The Guardian Angels Central Catholic Bluejays finished third at the state tournament this past weekend, sweeping Arcadia-Loup City 3-0 in the first round at Lincoln Southwest on Thursday, losing 3-1 to Hastings St. Cecilia in the semifinals at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Friday, and beating Shelby/Rising City 3-0 on Saturday in the third place game.
GACC defeated the Rebels 25-17 in set one, 25-8 in set two, and 25-10 in set three.
Maddie Knobbe finished with 13 kills to lead the team while Breanne Kreikeimeier and Katie Steuter registered 8 kills apiece. Morgan Bracht totaled 7 kills and 17 digs. Steuter led the way with 25 digs while Kreikemeier and Kate Knobbe added 11 and 10, respectively. Kali Stratman recorded 7 digs and 16 set assists while Sara Wordekemper dished out 14 set assists.
The Bluejays took set one from the Hawkettes 25-15, but lost the next three sets 25-21, 25-23, and 25-14.
Steuter finished with 14 kills and 28 digs while Kreikemeier and Maddie Knobbe notched 11 apiece. Bracht led the way with 35 digs while Kreikemeier and Kate Knobbe totaled 20 and 19, respectively. Sarah Arduser added 17 digs while Stratman notched 16 digs and 14 set assists. Wordekemper led the way in set assists with 24.
GACC defeated the Huskies 25-21 in set one, 26-24 in set two, and 25-20 in set three.
Maddie Knobbe registered 11 kills while Kreikemeier totaled 8 kills, 7 blocks, and 9 digs. Bracht posted 7 kills and 17 digs while Steuter came in with 21 digs. Kate Knobbe and Stratman notched 12 digs apiece. Stratman added 19 set assists.
The Bluejays didn't reach their goal of winning the state championship, but GACC still had a good state tournament and showed they were one of the top teams in the state.
The Bluejays end the year 31-3.
It was a great run for GACC, who dominated throughout much of the season.
I think the Bluejays pretty much maximized their potential, and played as well as they could have throughout the season.
It takes a lot of hard work and determination to do what GACC did, yet the Bluejays were there ready to play hard night in and night out.
GACC ran the table, and earned the best seed possible at the state tournament.
Maddie Knobbe led the Bluejays in kills this season with 372. Kreikemeier finished with a team leading 67 ace serves. Maddie Kobbe also led GACC in blocks with 159. Steuter was the digs leader with 593. Stratman had 515 set assists to lead the team.
GACC graduates quite a bit of talent, including Wordekemper, Kreikemeier, Steuter, Kate Knobbe, Arduser, and Leah Bracht.
These six seniors meant a lot to Bluejay volleyball this season and in seasons past, and their contributions should not soon be forgotten.
Maddie Knobbe and Stratman are the only two players with a lot of varsity experience returning for GACC next season.
There's a lot of hard work and player development to be done in the offseason, but look for the Bluejays to be good again next year.
GACC has a winning tradition in sports, and that doesn't change next season. I still expect the Bluejays to have a fine season and be in contention for a state title again.
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