The future is bright for the Knights. Sandhills/Thedford boasted some productive freshmen on last year’s 26-6 squad, and Ray loomed large in multiple statistical categories. This is a classic do-everything setter-hitter. It’s a niche that has become a staple of Nebraska’s best rural programs, and Ray has taken her dual role to the next level. She has a high, winding approach on the right pin and is particularly good at finding open corners of the opposing defense. Then, Ray rotates into the backcourt and operates Sandhills/Thedford’s balanced offense. Even while Ray led the team in hitting percentage last year, she offered so much more around the dial.

We have another single-school double-dip from the small-town circuit. Ray added to the Sandhills/Thedford representation at Saturday’s event and shouldered multiple roles throughout the showcase. This dynamic athlete exhibited her prowess as a setter and attacker, often shifting between both positions during team drills. We’ve covered so many multi-talented standouts at Sandhills/Thedford over the years, and Ray could add to the list.