Storm Sweeps Antlers to Win Battle of Elkhorn on Opening Night

<p>ELKHORN - A block by Nebraska recruit Rylee Gray not only gave Elkhorn South a win over Elkhorn in the first set of their match Thursday night, but it also seemed to zap the energy out of the Antlers as the Storm took a 27-25, 25-16, 25-20 victory on opening night.</p> <p>In a match featuring two of the top teams in Class A, a kill by the Antler's Addie Thomas gave Elkhorn an 18-16 lead in the first set against #2 Elkhorn South. Gray, however, began to take over with three kills sandwiched around an ace serve from Brilee Wieseler which allowed the Storm to go up 20-18.</p> <p>A pair of Elkhorn South errors got the Antlers back in it and tied the score at 20 and the set would later be tied at 21, 22, 23 and 24 before a kill by Nebraska-Kearney recruit Ibi Green got Elkhorn South a 25-24 lead. A net violation on the Storm pulled the score even at 25, but seventh-ranked Elkhorn returned the favor with a net serve to give the Storm its third match point at 26-25. A block by Gray then ended the set.</p> <p>After an electric first set, Elkhorn South scored the first seven points on the second set and used that start to cruise to a 25-16 win in the second set. The third set was much more competitive with Elkhorn South holding a slight lead most of the way until an Emma Crouch kill on an Elkhorn South overpass got the Antlers within 20-18.</p> <p>Elkhorn South, however, would take advantage of three more Elkhorn errors and a Gray block late to take the set 25-20 to complete the sweep.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Statistical Leaders</strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Elkhorn South</strong></span>:</p> <p>Rylee Gray 15 kills, .667 hitting %, 1 Ace, 1 Block, 1 Dig.<br /> Kylie Weeks 9 kills, .167 hitting %, 1 Ace, 8 Digs. <br /> Ibi Green 8 kills, .367 hitting %, 2 Digs.<br /> Brilee Wieseler 5 kills, (-.071) hitting %, 2 Aces, 14 Digs.<br /> Madi Woodin 1 kill, .250 hitting %, 6 Digs, 39 Assists.<br /> Estella Zatechka 3 Aces, 12 Digs.</p> <p>Team: 40 kills, 16 errors, .222 hitting %, 7 Aces, 11 Service Errors, 85.3 Serving %</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Elkhorn:</strong></span></p> <p>Abby Wolfe 9 kills, .381 hitting %, 1 Ace, 5 Digs, 1 Assist.<br /> Taylor Bunjer, 6 kills, .333 hitting %, 1/2 Block.<br /> Emma Crouch 5 kills, .267 hitting %, 2 Blocks, 1 Dig.<br /> Addie Thomas, 5 kills, .214 hitting %, 2 Digs.<br /> Grace Heaney 3 kills, .111 hitting %, 1 Ace, 3 Blocks, 1 Dig, 10 Assists.<br /> Abbie Nadgwick 1 Ace, 1 Dig, 13 Assists.<br /> Claire Buford 20 Digs.</p> <p>Team: 32 kills, 10 errors, .239 hitting %, 3 Aces, 13 Service Errors, 79.4 Serving %</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Notes and Thoughts</strong></span></p> <p>Congrats to Elkhorn South coach Chelsea Potter on the first win of her coaching career.</p> <p>Rylee Gray's 15 kills is tied for the second-best in her career. She's had 15 several times in her career and her best is 19, which came against Millard North last season.She looked really strong and played under control all night, recording just one hitting error. </p> <p>For Elkhorn, sophomore Taylor Bunjer was a spark off the bench and brought some good pop in the Antler attack.</p> <p>Claire Buford, the senior libero for Elkhorn, looked pretty good and set a career high with her 20 digs. </p> <p>Grace Heaney is certainly one of the most talented freshmen in the state as a 6'0 setter/right side, but cutting your teeth against Elkhorn South in your first high school match is pretty rough. She had some good moments Thursday night, but it will be fun to watch how she progresses as the season goes along.</p> <p>The trio of Estella Zatechka, Katie Galligan and Brilee Wieseler definitely gives Elkhorn South one of the best - if not the best - back rows in the state. They are each defensive wizards. </p> <p>Elkhorn South travels to Omaha Marian on Tuesday for its next match while Elkhorn hosts a triangular on Tuesday against Columbus and Bishop Neumann.</p>