10 Best: Roncalli vs. Bergan

OMAHA – Using a unique 5-2 system it implemented at practice the night before, Class B Omaha Roncalli got big performances from seniors Halle Meister and Ava Macke in a 25-23, 25-23, 25-21 win over Class C-2 #5 Archbishop Bergan.

Roncalli coach Andrea Macke said after the match that her team had been somewhat struggling over the summer and early in practices, so they tried out a 5-2 which created more space for Meister and Macke to operate in when they were in the front row. The system clicked in practice and again against the Knights as Washburn recruit Meister went off for 18 kills and Macke added nine in the victory.

Each of the first two sets were tied at 23-23, but it was the Crimson Pride that made the plays at the end of each set. The most pivotal point game in the second set when Bergan had rallied to even the score at 23-23 and was trying to even the match. Meister, the #18 prospect in the Class of 2018, dropped the hammer twice in a row for Roncalli at that crucial time to win the set and give her team a 2-0 lead.

Lexie Langley, the #30 prospect in the Class of 2019, led Bergan with 12 kills.

Now, on to the 10 Best from the match….

MVP: Halle Meister (Omaha Roncalli)

Meister did a little bit of everything for the Crimson Pride in finishing with 18 kills, two blocks and two ace serves while also solid some very solid defense. A huge part of Meister’s game is her overall athleticism and quick feet and with the 5-2 system she had a lot of room to operate and generally had a clear path on all of her approaches. While she’s technically a MH, Meister has the skill set to play at the pins as well, so she was effective from multiple places, making her hard to block.

Best Offensive Performance: Ava Macke (Omaha Roncalli)

While Macke didn’t have the most kills or blocks on the night – she finished with nine kills – her performance was the difference in the match. The 5’11 senior showed some good explosiveness and a quick arm and she gave the Crimson Pride a strong second weapon at the net, something Bergan wasn’t able to produce, and that made a huge difference.

Best Defensive Performance: Madison Murcek (Omaha Roncalli)

Really, both teams played really scrappy on defense and frustrated each other at times, but Roncalli’s sophomore libero was nails all night and very consistent with her passing. All good hitters know that a kill starts with a good pass and Meister and Macke have a lot to be thankful for when it comes to how well Murcek set the offense in motion.

Best All-Around Performance: Lexie Langley (Archbishop Bergan)

Langley matched Meister punch for punch in the first two sets and finished with 12 kills on the night, but she was also the most consistent passer on the evening for the Knights and had at least three sliding pancake digs and a handful of other standout saves to keep rallies alive for the Knights.

Best Intangibles: Allison Dieckmann (Archbishop Bergan)

The junior setter for Bergan had a decent night distributing the ball, but she seemingly all over the place making the gritty plays when the Knights needed them. I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a spot on the court she didn’t slide across during the match.

Best Part About the Concession Stand: The Popcorn

Overall, a great experience at the Roncalli concession stand. First, loved the upbeat people working there that were putting out a positive vibe. Heck, the awesome lady I dealt with even tried to give me my money back on accident (I was tempted, but wouldn’t let her do it). Great selection and I love that they had “combo packages.” For the first night of the season, though, I went the traditional route and just ordered popcorn. Making good high school gym popcorn isn’t as easy as you would think. Some places it’s too salty or has so much butter the bag actually gets soggy. But, Roncalli nailed it with perfect popcorn – just the right amount of butter and it was hot and fresh!

Best Stock-Raising Performance: Haley Kempf (Archbishop Bergan)

The junior MH Kempf is just 5’9, but she has an athletic frame and seemed to play much taller than that. She finished the night with six kills and two blocks. She’s not listed among the top 125 prospects in the Class of 2019 but I think she finds her way into the rankings after watching her Thursday night.

Best Performance by a Sophomore or Freshman: Allie DeGroff (Archbishop Bergan)

There were a handful of really nice young players on display in the match, but it was DeGroff that had the best night. The 5’9 sophomore got better as the match went on and finished the night with eight kills.

Best Player to Watch Out For Moving Forward: Ella Matthies (Omaha Roncalli)

The only freshman on the Roncalli roster, the 5’10 Matthies had some nice moments and finished with three kills in the match as a RS. She comes from an athletic family (sister Mallory was an all-stater and is a redshirt freshman at Peru State) and if she can gain some confidence and be consistent, she could make an impact for the Crimson Pride.

Best Quotes:

“Both sides were very, very scrappy. That’s what made it so fun … and frustrating.” – Roncalli coach Andrea Macke.

The motivation of last year - us losing against them (3-0 in Fremont) - made us want to win this really bad. I’m proud of my team and what we did tonight.” Roncalli senior Halle Meister