The Stanton Mustangs are 4-1 in their last four matches, defeating Madison 2-0 and Wisner-Pilger 2-1 last Thursday at home in the East Husker Conference Tournament, and Howells-Dodge 2-1, but losing 3-1 in the Championship to North Bend Central on Saturday in Wisner.
Stanton swept Lutheran High Northeast 3-0 on the road Tuesday night.
The Mustangs downed the Dragons 25-17 in set one, and 25-11 in set two.
Bree Burtwhistle had 8 kills and 11 set assists while MacKenzie Brandl notched 8 digs. Makenna Espinoza dished out 10 set assists.
The Gators won set one 25-12 before Stanton took sets two and three 25-16 and 25-22.
Hannah Heppner totaled 11 kills while Burtwhistle registered 8 kills, 17 digs, and 15 set assists. Brandl posted 27 digs with Espinoza adding 10 digs and 9 set assists. Katie Brandl contributed 7 digs.
The Jaguars won the first set 25-18 before the Mustangs came back to win set two 25-13 and set three 26-24.
Burtwhistle posted 17 kills and 15 set assists while Jessie Brandl had 12 kills. MacKenzie Brandl posted 26 digs while Katie Brandl compiled 15. Espinoza recorded 10 digs and 18 set assists. Allie Spence chipped in 7 digs.
The Tigers won set one 25-21 before Stanton took set two 25-23. North Bend Central won sets three and four 25-19.
Jessie Brandl put down 15 kills while Hannah Heppner totaled 12. Burtwhistle recorded 11 kills, 7 digs, and 20 set assists. MacKenzie Brandl and Katie Brandl notched 18 and 16 digs, respectively, while Espinoza dished out 16 set assists.
The Mustangs defeated the Eagles 25-21 in the first set, 25-22 in the second set, and 26-24 in the third set.
Heppner registered 15 kills while Jessie Brandl and Burtwhistle posted 12 apiece. Burtwhistle added 23 digs and 18 set assists while MacKenzie Brandl contributed 18 digs and 10 assists while Kiley Wiedeman and Katie Brandl totaled 9 and 8 digs, respectively. Espinoza compiled 15 set assists.
Head Coach Tracy Kuester-Burtwhistle says LHNE made her team work hard.
"The match against LHNE was a very competitive match. LHNE played some great defense on us which made us utilize all of our hitters, and keep that composure doing some long volleys. It was a good win for us."
Kuester-Burtwhistle says it's nice to have Jessie Brandl back, even though she's limited.
"Jess is only playing 3 rotations at this time for the Mustangs. We never want players out for illness and feel the team did a good job of stepping up during her absence, it was a learning curve. Having Jess back gives us again more options in our offense."
Stanton (23-5) takes on North Bend Central (22-2) and Logan View (3-25) at the North Bend Central Triangular on Tuesday.
The Tigers swept Howells-Dodge 3-0 at home this past Tuesday night while the Raiders lost 2-0 to Wisner-Pilger and Scribner-Snyder at their home triangular on Thursday.
Kuester-Burtwhistle says she hopes her team is at full strength and executes against NBC. "
North Bend on Tuesday we are excited to match up again. During conference our starting Middle Sally Brechbill did not play due to illness, so we are hoping to have all our starters back by Tuesday. We will need to continue to be aggressive blockers and attackers. Also, we will need to clean up our serve receive so we are not playing so many 2nd contacts out of system and we will be adjusting our defense slightly."
Kuester-Burtwhistle adds it will be nice to be at full strength, but everyone needs to work together like they did in Jessie Brandl's absence.
"Our philosophy is that not one player makes a team and feel our team has done a great job of adjusting to adversity over the last 3 weeks. Having all starters back on Tuesday we are excited to see the possibilities. However, we will need all players playing their role to continue to add the 'w' to our record."
I expect Tuesday night's match against the Tigers to be tight. I don't think Stanton will have much trouble defeating Logan View.
The match being in North Bend makes it a really tough draw for the Mustangs though.
Stanton is definitely capable of winning, and I think this match will go three sets.
It's too bad the two teams couldn't play the best of five again because I think these two teams are too good for things to be decided in three sets.
I give North Bend Central the edge with the match being on their home floor, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if the Mustangs found a way to win.
Stanton appears to be playing their best Volleyball of the season at the right time.
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