Stanton won state for the first time ever, downing Centura 3-1 in the first round at Lincoln Southwest Thursday night, Hastings St. Cecilia 3-0 in the semifinals Friday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena, and Diller-Odell 3-0 in the state championship Saturday afternoon at the Devaney Center.
The Centurions took set one from the Mustangs, 25-23, before Stanton won set two 25-22, set three 25-18, and set four 25-15.
Jessie Brandl totaled 25 kills and 13 digs while Bree Burtwhistle posted 15 kills, 14 digs, and 34 set assists. Hannah Heppner contributed 13 kills. MacKenzie Brandl notched 26 digs while Makenna Espinoza registered 8 digs and 24 set assists. Katie Brandl added 8 digs.
The Mustangs earned a 25-16 set one win over the Hawkettes. Stanton took set two 25-13 and set three 25-14.
Jessie Brandl recorded 12 kills and 8 digs while Bree Burtwhistle put down 10 kills and had 12 digs and 20 set assists. Heppner notched 9 kills while MacKenzie Brandl posted 14 digs and 7 set assists. Katie Brandl added 10 digs with Espinoza dishing out 7 set assists.
The Mustangs took care of the Griffin 25-22 in the first set, 25-23 in the second set, and 25-21 in the second set.
Jessie Brandl registered 21 kills while Burtwhistle and Heppner totaled 12 apiece. Katie Brandl posted 7 kills and 7 digs while MacKenzie Brandl had 23 digs and 9 digs. Burtwhistle added 14 digs and 27 set assists while Espinoza compiled 16 set assists.
Head Coach Tracy Kuester-Burtwhistle says winning state was a big deal for everyone involved.
"The players worked so hard in the off season and season for this and it was a goal they communicated out to win Class C2. They played very competitive volleyball at the State Tournament and bringing home that State Championship Trophy is something the players, coaches, fans and community are very proud to have accomplished."
Kuester-Burtwhistle adds the team really locked in after the set loss to Centura.
"After the 1st set we lost, we just asked the players to refocus and realize it's one set. Let's get out there and control what we can control - be aggressive servers, play defense first, setters make good choices and all hitters be ready to attack to kill. And that is exactly what they did:)"
It was a picture perfect season for Stanton. Things couldn't have ended any better than they did for the Mustangs.
Stanton wraps up their state championship season with a 31-6 record.
The State wins were huge, and the wins over Clarkson/Leigh, Pierce (twice), Twin River (three times), Lutheran High Northeast (twice), Battle Creek, Hartington Cedar Catholic, Wisner-Pilger (twice), West Point-Beemer, Howells-Dodge (twice), Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, and Nebraska Christian were big as well.
All of those teams except West Point-Beemer had records above .500.
Everyone the Mustangs lost to had at least 19 wins with everyone besides Hartington Cedar Catholic winning over 20 matches.
Burtwhisle led the way with 342 kills on the season while Jessie Brandl notched 317. MacKenzie Brandl posted a team-high 613 digs while Burtwhistle also had the team lead in set assists with 594.
This team has the potential to be scary good next year, in my opinion.
Burtwhistle and Jessie Brandl are back as is Espinoza, Heppner, and Allie Spence, among others.
Stanton says goodbye to MacKenzie Brandl, Kiley Wiedeman, Ashley Colwell, Sally Brechbill, Lizzy Kremlacek, and Katie Brandl.
These girls are significant losses, but the Mustangs have to be really thrilled with all who they bring back.
Kuester-Burtwhistle says this year's team came together as one.
"It was a team that was coachable and every set back we might endured they learned from it. We had tears at times in celebration and tears at times in frustration, however through it all they stayed focused and learned that the 'star' of the team is the TEAM."
When asked about repeating next year, Kuester-Burtwhistle had this to say.
"hmmm - has it crossed my mind - yes! Have we talked about it as a team yet - no:). The 2017 team will have 4 or really 5 returning starters."
We will find out soon enough what Stanton does for an encore.
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