New Names Highlight Incredibly Deep Nebraska Class of 2021
Above photo of 2019 Johnson-Brock. Photo contributed by coach. From the panhandle to the Missouri River, Nebraska athletes in the Class of 2021 are going to do some really special things during their high school volleyball careers. Some have already…
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Continue ReadingAbove photo of 2019 Johnson-Brock. Photo contributed by coach.
From the panhandle to the Missouri River, Nebraska athletes in the Class of 2021 are going to do some really special things during their high school volleyball careers. Some have already etched their name in state tournament stories, others have made an impact on the national and USA Volleyball scene, and some we are still discovering. In this Watch List Series, we are highlighting many players that are catching our eye and being added to the watch list. Read on to learn more about Watch List players from Johnson-Brock and Mead.
JOHNSON-BROCK
A few years ago, Johnson-Brock was on top. Winning Class D1 championships in 2015, 2016, 2017, and a runner up in 2018. Then everything changed, yet it didn’t.
Under first-year coach Cara Williams, the Eagles prevailed in 2019 with a 21-12 record and lost in 5 sets to Hartington Cedar Catholic in district finals.
Coach Williams sums it up best, “The team had to face many changes: a new coach and the loss of players that were big assets to the team. They overcame that, learned their roles as players, and stepped up in their leadership. They continued to grow as players and as a team throughout the season.”
The team graduated a setter, but has the supporting cast back and ready to go. Finding that setter will be key to the Eagles success in the difficult Pioneer Conference that includes Diller-Odell, HTRS, Falls City Sacred Heart, and Lourdes Central Catholic.
Coaches 2020 outlook, “I see the team coming out strong. We have a few main spots to fill but still have some very strong players coming back on the court. As long as we get our connection on the court as a team and play consistent in our skills and eliminate our errors, we will be a strong team.”
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Emily Wenzl
Emily
Wenzl
5'7" | MB
Johnson Brock | 2021
NE
| 2021 | 5’7 OH/MB | Southeast Elite
2019 Stats:
Serving Percentage: 91
Digs/Set, Total: 2.1, 182
Receptions/Set, Total: 1.6, 143
Emily comments, “I think coming from a small community and school, all of us girls connect well with each other on and off the court. I am looking forward to all of the upcoming freshman joining the team and also other girls looking to step up and fill different roles.”
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Jordan Koehler
Jordan
Koehler
5'8" | OH
Johnson Brock | 2021
NE
| 2021 | 5’8 OH
2019 Awards: Pioneer Conference Honorable Mention
2019 Stats:
Serving Percentage: 94.4
Digs/Set, Total: 3.5, 305
Jordan looks to play basketball in college, but looks forward to the upcoming season, “We have some big shoes to fill with the setting gone. I’m looking forward to seeing some girls step up and take those spots that need to be filled to make this team successful.”
⇒ Kendra Shreves Kendra Shreves 5'4" | OH Johnson Brock | 2021 NE | 2021 | 5’4 DS/R
Kendra on her volleyball career so far, “I have learned a lot since my freshman year and it feels like it’s gone by so fast! I have stayed in the same position but I’ve also expanded my skills in others.”
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Taylor Buchmeier
Taylor
Buchmeier
5'10" | MB
Johnson Brock | 2021
NE
| 2021 | 5’10 MB | T-10 | UNCOMMITTED AND INTERESTED!
2019 Awards: All-State Honorable Mention OWH & LJS; Pioneer All-Conference Third Team; Academic All-State
2019 Stats:
Kills/Set, Total, Hitting Percentage: 2.2, 194, .290
Blocks/Set, Total: .7, 64
Taylor on her team unity, “Our connections are very strong. We’re not just teammates, we’re practically family with each other..”
MEAD
Mead keeps jumping from class to class and continues to persevere! Finding out late last summer, the Raiders bumped up to Class C2 in 2019 with only 14 players on their roster after playing D2 in 2018. Although a completely different class, Mead finished with a 23-2 record and 7th in NSAA wildcard points. Mead settles into Class D1 this season.
Comments on the 2019 season from 10th-year head coach Keshia Havelka, “We were able to win 20 straight (losing only 4 sets) before falling to Malcolm in the fifth, 14-16, in the ECNC Conference Finals. We then won 3 more to get to the district final but lost in 4 to Wisner Pilger. We had a special group of girls that really peaked last season. Our senior leadership was outstanding (Abby Miller and Delaney Patocka – Peru State recruit and sister of 2022 libero Demmy Patocka) and really pushed the team to never settle for less than perfect.”
After being district runner up the last two years, Mead last competed at state in 2017. With the goal of winning their district in 2020, the players and coaches show that their relationships with each other are the foundation of their team.
⇒ Kyla Hrdlicka Kyla Hrdlicka 5'5" | S Mead | 2021 NE | 2021 | S/OH | Mead Juniors
“Heart is our word this year for our team. The H stands for hustle, E stands for energy, A stands for attitude, R stands for response, and T stands for toughness”
⇒ Lauren Holloway Lauren Holloway 5'4" | DS/L Mead | 2021 NE | 2021 | 5’5 DS/Serving Specialist | Mead Juniors
“I have switched positions from my freshman year to now. My freshman year, I played an all around outside hitter. Now, I am a defensive specialist and a serving specialist..”
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Alexis Johnson
Alexis
Johnson
5'11" | OH
Lincoln Christian | 2020
State
NE
| 2021 | 5’9 MH/RS | Mead Juniors
Lexi went down halfway through last season with an ACL injury but is back and ready for her senior season.
Lexi prepares her goals for her senior season, “Leave everything on the court and giving it my all throughout everything we do.”