The North Bend Central Volleyball beat a pair of nemesis's in Sub-Districts this week, rallying from a 2-1 deficit to beat Columbus Lakeview 3-2 in the C1-6 Sub-District at Columbus High Monday night before sweeping Columbus Scotus 3-0 in Tuesday night's Sub-District Final.
The Tigers lost set one to the Vikings, 25-23, before taking set two 25-12. North Bend Central lost set three 25-17 before winning set four 25-12 and set five 15-5.
North Bend Central beat Scotus 25-22 in the 1st set, 25-14 in the 2nd set, and 25-20 in the 3rd set.
Head Coach Amy Sterup on the wins. "It wasn’t an easy road, that’s for sure. Those are teams that we have historically had trouble with. To beat two good teams really shows that we earned our way in, and that’s how we wanted to it to be."
Sterup adds her team did some uncharacteristic things against the Vikings, but turned things around at the end of that match and played great against the Shamrocks. "Against Lakeview, you could tell we just weren’t on our game. We had struggles that we don’t normally have. I think the sign of a good team is to win even when you are not playing your best. Against Scotus the next night, I thought we played very well and sort of put them on their heels. It showed what type of team we can be when at our best. I think both are good signs heading into all of the tough games ahead."
The Tigers (29-1) take on Wayne (19-12) in the C1-4 Sub-State Final at West Point-Beemer Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
The Blue Devils swept Pierce 3-0 in the C2-7 Sub-District Final at Norfolk High Tuesday night.
Wayne has played really good Volleyball as of late as they are 10-2 in their last 12 matches. The Blue Devils lost 2-1 to the Tigers on two separate occasions in early September, once at the Northeast Nebraska Tournament, and the other time at the North Bend Tournament.
Sterup says it won't be easy to beat Wayne again, but is hoping playing the Blue Devils for a third time brings out the best in her team. "I have always felt that it is very hard to beat a good team 3 times in one year. Having already played them twice, that is a challenge. They took a set from us both times we played, so we know that they are capable. Hopefully, our memory of those games will remind us that they can beat us if we are not at our best so that we bring our A game that night."
I could see Wayne making it a match and being competitive against North Bend Central like the first two times around, or I could see the Tigers coming out and sweeping the match.
I would say North Bend Central needs to have the same type of focus and play the same way they did to close out the Lakeview match and against Scotus.
If the Tigers do that, I think they stand a great chance to win.
North Bend Central is seeking their 2nd straight state tournament appearance. "The state tournament should never be expected. It is a goal for any good team, but if you expect it, you are setting yourself up for failure. So when you do make it, it is always a great feeling. It would certainly prove that last year was no fluke and that these girls took a loss last year and used it as motivation to improve, which I think we have done, Sterup said."
The Tigers are one match away from getting back to Lincoln with a chance to make a run at a state title.
All that stands between North Bend Central and a trip to state is Wayne.
The Tigers have to come out focused, sharp, energized, prepared, and ready on Saturday.
North Bend Central needs to get a good night's sleep and be pumped and motivated to play great Volleyball when they take up Saturday morning.
The Tigers have to visualize what it was like to be in Lincoln last year, and use that as motivation to play a great match on Saturday and get back to state, as if they don't need any more motivation than they probably already have.
Saturday's match can be heard on 107.9 the Bull with first serve slated for 1:00 p.m.
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