Meet and Greet C-1 Nebraska State Volleyball: Lincoln Lutheran

Just to grasp the knowledge of #3 seed Lincoln Lutheran (34-3) head coach Sue Ziegler is unfathomable. Being a head coach for 22 years (with a short stint off to watch her daughter and now assistant coach Kelli Megrue play college volleyball) she relays her humble mentality to her players and those in the volleyball community. Former Husker volleyball player Michelle Lynch Sjuts is also a very valuable assistant for the Lutheran crew. With milestones such as Lincoln Journal Star Coach of the Year 2005, KFOR Coach of the Year 2005 and 2018, FCA Coach of the Year 2002, 10 state appearances, C-1 state champions in 2004, C-1 state runner-up 2005 & 2018, C-1 third place 2017, how could you not have a plan laid out for a successful year and a goal for a championship? Coach Ziegler comments on their expectations at state, “We will take one point, set, and match at a time. We do like how things have been progressing throughout the season. The players have shown more confidence in their abilities and been able to work through some close matches. We know that there will be tough competition at State, so we cannot let our guard down. Every point is going to matter, so we need to stay focused for what lies ahead of us. “The team would love to be back at the NE Class C-1 State Championship this season! We have taken 3rd, and Runner-up the past 2 seasons and so the team has the goal and dream of being the Class C1 State Champions this season.” The Warriors meet #6 seed Chadron (31-7) in the first round at Lincoln North Star at 7:30 p.m. “We have a tough opponent in Chadron in our first round. They are a good blocking team. And then God-willing, we hope to play Wahoo, which would be a re-match of last years State Championship! St. Paul is the only undefeated team in our class, so they would also be a tough opponent. Class C1 in general, has a lot of talented teams! No injuries, ... knock on wood! Last year we did have a couple of injuries heading in to post-season, Abi Wohlgemuth and Sami Scholz.” As the #3 seed in the tournament, the Warriors have the potential to meet up with #2 seed Wahoo in the semifinals, a match that was highly anticipated at the Seward Tournament in September until #5 seed Broken Bow upended Wahoo in the semifinals. Lutheran went on to win the Seward Tournament and the highly contested Centennial Conference Tournament. Senior outside hitter and Wichita State recruit Marriah Buss’ resume mirrors that of her coach. As the 2018 Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year and the 2018 Super State Captain, she leads the state in kills and holds state (and school) records for most kills in a season, match, and career. Containing her from the spotlight of her last high school tournament will be a challenge! Marriah Buss - Senior captain, OH, 559 kills, hitting .424, 61 aces, 267 digs, 305 serve receptions. Tied for first in ace serves and everything mentioned above ^^^ Lexie Kreizel - Senior captain, libero, 2018 C-1 Honorable mention, 61 aces, 365 digs, 496 serve receptions. Leads team in team digs and tied for first in ace serves. Paige Trutna - Senior captain, setter, 152 digs, 492 assists in a 6-2 system.Leads team in set assists. Abi Wohlgemuth - Junior MH, 195 kills, hitting .334, 81 blocks. Second in kills on the team, leads in blocks. Ashlyn DeBoer - Sophomore S/RS, 104 kills, 53 aces, 446 assists. Third in ace serves, second in set assists. Molli Martin - Sophomore MH, 64 blocks, second in blocks on team. Abby Wachal - Freshman OH, 180 kills. Third in kills. Has improved immensely over the season. Raegan Holle - Sophomore DS, 46 aces, 254 serve receptions, plays Wachal's back row. Small but is really quick! Sami Scholz - Senior RS Hannah Kile - Sophomore serving specialist, 23 aces on 95.9% serving. Subs - Gretchen Stennet - Sr. RS/MH; Mara Otte - Jr. S; Addi Ernstmeyer - Jr. OH; Shanae Bergt - Soph. OH/RS Some thoughts from the senior captains: If you could mic up anyone on your team who would it be and what would they say? Marriah - I would Mic up Molli Martin, she is the most random person I know. We have been tracking some of her quotes and here are a few, “We’re like pop rocks, you never know what we’re doing or going to do next,” “What do you call a hippopotamus with a long neck, a neckapotamis,” “Are you dating colon? Sorry we're learning about coma, colons, and semicolons in English.” Paige - I would mic up Molli Martin because I think she makes some really funny comments at practice. I couldn't tell you exactly what she'd say because it's always in the moment, but she is absolutely hilarious. She makes our team laugh. Exclusive quote: "We're like pop rocks, you never know what we're doing or going to do next." Lexie - Reagan Holle - “I’m Raegan y juego vóleibol“ really fast for every response   What does coach tell you to do time after time? Marriah - The coaches always remind me to take the big swings but not feel pressure if the ball does not go down every time. Paige - My setting coach, Michelle Sjuts, tends to tell me to make sure to square all the way to the pin when I'm setting. Coach Ziegler and Coach Megrue always tell us to play all out defense and translate the pit drill that we do into game-like situations because defense wins championships! Lexie - Cover with a purpose. Stay aggressive with serves. We need a level 2 or 3 pass   Favorite go to app and why Marriah - Tik Tok, there's a lot of funny things on there. Plus it is cool to see how kids all around the country are really experiencing the same thing as me and experienced the same things in their childhood. Paige - I use Instagram and Twitter a lot- Instagram because there are some really good photographers/artists on there and Twitter because that's where I get my volleyball updates. Lexie - Instagram - I find myself on it way too much and can keep in touch with others and what they’re doing with their lives even though I’m not with them   Pregame superstitions Marriah - I HAVE to wear the same brand of white, Adidas socks for every game. Paige - I don't have any that I can think of off the top of my head, but the team always likes to sing the medley from the end of Pitch Perfect before major games!   Pregame music Marriah - The song "Cool Night" by Paul Davis always calms me down before every game and makes me feel confident in taking on the opponet. Paige - I typically find myself listening to my country playlist- Thomas Rhett, Luke Combs, Brett Young, Dan + Shay, etc are some of my favorite artists. Lexie - Personal - Christian or heavy metal/rock lifting music (stuff that guys would listen too) Team - old Disney (ex: Hannah Montana)   How many pictures do you take of yourself with your phone a day? Marriah - I would say maybe around 20, I take less pictures of myself than I do of my surroundings and things my friends are doing. Paige - None: I don't like taking pictures of myself. Lexie - Probably 100-150   Has anyone asked for your autograph? Marriah - Yes Paige - No Lexie - No   Who was your volleyball role model and why? Marriah - My volleyball role model was Jordan Larson, I remember going to a camp she put on when I was in 4th grade. She told me that I was bound for big things and that has always stuck with me. I would always tell myself that if she believed I could be great, I needed to believe it too. Paige - Growing up, I always loved Gina Mancuso who played for the Huskers because she knew some family friends, so I got to meet her a couple times. Right now, I would say Nicklin Hames because she's an incredible setter and I absolutely love watching her play.   Favorite drill in practice Marriah - USA Wash Drill Paige - I love hitting lines because it's really fun to work on connections with the hitters and it's so satisfying to get that perfect set so someone can slam it on the ten foot line. I also love scrimmage type drills. Lexie - Pit drill   Least favorite drill in practice Marriah - All Out Pepper Paige - Pressure serving: typically I don't have much trouble with it but it stresses me out sometimes!   What other sports do you participate in high school? Marriah - Club Volleyball, Tennis Paige - Club Volleyball Lexie - Basketball, Club Volleyball, Track   Do you plan to play volleyball in college? Marriah - Yes Paige - No Lexie - Yes   If yes, what college and college coach do you want to give you a call? Marriah - Committed to Wichita State Lexie - I’m already committed to go play at Concordia University, Nebraska next year   Your favorite inspirational quote or make one up and take the credit for it! Marriah - Before Scott Frost began his first season at Nebraska he told the newspaper, "A good team doesn't find ways to lose." Paige - "When people say impossible, they usually mean improbable." - Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo   Is your dad oblivious to the rules of volleyball? What is the best advice your dad has given you? Marriah - No, He has told me to think more of my teammates than myself. Whenever I am giving an interview or even in the middle of the game, my teammates and coaches always come before myself. Paige - No, Before every game, my dad tells me to keep the pedal to the metal and if we have a team down, don't let up but keep them down and continue playing well. Lexie - No, “Keep working hard and being a leader”   What have you worked on extra hard this year to improve your volleyball skills? Marriah - I decided to change my serve this summer. So I have spent a lot of time in practice and during different drills trying to perfect it and be the most effective, aggressive server I can be. Paige - I've worked a lot on getting to the ball with my hands and setting it to keep a fast offense instead of just passing it out of system. Lexie - Passing and being the best leader in the back row   You make up the question and answer it here. Be creative!!! Marriah - If the team gave me one gift to represent me on the volleyball team what would it be? The team would give me a helmet because people always joke about how people need to be wearing it because I hit them so much. I'm pretty sure I have hit almost every coach and player with a ball during hitting warm ups. Before I even hit we have to yell for people to watch out, because so many people have gotten hurt. Paige - What's your favorite food and drink? My favorite food is Chinese food and my favorite drink is either Snapple Peach tea or an iced caramel macchiato. Lexie - What is the most fun, but silly drill that your position group does? Answer: we love to have “babies” as volleyballs to help work on our form and keeping good spacing between our platform and stomachs   GOOD LUCK TO THE WARRIORS THIS WEEKEND!!!