Bobcats exit state tourney earlier

By the time the Bobcats shook off any nervousness during the opening round of the 2023 Nebraska School Activities Association Class C2 State volleyball Championships, Lincoln Lutheran jumped to a two-set advantage.

The Warriors went on to sweep Summerland, winning 25-11, 25-13 and 25-18, in the first round, played Nov. 2 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.

"I thought the girls played hard," said Coach Danielle Birch. "We were matched up with a really good team, but the girls did not let that intimidate them. It took a couple sets to get the jitters out and find our rhythm, but I thought the 3rd set we really had Lincoln Lutheran worried."

In the third set, the Bobcats established the tone in the race to 25, taking an 8-4 lead. Lincoln Lutheran fought back and, despite an 11-9 Summerland lead, the Warriors relied on an ace serve and block to knot the set.

"Kudos to their libero, she did not let a lot drop, which made it difficult for us to win some points we were used to winning, but the girls kept battling and fought for every point," Birch said.

The Warriors nailed a couple of kills and landed an ace serve to extend the lead to 17-11.

Lydia Robertson smashed a kill and an Ady Mlnarik hit brought life to the Bobcats. Preslie Robertson added an ace serve to make it 23-14, but Lincoln Lutheran sent a hit to the back court to finish the match.

Mlnarik and Lydia Robertson both finished with 5 kills a piece and Preslie Robertson ended with three aces.

Birch noted she was proud of the girls and their fight and determination all year.

"We were counted out of so many games all season and many people wrote us out of our subdistrict early. The girls played our game, stayed disciplined and showed many people how much heart and grit they had. (I) Could not have asked for a better group of girls for my first season as head coach," she said.