The Southern Nebraska Conference Preview Part 1: The Experienced Express

The NSAA has given the green light to fall sports this fall, which means volleyball will be a go this fall. Here is a multipart preview series of the Southern Nebraska Conference. Each article will showcase three to four teams as they gear up to the August 10th start date for practice and August 27th for first competitions. This conference ranges in classification from from C-1 to D-1. The teams included in this conference are Centennial, Fairbury, David City, Milford, Wilber-Clatonia, Heartland, Sutton, Superior, Thayer Central, Fillmore Central, and Sandy Creek. Here is a preview and snapshot of three teams in the SNC. Sandy Creek Cougars Head Coach: Kortney Allen 2019 Record: 2-28 The Cougars return a lot of letterwinners and starters this year and look to be improved in the 2020 fall campaign. Coach Allen commented their goal was to improve physically and mentally each time they step on the floor. They have seniors [player_tooltip player_id="78657" first="Maryn" last="Martin"] who had 366 set assists and 15 ace serves as a junior , Caileigh Tripe had 16 ace serves and 258 digs and the Cougars will look Jaden Claycamp to carry their offense with 191 kills last season and 19 aces. Other returning letterwinners are juniors Jenna Heinz, Leah Hatch, Kirstyn Sherbeck and sophomore McKenzie Bohlen. The Cougars competed in the York Team Camp and the Palmyra Team Camp this summer. Centennial Broncos Head Coach: Alex Anistine 2019 Record: 21-12 These Broncos will be hungry this fall as they have a ton of talent and experience coming back. Coach Anistine commented, that her team’s strength is chemistry. "We have a lot of experience on the team. Returning a lot of starters. Team Chemistry is great. This is a great group of girls on and off the court. Senior class brings a lot of leadership to the team. This group has a lot of drive and motivation to make it far this season. " The Broncos will rely heavily on uncommitted class of 2021 OH Kate Hirshfield. The senior racked up several awards including SNC All- Conference 1st Team, LJS All-State Honorable Mention, OWH All-State Honorable Mention. YNT (York news times)- Captain 1st team, York News Times Female Athlete of the Year. Hirshfield hammered 297 kills, served 60 aces and had 269 digs last fall as a junior. MB Class of 2021 Jaycee Stuhr had 192 kills and 25 ace serves for the Broncos. Running the offense last year was setter [player_tooltip player_id="82611" first="Kiley" last="Rathjen"] had 369 set assists last year 184 digs. Seward transfer Jaci Opfer wil be a huge asset to the Broncos this fall as she adds a ton of experience to the team. Centennial attended the Cross County Team Camp and then had a Satellite Camp with Nebraska One over the summer. David City Scouts Head Coach: Tali Reeves 2019 Record: 10-18 After seeing the Scouts at Concordia’s Team Camp in July I was very impressed with their level of play. They will be a much improved and experienced team this fall and will turn heads in the SNC conference. Coach Reeves commented that all of her starters are returning this fall. They will be lead by uncommitted 2021 6’0" OH [player_tooltip player_id="58265" first="Lauren" last="Vandenberg"] who was on the SNC All- Conference 2nd Team, LJS All-State Honorable Mention, OWH All-State Honorable Mention lists. Vandenberg had 28 aces, 32 blocks, 235 digs and hammered 297 kills for the Scouts last fall. Vandenberg will have a huge supporting cast around her to elevate their play this fall including OH Neely Behrns who chipped in with 163 kills, setter Payton Andel, an OWH All-State Honorable Mention pick who had 616 set assists last fall. RS Emily Johnson, MB Maya Couch, MB Avery Couch-an SNC All-Conference Honorable Mention with 173 kills last year and Libero Natalie Blum who registered 215 digs for the Scouts. This summer they attended the Concordia University Team Camp, the Scott Kneifl Satellite Camp and scrimmaged with Columbus and Columbus Scotus.