Nebraska State Volleyball, Class B: Powerful Skutt continues champion streak in convincing fashion

CLASS B Championship #1 seed Omaha Skutt (30-4) Vs #6 seed Omaha Duchesne (23-18) The accolades of the Omaha Skutt Skyhawks held true for the match. As a 20th ranked team by USA Today and the four-time defending state champion in class B, Skutt fired on all cylinders against #6 seed Omaha Duchesne (23-18). Wins by Duchesne over #3 Sidney and #2 Waverly set up an unexpected match between the two teams. The Cardinals, coached by Andrew Wehrli in his 5th season, prevailed with their state tournament experience over the last 5 seasons against the Raiders and Vikings. They were runner-up to Skutt in 2017. Wehrli challenges the Cardinal program with a difficult regular schedule each year. With the anticipated hype around Skutt 6’3” junior Lindsay Krause, she did not disappoint. A member of the USA Volleyball World Championship team and Nebraska Husker recruit, led her team on .542 hitting with 15 kills and 14 digs. The Skyhawks hit .447 for the game. But, of course, the cylinders were full for the Skyhawks. 5’11” Senior Megan Skovsonde, switching from libero in 2018 to hitter this year with plans to play at Creighton next season, stood out with 16 kills on .444 hitting and 6 digs. Junior setter Allison Gray, committed to Arizona State, lead in assists with 41, including one off her foot. The Cardinals felt no reprieve when the Skyhawk recruits rotated to the back row. With 6’1” sophomore Ava Heyne (5 kills, 2 blocks), 5’11” sophomore Abigail Schomers (5 kills), and 5’9” junior Cameron Cartwright (8 kills, 2 blocks) fierce at the net. Senior Lauren Diedrich (7 digs) and junior Brianna Skala (11 digs) added to the suffocating defense in the back row. Omaha Duchesne was led by junior Kaitlyn Knobbe (11 kills on .368 hitting), senior Carolyn Ortman (6 kills), senior Maya Delgado (3 kills), and senior Kaitlyn Neely (15 assists). Omaha Duchesne led in set one 3-2 and then the Skyhawks took over for the rest of the match winning 25-14, 25-12, 25-16. The Skyhawks, playing in system for most of the match, found the seams, created mismatched blocks, hit their targets, and played according to the game plan. The Cardinals effort didn’t go unnoticed, but the powerful Skyhawks played to their potential and beyond. Omaha Skutt coach Renee Saunders, with an overall record 298-59 at the school, earned her 5th straight state championship. Check the podcast interview between Saunders and former Husker volleyball coach Terry Pettie at Inside the Coaching Mind for an in-depth conversation between the two. <a href="https://terrypettit.com/category/podcasts/">HERE</a>   Kills <table style="width: 79.5152%; height: 402px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 44px;"> <td style="height: 44px;"> Thursday </td> <td style="height: 44px;"> Friday </td> <td style="height: 44px;"> Saturday </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 69px;"> <td style="height: 69px;"> 28 Whitney Lauenstein, Waverly </td> <td style="height: 69px;"> 26 Lindsay Krause, Skutt </td> <td style="height: 69px;"> 16 Megan Skovsende, Skutt </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 69px;"> <td style="height: 69px;"> 15 Billie Kircher, Norris </td> <td style="height: 69px;"> 17 Mayah Delgado Walker, OD </td> <td style="height: 69px;"> 15 Lindsay Krause, Skutt </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 44px;"> <td style="height: 44px;"> 13 Lindsay Krause, Skutt </td> <td style="height: 44px;"> 15 Kaitlyn Knobbe, OD </td> <td style="height: 44px;"> 11 Kaitlyn Knobbe, OD </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 44px;"> <td style="height: 44px;"> 11 Kalli Kroeker, Norris </td> <td style="height: 44px;"> 15 Mary Taylor, OD </td> <td style="height: 44px;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 44px;"> <td style="height: 44px;"> 10 Cameron Cartwright, Skutt </td> <td style="height: 44px;"> </td> <td style="height: 44px;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 44px;"> <td style="height: 44px;"> 9 Mollie Grosshans, Waverly </td> <td style="height: 44px;"> </td> <td style="height: 44px;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 44px;"> <td style="height: 44px;"> 9 Bailey Jeffers, Waverly </td> <td style="height: 44px;"> </td> <td style="height: 44px;"> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   Blocks <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> Thursday </td> <td> Friday </td> <td> Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 6 Kaitlyn Knobbe, OD </td> <td> 4 Allison Gray, Skutt </td> <td> 2 Cameron Cartwright, Skutt </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 4 Kalli Kroeker, Norris </td> <td> </td> <td> 2 Ava Heyne, Skutt </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 4 Brianna Stai, Norris </td> <td> </td> <td> 2 Caroline Ortman, OD </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3 Allison Brown, OD </td> <td> </td> <td> 2 Megan Skovsende, Skutt </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3 Caroline Ortman, OD </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   Aces <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> Thursday </td> <td> Friday </td> <td> Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 5 Megan Skovsende, Skutt </td> <td> 2 Kiersten Capelle, OD </td> <td> 2 Lindsay Krause, Skutt </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 4 Kaitlin Neely, OD </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3 Jocelyn Healy, OD </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3 Mary Taylor , OD </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   Digs <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> Thursday </td> <td> Friday </td> <td> Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 27 Molly Ramsey, Norris </td> <td> 27 Breanna Skala, Skutt </td> <td> 14 Lindsay Krause, Skutt </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 20 Sofia Bressani, OD </td> <td> 17 Sofia Bressani, OD </td> <td> 11 Breanna Skala, Skutt </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 19 Kila Jordon, Waverly </td> <td> 15 Kaitlin Neely, OD </td> <td> 8 Kierstin Capelle,OD </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 18 Kelsey Perrotto, Waverly </td> <td> 11 Megan Skovsende, Skutt </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 17 Annika Evans,Waverly </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 17 Karsen VanScoym, Waverly </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   Assists <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> Thursday </td> <td> Friday </td> <td> Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 53 Annika Evans, Waverly </td> <td> 48 Allison Gray, Skutt </td> <td> 41 Allison Gray, Skutt </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 45 Maisie Boesiger, Norris </td> <td> 28 Kaitlin Neely, OD </td> <td> 15 Kaitlin Neely, OD </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 39 Allison Gray, Skutt </td> <td> 22 Kiersten Capelle, OD </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 9 Kaitlin Neely, OD </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>