Photo Credit: The Columbus Telegram
Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family 6’2 senior Taya Beller spent a lot of her high school career in obscurity, but that changed in 2018 as the Wayne State recruit went into beast mode all season long – and especially in the state tournament. Beller guided the Bulldogs to just their second state tournament this fall as they finished as the runner-up in Class D-1.
Beller racked up 422 kills (4.9 per set), 500 digs, 47 ace serves and 125 blocks and she saved her best for the biggest stage, averaging 21 kills, 23 digs and four blocks in three state tournament matches.
For her performance this season, Beller has been named the Prep Dig Class D-1 Player of the Year in Nebraska.
The other finalists for the Player of the Year honor were Fallon Stutheit of Johnson-Brock, Lexie Langley of Archbishop Bergan and Halle Pribyl of Meridian.
The Player of the Year honors as well as All-State recognition is based on nominations received from coaches and observations from Prep Dig.
Below are the All-State teams in Class D-1. Prep Dig All-State teams in Nebraska are comprised of three teams with each having two setters, six attackers and two liberos/defensive specialists. However, since there are few “true” liberos in smaller classes, an extra attacker was added to the first team with just one libero/DS in D-1.
Class D1 1st Team
Setter – Addison Heidemann, 5’7, Soph., Diller-Odell
Setter – Allison Dieckmann, 5’5, Sr., Archbishop Bergan
Attacker – Taya Beller, 6’2, Sr., Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
Attacker – Fallon Stutheit, 6’2, Sr., Johnson-Brock
Attacker – Lexie Langley, 6’0, Sr., Archbishop Bergan
Attacker – Halle Pribyl, 5’9, Jr., Meridian
Attacker – Korynn Clason, 5’11, Jr., Cambridge
Attacker – Grace Langemeier, 5’11, Jr., Nebraska Christian
Attacker – Haley Kempf, 5’9, Sr., Archbishop Bergan
Libero/DS – Brittney Veik, 5’3, Jr., Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
Class D1 2nd Team
Setter – Carsyn Ostrand, 5’8, Sr., Nebraska Christian
Setter – Rhianna Wilhelm, 5’10, Jr., Heartland
Attacker – Grace Frederick, 5’11, Sr., Dundy County-Stratton
Attacker – Brooke Good, 5’8, Sr., Giltner
Attacker – Allie DeGroff, 5’9, Jr., Archbishop Bergan
Attacker – Katelyn Linder, 5’11, Soph., Pleasanton
Attacker – Mackenzie Vitosh, 6’0, Jr., Diller-Odell
Attacker – Becca Gebhardt, 5’9, Soph., Lutheran High Northeast
Libero/DS – Anna Heilhecker, 5’4, Sr., Elgin Public/Pope John
Libero/DS – Kyleigh Scott, 5’5, Sr., Hitchcock County
Class D1 3rd Team
Setter – Calli Groseth, 5’9, Sr., North Platte St. Patrick’s
Setter – Jaycee Wallace, 5’3, Sr., Overton
Attacker – Emily Swanson, 5’7, Jr., Diller-Odell
Attacker – Rachel Ecklund, 6’0, Soph., Overton
Attacker – Madelyn Watchhorn, 6’0, Jr., Leyton
Attacker – Jocee Johnston, 5’11, Sr., Clearwater/Orchard
Attacker – Devyn Erickson, 5’8, Sr., Central Valley
Attacker – Jayden Hahn, 5’11, Fr., Johnson-Brock
Libero/DS – Brooke McClellen, 5’5, Jr., North Platte St. Patrick’s
Libero/DS – Kaia McIntyre, 5’5, Jr., Archbishop Bergan
Honorable Mention
Fullerton: Hanna Plumbtree, Macy Voichahoske, Josie Sonderup
Cedar Bluffs: Skylar Shanahan, Alyssa Classen, Kalley Sukstorf
Boyd County: Kalli Kayl, Sydney Atkinson
Hitchcock County: Shaye Porter, Allison Hoyt
Howells-Dodge: Erin Prusa, Jessi Brester, Taya VanLengen, Alyssa Coufal
Southwest: Nicole Dewey
Archbishop Bergan: Lauren Baker
Dundy County-Stratton: Adalene Krutsinger, Jessie Freeland, Sydney Reichert, Maggie Lutz
Johnson-Brock: Hailey Sandfort, Audrey Sandfort, Mattie Nichols
North Platte St. Patrick’s: Kaleigh Kummer
Cambridge: Kaelie Tomlin
Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family: Allie Schneider
Overton: Rachel Ecklund
Nebraska Christian: Adrienne Falk
Weeping Water: Peyton Barrett
Ansley-Litchfield: Falan Ryan
Heartland: Kalea Wetjen
Randolph: Emma Bermel, Sophia Harder, Carlie Nordhues
Central Valley: Colby Grossart, Jadie Rother, Kensey Wadas, Ashlyn Wright
Diller-Odell: Kyleigh Barnts, Madeline Meyerle
Pleasanton: Isabelle Peitz, Kaci Pierce, Mckenna Siegel
Wausa: Paige Nissen, Jaide Kaiser
Leyton: Danielle Higgins, Kelcie Van Anne, Carly Fortune
Plainview: Andrea Haase, Kylie Mosel, Carissa Wacker
Alma: Carlee Stuhmer, Kayle Kindler, Tiffany Wells, Dakota Hughes
Elgin Public/Pope John: Allyson Wemhoff, Kaylee Martinsen, Haley Zegers
Elwood: Hadley Martin, Alivia Knoerzer, Baylee Diefenbaugh
Lawrence-Nelson: Karigan Drudik, Taylor Harrington, Hallie Epley
Meridian: Josiee Sobotka
Arapahoe: Chloe Carlson, Joslyn North, Mariah Watson, Hannah Utterback
Elkhorn Valley: Amber Miller, Hannah Ollendick
Giltner: Aubrey Leichty, Cassidy Tompkin, Hannah Preissler
Axtell: Camille Fishell
Clearwater-Orchard: Julian Tuttle
Omaha Christian Academy: Abby Jackson
SEM: Lindsey Dittmar
Sutherland: Erica Hopping, Payton Hoatson, Janee Elfeldt
Brady: Emily Mann
