Gering, Mullen retain top spots in western Nebraska volleyball Top 5 rankings
Western Nebraska’s big schools — Class B and Class C schools — had a rough week. All of our Top 5 suffered losses this week, which made it difficult to rank. Gering, Maywood-Hayes Center and Ogallala maintain the top three spots as a result. Mullen retains the top spot in our small school rankings.
Big school
1. Gering (22-5) — The Bulldogs retain the top spot despite having a tough weekend as co-host of the Twin Cities Tournament. Ivy Bruckner has amassed 67 blocks on the season. Gering swept Class A Kearney, but fell to Gretna and Seward. The Bulldogs host Wheatland (Wyo.) on Thursday and host the Western Conference Tournament on Saturday.
2. Maywood-Hayes Center (16-6) — The Wolves dropped both matches — to Gothenburg and Cambridge — at a triangular Thursday at Cambridge. Chloe Jeffers has 203 digs and Caylie Softley has 271 kills on the season. The Wolves had a week to lick their wounds before they face Southern Valley on Thursday. The season ends for MHC at Sutherland Tuesday and in the RPAC Tournament beginning Oct. 15.
3. Ogallala (14-10) — The Indians went 2-4 at the Twin Cities Tournament, beating Alliance and Rapid City Stevens (S.D.), but falling to Gretna, Kearney, Grand Island Northwest and Seward. Alex Ervin is averaging 4.1 kills per set to lead the way. Ogallala comes back this week with a home triangular against Minden and Broken Bow and a road tilt against Scottsbluff.
4. Valentine (13-5) — The Badgers swept Hershey last Thursday to move to 13-5 and are now the top western Nebraska team in the C-1 wildcard point standings, two spots ahead of Ogallala. Devahney Belville has 477 assists this season. The Badgers face Gordon-Rushville on Thursday before hosting the Valentine Round Robin on Saturday.
5. Perkins County (12-7) — The Plainswomen dropped matches to Garden County and Wauneta Palisade at a home tri on Tuesday. Ella Homan has 143 digs and Macey Cole has 231 assists on the season. They beat Hemingford on Friday. Upcoming is a match at rival Chase County on Thursday and home tri against Hershey and Dundy County-Stratton on Tuesday.
Small school
1. Mullen (18-1) — After a blip on the radar two weeks ago, the Broncos have bounced back with five straight including a win Friday at Anselmo-Merna. Kalli Licking has 471 assists and 161 digs to lead Mullen. This week, the Broncos face Maxwell on Friday night before playing in the Anselmo-Merna Tournament this weekend. The MNAC Tournament is also on the horizon for Mullen.
2. Hay Springs (15-4) — The Hawks went 2-1 this weekend at the Morrill Invite and swept Gordon-Rushville on Tuesday. Devyn Young has 47 aces and Reese Varvel has 343 assists on the season. Hay Springs travels to Minatare on Thursday and plays in the Anselmo-Merna Tournament on Saturday.
3. Dundy County-Stratton (17-3) — The Tigers have won five in a row including sweeping matches against South Platte and Wallace at a tri in Big Springs Saturday. They also went 3-1 at the Decatur Community Invite in Kansas on Saturday. Abi Spargo is averaging 5 kills per set and has 53 blocks on the season. DCS steps up in class to face C1 Sidney on Thursday before heading to a tri at Perkins County against the Plainswomen and Hershey.
4. Crawford-Sioux County (18-5) — The Ram Warriors fell to our No. 2 Hay Springs on Saturday at the Morrill Invite, but finished 2-1 and then swept Hemingford on Monday. Ada Norman has totaled 55 blocks this season. Crawford-Sioux County heads to Cody-Kilgore on Friday, then gets a break before playing in a tri at Chadron with a step up in Class against the Cardinals and Valentine.
5. Sandhills/Thedford (13-5) — The Knights fell to Class C1 Broken Bow last Thursday but swept Sandhills Valley on Friday. Grace Johnston has totaled 358 assists this season. Upcoming is the Arcadia-Loup City Tournament Saturday and the MNAC tournament next week.
