class B
Jaden Thiem – 0 kills, 0 aces, 0 blocks, 1 assist.
Logan Connealy – 3 kills, 0 aces, 0 blocks, 0 assists.
Sophie Auch Moedy – 9 kills, 0 aces, 0 blocks, 0 assists.
Ali Clark – 4 kills, 0 aces, 0 blocks, 0 assists.
Josie Givens – 0 kills, 1 ace, 0 blocks, 26 assists.
Sarah Swanson – 5 kills, 1 ace, 3 blocks, 0 assists.
Gabrielle Peterson – 8 kills, 0 aces, 0 blocks, 0 assists.
Team Totals – 29 kills, 2 aces, 3 blocks, 27 assists.
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