Lincoln Lutheran Earns First State Berth Since 2012
Last year Lincoln had 3 teams qualify for the state tournament. Lincoln Southwest, Lincoln Southeast and Lincoln Pius X all qualified for the state tournament in class A. This year the capital city had those same 3 teams qualify for…
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Continue ReadingLast year Lincoln had 3 teams qualify for the state tournament. Lincoln Southwest, Lincoln Southeast and Lincoln Pius X all qualified for the state tournament in class A. This year the capital city had those same 3 teams qualify for the state tournament again in class A, as well as one more team in class C1.
Today Lincoln Lutheran broke through and qualified for the state tournament for the first time in 5 years. The Warriors won the C1 state title in 2004 and was the runner up in C1 that next year. Today at Grand Island Central Catholic, Lincoln Lutheran was the first team from C1 to punch their ticket to state, earning a spot in the tournament for the first time since 2012.
On Monday night the Warriors dominated Milford in the first round of subdistricts, sweeping the Eagles to advance to Tuesday night’s subdistrict final. On Tuesday night Lutheran showed up ready to play again and they completely shut down an upset-minded Lincoln Christian team who knocked off Malcolm on Monday night in the other subdistrict semifinal. The Warriors ended Christian’s season in a commanding fashion. Sophomore Marriah Buss slammed down 27 kills against Christian in the 3 set sweep, breaking 1000 career kills in just her sophomore year. Lutheran advanced to today’s district final and Malcolm got a wild card out of subdistricts, despite losing to Christian.
In today’s district final match the Warriors faced Broken Bow, another upset-minded team who knocked off Ord in 4 sets earlier this week. Lincoln Lutheran had complete control over the first set, winning it 25-9. Broken Bow started to pick things up in the 2nd and 3rd sets, but it wasn’t enough to stop a determined Lincoln Lutheran squad. The Warriors won the 2nd set 25-19 and the 3rd set 25-21, earning them the C1-3 district title.
Lutheran’s setter Hope Leimbach had 37 assists and 12 digs, libero Erin Williams had 22 digs, and Marriah Buss put down 29 kills with her last kill coming on match point. Kayla Ernstmeyer and Hayley Steinbauer did a great job closing the block in the middle for the Warriors.
Lincoln Lutheran will play Ord in the first round of the state tournament Thursday night at 7:30 at Lincoln North Star. If the Warriors win on Thursday night they will advance to Friday’s semifinals at Pinnacle Bank Arena.