The Stanton Volleyball Team took 3rd place at State over the weekend, sweeping Battle Creek 3-0 in the first round at Lincoln Southwest on Thursday in action heard on 107.9 the Bull, before losing a five-set heartbreaker to Blue Hill in the Semifinals at Pinnacle Bank Arena Friday afternoon in action also heard on the Bull, and in a match that saw the Mustangs hold a 14-11 lead in the final set before the Bobcats rattled off five straight points to win it. Stanton swept Superior 3-0 for third place at Lincoln Northeast on Saturday.
The Mustangs downed the Braves 25-22 in set one, 25-23 in set two, and 25-17 in set three.
Jessie Brandl had 19 kills and 16 digs while Reba Waskowiak notched 14 kills. Bree Burtwhistle added 13 kills, 13 digs, and 26 set assists. Jaiden Hartl added 15 digs while Makenna Espinoza totaled 10 digs and dished out 18 set assists.
Stanton won set one over Blue Hill 25-18 before dropping set two 26-24. The Bobcats went on to win set three 25-18 before the Mustangs took set four 25-17 and lost set five 16-14.
Burtwhisle had 24 kills, 36 digs, and 27 set assists while Brandl notched 23 kills and 29 digs. Liz Christensen added 10 kills and 12 digs while Waskowiak chipped in 8 kills and 17 digs. Hartl added 25 digs while Espinoza compiled 16 digs and 33 set assists. Jasmine Kment contributed 9 digs.
The Mustangs won set over over the Wildcats 25-12, set two 25-18, and set three 25-17.
Brandl finished with 14 kills and 15 digs while Waskowiak had 11 kills. Burtwhistle tallied 8 kills, 10 digs, and 22 set assists. Hartl notched 21 digs while Espinoza chipped in 8 digs and 13 set assists. Kment added 7 digs.
Head Coach Tracy Kuester-Burtwhistle says this was a special season for the program. "Overall season the Mustangs had a great run and made some life long memories."
Great run and season by Stanton, who wraps up the year at 31-2.
Brandl led the team in kills with 343 while Burtwhistle had 332.
Hartl led the way in digs with 440 while Brandl notched 403.
Burtwhistle had 524 set assists while Espinoza totaled 444.
Kuester-Burtwhistle says her team gave it their all at state. "Team performed at a high level, volleyball is a momentum sport and we just did not have that momentum to finish when we needed to at the semi's. They fought till the end and that is all as a coach you can ask your players to do."
Kuester-Burtwhistle says her team used the disappointment of Friday's match as motivation for their final match of the season. "Blue Hill loss did sting a little the players fought till the end. The next day we got up and had the conversation that we could feel sorry for ourselves or get back on the court and make a statement, and that is what we did. We talked about that today only 2 teams in Class C2 can end with a Win and we are going to be one of those teams."
This very talented senior class includes Hartl, Brandl, Espinoza, Burtwhistle, and Waskowiak.
What more can you say about this year's senior class? Wow they accomplished a lot.
Two State Championship Game appearances, including a State Championship, in addition to two third place finishes at State.
That's one heck of a career and run.
Kuester-Burtwhistle says this year's senior class wants there to be even better teams in the future. "The senior class has left a legacy being the first class to go to state 4 consecutive years and place those 4 years. However, at the same time they have stayed humble and want future classes to 'break' all those records. They are truly a definition of leadership on and off the course."
Key returners for next year include Ellie Locke and Kment.
I don't know what the future holds for Stanton, but this year's senior class accomplished so much.
The Mustangs had a heck of a run, and I'll be curious to see if Stanton can keep it going next year.
I think it's time for the Mustangs to sit back and enjoy this one for a little while.
Stanton's returning players have to get ready to get back to work as soon as they can, but they should enjoy this run the team had this year for a while.
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