Team: Stanton
Mascot: Mustangs
Colors: Orange and Black
Class: C-2
Head Coach: Tracy Kuester-Burtwhistle (5th season) (126-16 record)
2018 record: 31-2 (beat Superior in 3rd place match at State)
Returning Starters: 3
Overview:
The Stanton Volleyball Team is coming off what was arguably the greatest season and four-year run in school history, going 31-2 and taking 3rd place at the State Tournament.
The Mustangs graduated a ton of talent from that team, including Jaiden Hartl, Jessie Brandl, Makenna Espinoza, Liz Christensen, Bree Burtwhistle, and Reba Waskowiak.
Three of those girls are now playing College Volleyball, and you hope what they taught the then underclassmen now main contributors leads to more success for Stanton this season.
The Mustangs bring back three starters, including Jasmine Kment (5'4, SR L), Kaylee Matthies (5'9, SR MH), and Ellie Locke (5'8, JR RSH).
Head Coach Tracy Kuester-Burtwhistle says she looks forward to what Kment can do this season. "Played as a defensive specialist position for the Mustangs last season and we look forward to the experience and knowledge she gained last year to impact the back court this upcoming 2019 season."
She adds Matthies gained a lot of valuable experience last year. "Returner 1st year starter Kaylee as the season progressed last year really built her confidence as a middle on attacking the ball and blocking. We look forward to see her potential this season."
Kuester-Burtwhistle says the team expects great things from Locke this year. "Ellie a returning starter last year at RSH had 74 kills, off season she has moved to OH position and we are looking at her as a great contributor when we need something to happen, we could count on her."
Other possible contributors include Emily Colwell (5'6, SR S/RSH), Morgan Remm (5'3, SR S), Marissa Remm (5'4, SR DS), Mylie Otto (5'9, SR MH), Frankie Hansen (5'7, SR RSH), Kinley Pohlman (5'8, SO RSH/OH), Sylvia Cunningham (6'0, SO MH/RSH), and Olivia Cunningham (5'9, FR OH/RSH).
I don't know if Stanton will be as good this year as they have been the last four years, but I fully expect the Mustangs to still be good and competitive.
I think a State berth or at least another postseason run is possible for this squad.
I feel there's quite a bit of talent across the board that can produce quite a few wins for the Mustangs this season.
I don't know if Stanton will be nearly as dynamic or flashy as they have been in the past, but I still expect the Mustangs to be a solid ball club.
I feel this is a team that will only get better as the year goes on.
Season Outlook:
Stanton opens up the season on August 29th at home against West Point-Beemer and Battle Creek in a Triangular.
Of course the Mustangs beat Battle Creek at State last year, and the Braves are kind of a rival you could say.
The Cadets graduated quite a few girls from last year and have a new coach so it will be interesting to see what happens.
I could be there being splits across the board that night just given the nature of all three teams and the season just starting.
Kuester-Burtwhistle has this preseason assessment of her team. "The 2019 Mustang team will be returning 3 starters that will give us some experience to our line up. Our focus this year will be the pass and serve game, which our players do an exceptional job at that. We look forward to be a competitive team in Class C2."
The early part of the schedule appears to be the toughest for Stanton.
I could see the Mustangs struggle early and then pick things up midseason and make a run.
I think it might take Stanton some time to get things figured out, but I fully expect the Mustangs to continue their winning ways of the past.
If Stanton can just get into a Sub-State game then lookout.
It's one game to go to State, and a program the caliber of Stanton can definitely win one game to go to state no matter who it is against or where it is at.
I fully expect this year's Mustang team to not go down without a fight this year.
I think you will see Stanton fight until the very end of matches this year, win or lose.
I feel the Mustangs have a chance to surprise some people this year if you would want to even call it that given all the success they've had.
I feel Stanton will be a contender in the East Husker Conference as well once that tournament rolls around towards the end of the season.
It's never easy replacing the type of talent the Mustangs had in last year's senior class, but I'm willing to bet this year's team will do everything they can to keep Stanton's winning ways going.
2019 Stanton Mustangs Volleyball Schedule:
08/29/19 Battle Creek Triangular (host: Stanton)
08/29/19 West Point-Beemer Triangular (host: Stanton)
09/05/19 Madison Triangular (host: Clarkson/Leigh)
09/05/19 Clarkson/Leigh Triangular (host: Clarkson/Leigh)
09/16/19 North Bend Central Triangular (host: North Bend Central)
09/16/19 Logan View/Scribner-Snyder (LVSS) Triangular (host: North Bend Central)
09/19/19 Boone Central/Newman Grove Triangular (host: Norfolk Catholic)
09/19/19 Norfolk Catholic Triangular (host: Norfolk Catholic)
09/24/19 Wisner-Pilger Triangular (host: Wisner-Pilger)
09/24/19 Pender Triangular (host: Wisner-Pilger)
10/01/19 Tekamah-Herman Triangular (host: Oakland-Craig)
10/01/19 Oakland-Craig Triangular (host: Oakland-Craig)
10/08/19 Howells-Dodge
10/10/19 @ Pierce
10/15/19 @ Twin River
10/22/19 Lutheran High Northeast
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