Wilcox-Hildreth makes school history in first state volleyball berth, sweeps S-E-M
WILCOX — In an arena where you couldn’t hear your own thoughts, Wilcox-Hildreth volleyball made school history on Saturday.
The Falcons first made history Tuesday, earning their first showing in a district final after surviving a five-set thriller against S-E-M. Then swept the Mustangs 25-16, 25-17, 25-20 in a Class D2-7 District Final on Saturday, earning their school’s first-ever state berth.
Wilcox-Hildreth volleyball gathers for a team photo after sweeping S-E-M on Saturday to earn the Class D2-7 District championship and their first-ever state berth Saturday in Wilcox.
“It feels amazing,” Wilcox-Hildreth coach Haley Marsh said. “I’m very, very proud of our girls. They’ve worked hard this entire season to make it to this point.”
Wilcox-Hildreth received the No. 7 seed in the Class D-2 State Championship, and faces No. 2 Mullen (30-2) at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.
A young team and a first-time head coach, were no worries for the Falcons this season. Wilcox-Hildreth stayed perfect against S-E-M, sweeping the series 5-0.
“I think the last time we saw S-E-M, we were playing a little bit of scared to lose ball, but today we went out with the intention of winning and swinging on every single ball,” Marsh said.
Marsh said the team worked harder in practice in preparation for the district final. “We just made sure that the game felt easy,” she said. “We didn’t make it easy on them this week like many other coaches might have. We wanted them to feel pressured in the week.”
The Falcons gained a 6-1 lead in the first set off a second service ace by freshman Ellie Blank. The Mustangs were able to battle back within two at 8-6, but Wilcox-Hildreth kept the pressure on.
Wilcox-Hildreth’s Ellie Blank (10) attacks the ball in the Falcons’ win over S-E-M in a Class D2-7 District Final on Saturday in Wilcox.
Kyler Jones and Haylee Hays each had a kill in the Mustangs’ 3-0 run, where S-E-M pulled within two at 18-16. Wilcox-Hildreth completed the set win on a 7-0 run. Senior Madison Sheen had two kills in the Falcon run.
S-E-M’s Kyler Jones (3) attacks the ball against the block of Falcon Elsie Donley (14) in the Mustangs’ loss in a Class D2-7 District Final on Saturday in Wilcox.
The second set had a different pace as the Mustangs tied the set at 3 off a Jones’ solo block. Blank and Elsie Donley had back-to-back solo blocks, extending the Falcons’ lead 5-3.
Avery Harder had a service ace, helping the Mustangs in a second tie at 7. The Mustangs took their first lead of the afternoon after a Jones service ace. Lily Hrasky followed with a kill, pushing S-E-M up 10-8.
After the Falcons trailed by three, they completed a 4-0 run regaining the lead off a tip kill by Camryn Bunger.
Wilcox-Hildreth’s Camryn Bunger (4) attacks the ball against the block of S-E-M’s Haylee Hays (2) in the Falcons’ win in a Class D2-7 District Final on Saturday in Wilcox.
Later, a Myka Cranwell service ace tied the set at 15. A Donley block jumped started a 9-0 run for the Falcons. Donley had two kills in the run, giving Wilcox-Hildreth a 2-0 set lead.
A Donley kill early in the third set pushed the Falcons up 3-1. The Falcons maintained the lead until late in the set.
S-E-M trailed by five, but followed a timeout with a 6-0 run off a Jones’ service ace. The Mustangs took an 18-17 lead. A Sheen serve skimmed the top of the net and fell on the Mustang side for an ace, putting the Falcons back on top at 20-19.
After an Ally Kappel kill, the Falcons finished off the match on a 5-0 run. Bunger won the match for the Falcons with a service ace 25-20.
S-E-M’s Myka Cranwell (10) sets the ball in the first set of the Mustangs’ loss to Wilcox-Hildreth Saturday in a Class D2-7 District Final in Wilcox.
The freshman hitters for the Falcons totaled 17 combined kills.
“I got to see them (freshmen) a little bit last year as student managers,” Marsh said. “So watching them being able to actually compete has been what has helped them the most.
“When you only have 10 girls in practice, it makes things a little hard. We just try do a lot of reps for them. They’ve learned a lot through playing other teams, like what works and what doesn’t.”
Marsh said that with only one senior this year, Madison Sheen’s leadership helped in the big moments.
“She (Madison) has done a great job for us,” she said. “It’s hard to carry the weight of a whole them on your shoulders when there’s just one of you. She has done a great job, especially in this last week, bouncing back to help her teammates grow further.”
Marsh said she was extremely thankful for the community from the Falcon community, and their attendance through the season and especially in postseason action.
“Their attendance today felt phenomenal,” she said. “As a coach, it made me very proud for these girls. Those girls deserve it because they attend almost every single football game, whether they’re a cheerleader, a fan or a sibling.
“So to see everybody give back to this volleyball program, just like the volleyball program has given to them in the past, has been awesome to see and watch.”
FALCON STATS
Kills- Blank, 10; Bunger, 7; Sheen, 6; Donley, 5
Aces- Sheen, 3; Bunger, 2; Blank, 2; Elin Patterson, 1
Solo blocks- Donley, 8; Bunger, 1
Digs- Sheen, 14; Blank, 11; Bunger, 11; Patterson, 8; Donley, 9
Assists- Georgia Guthrie, 30
MUSTANG STATS
Kills- Jones, 9; Hays, 8; Kappel, 2.
Aces- Jones, 3; Harder, 1; Myka Cranwell, 1; Mia Cranwell, 1
Digs- Jones, 15; Mia Scoville, 6
Assists- Myka Cranwell, 15; Harder, 3
Wilcox-Hildreth’s Madison Sheen (6) tips the ball over the block of S-E-M’s Kyler Jones (6) during the Falcons’ win in a Class D2-7 District Final on Saturday in Wilcox.
S-E-M’s Haylee Hays (2) attacks the ball against the block of Falcons Ellie Blank and Elsie Donley during a Class D2-7 District Final on Saturday in Wilcox.
S-E-M’s Avery Harder (7) passes on serve receive in the Mustangs’ loss to Wilcox-Hildreth in a Class D2-7 District Final on Saturday in Wilcox.
Wilcox-Hildreth’s Elsie Donley (14) attacks the ball around the block of S-E-M’s Kyler Jones in the Falcons’ win in a Class D2-7 District Final on Saturday in Wilcox.
