Meet and Greet C-1 Nebraska State Volleyball: Battle Creek

Believe it or not, three years ago Battle Creek Coach Cody Wintz took over the reins of the volleyball program with his resume stating wrestling coach/athletic director and limited volleyball knowledge. He understood that the 6 players are on the court had 3 chances to get the ball back over the net. That year and last year they went 21-11, both in class C-2. Now at 28-5, the Bravettes are on a roll. Cruising through the season, the Bravettes stumbled late in Mid-State Conference play with two losses to Wayne and one to Norfolk Catholic, also C-1 state tournament teams that prevailed to district finals with wild card points. Lined up in the same sub-districts, the Bravettes triumphed sending them to a district win against Syracuse. Senior Ohio University recruit Tria McLean leads the team as a setter in the back row and terminating attacker in the front. But the athleticism doesn’t stop there. #1 Sophomore Paytyn Taake - Libero, 43 aces at 95.2%, 505 digs, 485 serve receptions. Coaches comments, “Great feel for the game and ability to read is superb. I wouldn't take any libero in the state over her.” #2 Junior Makenna Taake - OH, 111 kills. #8 Junior BriAnna Zohner - MH, 191 kills, 65 blocks, 32 aces, 298 digs, 359 serve receptions. Coaches comments, “ 6-rotation player. Very athletic at the net.” #9 Junoir Madaline Taake - RS, 91 kills, 96% serving. #10 Sophomore Kaitlyn Pochop- S, 97.4% serving, 171 digs, 451 assists. Coaches comments, “1st year setter does a good job of spreading the ball around.” #11 Senior Riley Seifert - MH, 355 kills, 29 aces, 63 blocks, 324 digs, 438 serve receptions, 2018 C-2 honorable mention. Coaches comments, “6-rotation player. Over 350 kills this season. Very good passer in the back row. Athletic girl with power. Able to move the ball around the block well.” #14 Junior Renee Brummels - RS, 71 blocks. Coaches comments, “Tall and lanky, provides a great block for us on the right side.” #17 Senior Tria McLean- OH/S, 319 kills, 35 aces, 96% serving, 260 digs, 483 assists, 2018 C-2 honorable mention. Coaches comments, “Nearly 500 assists with over 300 kills. Runs our offense very well and sets a soft, hittable ball nearly every time.” As the #8 seed, Battle Creek plans to play relaxed and fearless. With a tough first round draw against #1 seed and undefeated St. Paul (33-0) at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at Lincoln North Star, the Bravettes will need to remember what they learned while reading the book together every day at practice - “Chop Wood, Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great” by Joshua Medcalf. The book discusses the realization that the greatest adversity on a journey will be the challenge of defeating the person in the mirror. As is on most teams, the mental process on the volleyball court is real. In the off season, Battle Creek ventured to Timberlake Ranch near Marquette. A trip that put the young ladies out of their comfort zone while setting a stage for the upcoming season. Read on to get an idea what goes through their minds. If you could mic up anyone on your team who would it be and what would they say? Makenna - Tria. She would say " why'd you choose me" Madaline - Tria, she would probably say, seriously why would you choose me Junior Payton Kersten - Lilly Knull - She would say something about how she is the best bench cheer person and no one could top her. Tria - Lydia Roskeland, She says the funniest stuff and just makes silly comments Senior Lydia Roskeland - Tria and she would say that we need to go out and try our hardest Kaitlyn - Riley. She would tell us to play fast, stay aggressive, play smart. BriAnna - Lily Knull would hype up the team and make the interview fun. Riley - Tria McLean would probably just say "Go Bravettes" Renee - Coach Bender because he talks a lot and would love to talk about his time with the team. He would go on and on about how we are prepared and are ready for what is going to be thrown at us. Sophomore Kenna Pochop - Riley, and she always says such encouraging words.   What does coach tell you to do time after time? Makenna - Transition Madaline - I need to get low and cover Payton - He always tells us to get our sleep and eat proper nutrition Tria - Talk Lydia - freeze my arms after I pass a ball Kaitlyn - My coaches always tell me that I got this and get my feet to the ball and set. BriAnna -They tell us to get lots of sleep constantly because we need sleep to function all day long. Getting the right amount of sleep will help us perform better. Riley - "It's the little things, focus on them" Renee - To transition all the way back before I hit Kenna - Get hype on the bench.   Favorite go to app and why Makenna - snapchat to keep in touch with all my friends. Madaline - snapchat, talk to my friends Payton Kersten - Spotify because I love music Tria - Tik Tok, I love watching the funny videos Lydia Roskeland - snapchat because that's what most people are one and use Kaitlyn - Twitter because there is alot of positive things and we can see how other teams are doing. BriAnna -My go to app is Snapchat because I can talk to my friends and also watch what is going on in the world. Riley - Snapchat. I love texting my friends and getting to use the fun filters Renee -Snapchat because I can talk to and see my friends at the same time. (over my screen) Kenna - Spotify because it has good music to hype all of the girls up.   Pregame superstitions Makenna - Wearing the same jersey. Madaline - don't want to jinx us so I knock on wood when we say something good Payton - We have a chant we say before each game. Tria - We have a team huddle and break down Lydia - coach Wintz says "same underwear every game" Kaitlyn - We have to listen to good music and have fun together as a team before a game. Renee -Wearing my hair in a bubble braid Kenna - we get hype with lit music   Pregame music Makenna - Get outta your mind Madaline - Get out of your mind Payton - Get out of your Mind Tria - A variety of hype songs Lydia - big sean Kaitlyn - A variety of music that is a fast beat and gets us all hype. BriAnna - Get Outta Your Mind Riley - Songs that are upbeat and are able to dance to Renee -Anything that is fast and upbeat Kenna - Something that everyone knows and that hypes us up before going to play.   How many pictures do you take of yourself with your phone a day? Makenna - at least 200 Madaline - 210 on average Payton - 20 Tria - I have no idea Lydia - maybe 10 Kaitlyn - About 50 BriAnna - 50-75 but i don't save any of them, they are on snapchat Riley - not very many Renee - 50 about Kenna - 50   Has anyone asked for your autograph? Makenna - No Madaline - No Payton - No Tria - Yes Lydia - No Kaitlyn - No BriAnna - No Riley - No Renee - No Kenna - No   Who was your volleyball role model and why? Makenna - The Nebraska volleyball team because they stick together Madaline - The Rolfzen twins, they were really good at volleyball and they were twins. (Twin of Makenna) Payton - My volleyball role model is Riley Seifert because no matter what the situation she is working hard and perseveres through everything. Tria - Kelly hunter, she was always fun to watch because she is so good Lydia -Tria McLean because she is the D1 and is always encouraging Kaitlyn - Kelly Hunter, she inspired me to be the best I can be and that I can do anything if I put my mind to it. BriAnna - My volleyball role model is Kerri Walsh Jennings, I’ve never met her but she works hard at what she does and she has accomplished a lot in her life.   Favorite drill in practice Makenna - 2 touch Madaline - 2 touch Payton - Movement or Four corners Tria - Two touch Lydia -Two touch Kaitlyn - 5 in a row BriAnna - 2 touch or movement Riley - two touch Renee - 5 in a row Kenna - scrimmaging   Least favorite drill in practice Makenna - 14's Madaline - the drill where we go to 5 different spots and have to get three touches on it Payton - Vegas 14s or Cover Kill Tria - Movement Lydia - serving circle Kaitlyn - Cover kill drill BriAnna - cover kill or vegas 14s Riley - 50 pass Renee -50 pass Kenna - 5 in a row hitting drill   What other sports do you participate in high school? Makenna - Basketball, Track Madaline - Basketball, Track Payton - Track Tria - Club Volleyball, Track Lydia - None Kaitlyn - None BriAnna - Basketball, Club Volleyball, Track Riley - Basketball, Track Renee -Basketball, Track Kenna - None   Do you plan to play volleyball in college? Makenna - No Madaline - No Payton - No Tria - Yes Lydia - No Kaitlyn - Maybe BriAnna - Maybe Riley - No Renee - Maybe Kenna - No   If yes, what college and college coach do you want to give you a call? Let us help you get recruited! Tria - Committed to Ohio University   Your favorite inspirational quote or make one up and take the credit for it! Makenna - If you ain't first your last Madaline - Second is the first to lose Payton - There is nothing to fear but fear itself. Lydia - "full send" -Tria McLean Kaitlyn - “Always make a total effort even when the odds are against you” Arnold Palmer BriAnna - "The harder you work for something, the greater you'll feel when you achieve it." -Veronica Posada Uribe Renee -“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there's no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” Kenna - "There are no limits to what you can accomplish, except the limits you place on your own thinking" -Brian Tracy   Is your dad oblivious to the rules of volleyball? What is the best advice your dad has given you? Makenna - No, Hit harder. Madaline - No, To not play slow, I have a pretty slow reaction at times Payton - No, My dad always tell me to never get outworked Tria - Yes, One time he tried to demonstrate passing form to me. He hasn't really gave me any good advice lol. Lydia -Yes, None of his advice has been useful Kaitlyn - No, “You got this”, “just play your game” BriAnna - No, Just trust your teammates and trust your training. Better the ball every time you touch it. Riley - No, "do what makes you happy" Renee - No, Not to get down on myself no matter the situation Kenna - No, Just go out and play your hardest and don't care about what everyone else thinks. What have you worked on extra hard this year to improve your volleyball skills? Makenna - transitioning and staying ready to get the ball. Madaline - My coverage, it has gotten a little better, along with left back Payton - I have worked on my setting and defense a lot this year. Tria - Attacking different sports of the court. Lydia - passing Kaitlyn - I have worked a lot on my defense and getting my feet to the ball and using my legs to set. BriAnna - I have worked a lot on my serve receive and passing because I am not the strongest passer. Riley - passing in the back row Renee - My blocking You make up the question and answer it here. Be creative!!! Makenna - What's your favorite food- french fries Madaline - What's your favorite color? green Payton - My favorite food is noodles Kaitlyn - What’s one thing that helped your team trust each other and grow closer from the beginning of the season? I think our teams trust has grown a lot since the beginning of the season. We have done a lot of team bonding activities for us to get to know each other more and talking on the court helps grow the relationships between the players on the court. Renee -What was my favorite game of the season? A 5 set match vs Wayne and they had beaten us the first 2 times and we finally beat them in a game that mattered (districts) BEST OF LUCK TO THE BRAVETTES THIS WEEKEND!

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Meet and Greet C-1 Nebraska State Volleyball: Battle Creek

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