Nebraska State Volleyball, Class C-2: GICC wins the important one over Hastings St. Cecelia

CLASS C2 CHAMPIONSHIP #1 seed Hastings St. Cecelia (34-4) Vs #3 seed Grand Island Central Catholic (28-5) Squaring off for the fourth time this season, with #1 seed Hastings St. Cecelia (34-4) winning the first three, #3 seed Grand Island Central Catholic (28-5) won the last meeting, 26-24, 25-22, 25-15, to claim the schools’ 10th state championship. The historied programs have been in the state title game 29 times between them, but never playing against each other. GICC Coach Sharon Zavala in her 45th season with a record of 1064-207, will add the 2019 championship trophy to her case along with 9 other championships and 9 runners-up. Hastings St. Cecelia Coach Alan VanCura in his 42nd season holds a record of 886-267, 7 champions, 3 runners-up. Both teams mentally tough, fundamentally sound and with the skill to make this game one for the record books. The Crusaders won from the service line with 9 aces, with a plethora of them coming from Lauryn Willman, College of St. Mary’s recruit, throughout the state tournament. Although with 8 service errors, the Crusders continued to cause serve receive woes for Hastings St. Cecelia. Crusaders also out-blocked the Flyers 9-4. A game of runs by both teams, the Crusaders relied on the front row of freshman Gracie Woods (7 kills), senior twins Avery (10 kills) and Allison Kalvoda (13 kills), and sophomore Chloe Cloud (7 kills, 6 blocks) and the back row of four year starter senior Kate MacFarland (20 digs) and senior Lauren Willman (13 digs). Katie Maser, Creigton recruit, lead the offense with 32 assists. GICC lead through most of set one with Hastings St. Cecelia never far behind until tying the score at 24. A kill by Gracie Woods and and ace by Lauren Willman, finished the set, 26-24. The Flyers jumped out to a quick lead in set 2 at 10-4 with kills from senior Tori Thomas until GICC went on a 7-0 run behind the serves of Katie Maser. With the score even at 20, GICC pulled ahead to a 25-22 win. The Crusaders never looked back in set 3 with leads of 10-6, 20-10, and finally 25-15 to sweep the Flyers. Hastings St. Cecelia was lead by junior Katharine Hamburger (8 kills), senior Chloe McCauley (8 kills, 11 digs), senior Tori Thomas (9 kills), senior Makenna Asher (17 assists, 15 digs), sophomore Jill Parr (11 assists). For those podcast enthusiasts, checkout former Nebraska head coach Terry Pettit's interview of GICC coach Sharon Zavala <a href="https://terrypettit.com/category/podcasts/">HERE</a>, Inside the Coaches Mind. 3rd PLACE MATCH #2 seed Superior ( 30-3) Vs #4 seed Lutheran High Northeast (30-7) LHNE over Superior, 3-1, 25-15, 19-25, 25-18, 25-21   Kills <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> Thursday </td> <td> Friday </td> <td> Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 27 Rebecca Gebhardt, LHNE </td> <td> Championship </td> <td> Championship </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 27 Kalynn Meyer, Superior </td> <td> 20 Gracie Woods, GICC </td> <td> 13 Allison Kalvoda, GICC </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 27 Shayla Meyer, Superior </td> <td> 18 Avery Kalvoda. GICC </td> <td> 10 Avery Kalvoda. GICC </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 11 Katharine Hamburger, HStC </td> <td> 12 Katharine Hamburger, HStC </td> <td> 9 Tori Thomas, HStC </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 9 Allison Kalvoda, GICC </td> <td> 3rd Place Match </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 9 Adeline Kirkegaard, HStC </td> <td> 26 Kalynn Meyer, Superior </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> 21 Shayla Meyer, Superior </td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   Blocks <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> Thursday </td> <td> Friday </td> <td> Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 7 Adeline Kirkegaard, HStC </td> <td> Championship </td> <td> Championship </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 4 Makenna Asher, HStC </td> <td> 7 Adeline Kirkegaard, HStC </td> <td> 4 Chloe Cloud, GICC </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> 3 Chloe Cloud, GICC </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> 3 Avery Kalvoda, GICC </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> 3rd Place Match </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> 6 Emma Schnakenberg, Superior </td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   Aces <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> Thursday </td> <td> Friday </td> <td> Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 4 Rebecca Gebhardt, LHNE </td> <td> Championship </td> <td> Championship </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3 Makenna Asher, HStC </td> <td> 6 Lauryn Willman, GICC </td> <td> 3 Katie Maser, GICC </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3 Erin Sheehy, HStC </td> <td> 3 Katharine Hamburger, HStC </td> <td> 3 Lauren Willman, GICC </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3 Lauryn Willman, GICC </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3 Courtney Toner, GICC </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   Digs <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> Thursday </td> <td> Friday </td> <td> Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 26 Halle Berner, LHNE </td> <td> Championship </td> <td> Championship </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 22 Rebecca Gebhardt, LHNE </td> <td> 28 Kate McFarland, GICC </td> <td> 20 Kate McFarland, GICC </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 19 Chloe Spence, LHNE </td> <td> 25 Lauryn Willman, GICC </td> <td> 18 Erin Sheehy, HStC </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 17 Shayla Meyer, Superior </td> <td> 16 Courtney Toner, GICC </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 14 Makenna Asher, HStC </td> <td> 3rd Place Match </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 12 Madeline Becker, LHNE </td> <td> 17 Halle Berner, LHNE </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 12 Kate McFarland, GICC </td> <td> 17 Trisha Hayes, Superior </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 12 Lauryn Willman, GICC </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   Assists <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> Thursday </td> <td> Friday </td> <td> Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 27 Zaveah Kobza, Superior </td> <td> Championship </td> <td> Championship </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 26 Chloe Spence , LHNE </td> <td> 49 Katie Maser, GICC </td> <td> 32 Katie Maser, GICC </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 20 Katie Maser, GICC </td> <td> 19 Makenna Asher. HStC </td> <td> 17 Makenna Asher. HStC </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 18 Makenna Asher, HStC </td> <td> 10 Jill Parr, HStC </td> <td> 11 Jill Parr, HStC </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 18 Sierra Blackburn, Superior </td> <td> 3rd Place Match </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 17 Madeline Becker, LHNE </td> <td> 27 Sierra Blackburn, Superior </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 16 JIll Parr, HStC </td> <td> 23 Zaveah Kobza, Superior </td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>