Stars Show They Belong With State’s Best at Pius X Invite

LINCOLN - Kearney Catholic coach Kris Conner said following her team's Lincoln Pius X Invitational championship that she doesn't give much thought to the Stars' three consecutive Class C-1 titles nor their 21-match winning streak. She's more focused on what's happening right now.

Either way, Conner had to like what she saw as Kearney Catholic swept Class A Lincoln Pius X and Class B foes Norris and Blair before beating Class B #6 Elkhorn South 25-22, 25-27, 25-20 in the championship match on Saturday. Kearney Catholic, ranked #1 in Class C-1, now stands at 18-0 on the year.

It actually looked for a bit like the Stars would sweep all four opponents on Saturday after taking the first set and holding a 24-21 lead in the second. Elkhorn South, 12-6, wasn't quite down with that idea, though, and used a Kearney Catholic hitting error and two straight kills from TCU recruit Sarah Swanson to even the set at 24-24. A strong serve from Riley Newton led to a Kearney Catholic life to give the Storm set point, but a Kylie Thiele kill tied it again at 25-25.

Swanson and Ali Clark teamed for a block on the following exchange for Elkhorn South and a kill by Gabrielle Peterson ended it for the Storm to force a decisive third set.

In the third set, Kearney Catholic used its scrappy defense and balanced offense to build leads of 4-1, 12-6 and 20-12 before Elkhorn South mounted another late-set surge. A pair of kills from Sophie Auch Moedy and a block from Peterson sparked a 7-2 run that got Elkhorn South within 22-19 when Auch Moedy slammed home an overpass.

A Jordan Streit kill for Kearney Catholic ended the Elkhorn South run and a Courtney Shundoff block a little later got Kearney Catholic to a 24-20 lead. The Stars then won the match on a Elkhorn South hitting error.

Elkhorn South, 12-6, swept Omaha Mercy, Omaha Duchesne and Elkhorn to reach the championship match.

In the third place match, Elkhorn defeated Lincoln Pius X 25-18, 12-25, 25-18. In the fifth-place match, Omaha Duchesne took a 26-24, 20-25, 26-24 win over Norris and in the seventh-place match, Blair defeated Omaha Mercy 14-25, 25-19, 25-16.

Kearney Catholic def. Elkhorn South 25-22, 25-27, 25-20

Kearney Catholic (18-0) Ranked #1 in Class C-1

Michelle Messbarger - 1 kill, 0 aces, 0 blocks, 1 assist.
Kylie Thiele - 14 kills, 0 aces, 0 blocks, 0 assists.
Ashlynn Schmaderer - 1 kill, 1 ace, 0 blocks, 0 assists.
Madison Squires - 6 kills, 0 aces, 1 block, 21 assists.
Courtney Shundoff - 5 kills, 0 aces, 1 block, 0 assists.
Anna Squires - 6 kills, 0 aces, 2 blocks, 16 assists.
Jordan Streit - 8 kills, 0 aces, 0 blocks, 0 assists.

Team Totals - 41 kills, 1 ace, 4 blocks, 37 assists.

Elkhorn South (12-6) Ranked #6 in Class B

Jaden Thiem - 0 kills, 1 ace, 0 blocks, 34 digs, 1 assist.
Sarah Swanson - 15 kills, 0 aces, 1 block, 12 digs, 1 assist.
Gabrielle Peterson - 5 kills, 0 aces, 1 block, 1 dig.
Riley Newton - 0 kills, 1 ace, 0 blocks, 9 digs, 0 assists.
Logan Connealy - 4 kills, 0 aces, 1 block, 1 dig, 0 assists.
Sophie Auch Moedy - 9 kills, 2 aces, 1/2 block, 11 digs, 0 aces.
Amber Argo - 0 kills, 2 aces, 0 blocks, 2 digs, 0 assists.
Ali Clark - 3 kills, 0 aces, 1 1/2 blocks, 2 digs, 0 assists.
Josie Givens - 0 kills, 1 ace, 0 blocks, 19 digs, 26 assists.

Team Totals - 36 kills, 7 aces, 5 blocks, 91 digs, 28 assists.