Nebraska Talent Shining on Midland U’s run to NAIA Title Match
Midland University (16-9) has pushed through the NAIA National Tournament to reach the finals for the first time in program history! The Warriors will face Missouri Baptist (27-2) at 7:00 Saturday, May 7, at the Tyson Event Center in Sioux…
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Continue ReadingMidland University (16-9) has pushed through the NAIA National Tournament to reach the finals for the first time in program history! The Warriors will face Missouri Baptist (27-2) at 7:00 Saturday, May 7, at the Tyson Event Center in Sioux City, Iowa, and can be viewed live on ESPN 3. The two teams met in a season opener with Midland prevailing 3-2. Missouri Baptists only other loss of the season was to Ottawa University Kansas.
While the Spartans roster contains players from Serbia, Argentina, Columbia, Netherlands, Brazil, and Poland, the Warriors have 18 out of 20 players from Nebraska. Head Coach Paul Giesselmann, in his 11th year at MU, has always focused on the talent in Nebraska.
Coach Giesslemann comments, “I’m really proud of this team. They started this journey on August 13th and tonight they are playing for a National Championship. I’m blessed to be located in a hotbed of high school talent in Nebraska. It’s who we recruit and helps make up our team culture.”
In addition to these current college players, Coach Giesselmann’s recruits in the Class of 2021 are some of Nebraska’s finest. Read more here Midland University recruits all over the 2021 Rankings.
PLAYERS THAT PLAYED IN SEMIFINALS:
Lauryn Samuelson | 6’0 | MH | Freshman | Southern Valley HS, Oxford, NE
As a multi-sport athlete at Southern Valley HS, Lauryn helped her Class C2 team to state tournament appearances in 2016 and 2017. She averaged 4.9 kills/set on .347 hitting.
Hope Leimbach | 5’4 | S | Sophomore | Lincoln Lutheran, HS
Remember that blond setter from Lincoln Lutheran that could jump out of the gym for blocks? Being on the shorter side, Hope was in a 6-2 setter system her first year at college, but has taken the reigns this year. She has contributed 26 blocks so far. Who said height mattered in volleyball? And, just so readers know, Hope has a little sister that will be a freshman at Lincoln Lutheran next season. Keep an eye on her!
Taliyah Flores
Taliyah
Flores
5'8" | OH/LI
Papillion-LaVista South | 2018
State
NE
| 5’8 | OH | Junior | Papillion-LaVista South
This was a player I saw when she was a 6th grader playing in a tournament in Louisville, NE on the Sidney, Iowa team. As a 6th grader, she stood out with her impeccable footwork and understanding of the game. After the floods in Sidney, Taliyah’s family made a home in Papillion. Recruited and playing as a libero at North Dakota State, Taliyah made it back to Nebraska and to Fremont. Playing a libero her first year at Midland and garnering the 2019 GPAC Libero of the Year, this powerful, playmaker made it back to the front row in her junior year. And wow!!!
Brooke Fredrickson | 5’10 | OH | Junior | North Bend
Brooke’s high school team made it to the Class C1 State Tournament in 2016 and 2017.
Sydney Morehouse | 5’10 | MH | Junior | Papillion-LaVista South
Coach recruits well in the Papillion area. Note Priscilla O’Dowd and Jessica Peters from Papillion LaVist High that had a 26-8 record at Midland their senior season in 2019. In addition to Flores, another Papio South recruit. Although the Titans did not win a championship during their tenure, they were always a presence at the state tournament. Lots of recruits from this area either play at Nebraska or Midland, hmmmm….
Maggie Sempeck
Maggie
Sempeck
5'3" | LI/DS
Millard West | 2018
State
NE
| 5’4 | DS | Junior | Millard West
Millard West made it to the Class A State Tournament from 2011-2019. She led her team in digs her junior year (5.7 d/s) and second on the team in her senior year (3.1 d/s).
Maggie Hiatt | 6’2 | MH | Senior | Louisville HS
Watching Maggie grow up throughout sports at Louisville, she was always a force to contend with in any arena! Coming from a large family, Maggie got the height and competitiveness! She averaged 4.6 kills/set on .288 hitting and 1.1 blocks/set her senior season. She had 263 total blocks during three years of varsity play in high school. She currently ranks 8th in program history in single-season block assists and 9th is career block assists at Midland. Interesting note on Maggie – Being a veteran on the team and about to graduate, Maggie is already working in the real world as a realtor!
Kaitlynn Smith | 5’9 | DS | Senior | Johnson-Brock HS
You will remember Kaitlyn on the Eagles teams that won three Class D1 championships in a row!
Jaisa Russell | 5’7 | DS | Senior | Gretna
Gretna is another regular at the state tournament. During high school Jaisa played all the way around but really stood out in the back row leading her team with 4.8 digs/set her senior year. It seems to be a family thing for the Russels and Midland. Now sister
Shaina Russell
Shaina
Russell
5'10" | OH
Gretna | 2021
State
NE
and cousin Saige Craven (Ashland) will be added to the roster next season.
MacKenzie Sempeck | 5’5 | DS | Junior | Millard West
Both Sempeck sisters play in the back row and from the service line.
ADDITIONAL PLAYERS ON ROSTER:
Mariah Allen | 5’6 | DS/OH | Freshman | Beatrice
Addison Johnson Addison Johnson 5'10" | OH Columbus | 2024 State NE | 5’11 | OH | Sophomore | Cody-Kilgore
Carrie Beethe Carrie Beethe Johnson County Central | 2020 NE | 6’1 | MH | Freshman | Johnson County Central, Tecumseh
Heather Bills | 5’11 | RS | Senior | Elkhorn HS
Cheyenne Mehnke | 5’6 | DS | Fremont
Megan Aultz | 5’11 | OH | Senior | Nebraska City
Samantha Christiansen | 5’5 | Setter | Freshman | Abraham Lincoln HS in Coucil Bluffs, IA
Shaye Porter | 5’8 | OH | Freshman | Hitchcock County HS, McCook, NE
Kamrin Mauzey | 5’5 | DS | Freshman | Benton HS, St. Joseph, MO
GOOD LUCK WARRIORS!