Locke takes over Stanton Volleyball Program

Team: Stanton

Mascot: Mustangs

Colors: Orange and Black

Class: C-2

Conference: East Husker 

Head Coach: Sonya Locke (1st season)

2019 record: 17-15 (Lost to Lutheran High Northeast in Sub-Districts)

Returning Starters: 4

Overview:

The Stanton Volleyball Program is under new leadership as Sonya Locke takes over the program for Tracy Kuester-Burtwhistle.

Coach Locke says the Mustangs return a number of key pieces from last year. "For our volleyball team, we have a few returners. Ellie Locke will return to the lineup. She had the most kills and ace serves in the 2019 season. Sylvia Cunningham was second in kills and first in blocks from 2019 and she comes in strong again for her junior year. Olivia Cunningham (sophomore) and Kinley Pohlman (junior) are also returning starters and have improved immensely over the last year."

Stanton returns some key players and talent from last year, and appears as if they could have another nice and successful season this year.

The Mustangs have been a proud winning program for quite a while now, and I don't look for that to change under Coach Locke.

This all of course is dependent on the coronavirus pandemic and it not shutting us down.

Locke says the offseason was unlike any other. "Our offseason was extremely different. A portion of the season, we could do open gym but were limited to no contact, 6 feet distance and no sharing of balls in drills. However, it caused some innovation and gave everyone ideas to improve from home in a solo practice as well!"

I'm willing to bet the Mustangs will be chomping at the bit to show those improvements on the court this year.

Stanton is a solid team and program year in and year out and are just two years removed from some remarkable runs at State.

I look for the Mustangs to have another fine year this year assuming we get through the entire season without any interruptions, disruptions, cancellations, alterations, or issues of any kind.

Season Outlook:

Stanton looks to continue their winning ways of the past.

You have to figure the Mustangs have a good chance of doing that too.

Of course we all are all very fortunate that there is tentatively going to be a season this year.

Coach Locke commends the NSAA for the tough decision they made. "We are proud of the NSAA. They could have taken the easy path and closed us all down. They stood their ground to give us opportunities. I know that this was not an easy decision."

You can bet Stanton will look to make the most of their opportunities this year, especially since the kids had to miss Spring Sports last year.

Locke says the players did a great job of preparing for this season, and are ready to go. "Without a track season for our school and not much summer ball, the excitement is high especially for the seniors. The Stanton athletes did a great job of keeping in shape and working out. A possible shut down looms over all the teams and is keeping everyone motivated to enjoy the moment."

I think it's very important for all the Mustangs, especially the Seniors, to not take a single moment, play, point, set, match, etc. for granted knowing it could be the last one they play at the end of the season.

This pandemic should serve as motivation to give 110% all the time and not take playing the sport or High School Sports in general for granted.

Everything should be done with maximum effort and then some, and I'm sure it will be.

The Mustangs have some challenging matches this year, but should be able to win a good number of their matches again.

Stanton's season begins on August 27th when the Mustangs face West Point-Beemer and Battle Creek at the Battle Creek Triangular.

2020 Stanton Mustangs Volleyball Schedule:

08/27/20 West Point-Beemer Triangular (host: Battle Creek)

08/27/20 Battle Creek Triangular (host: Battle Creek)

09/03/20 Madison Triangular (host: Stanton)

09/03/20 Clarkson/Leigh Triangular (host: Stanton)

09/05-09/05 (To Be Determined) Columbus Scotus Invitational (1-Day Tournament, >4 Teams) Columbus Scotus

09/12-09/12 (To Be Determined) Boone Central Invitational (1-Day Tournament, >4 Teams) Boone Central High School

09/14/20 North Bend Central Triangular (host: Stanton)

09/14/20 Logan View/Scribner-Snyder (LVSS) Triangular (host: Stanton)

09/17/20 Norfolk Catholic Triangular (host: Boone Central)

09/17/20 Boone Central Triangular (host: Boone Central)

09/19-09/19 (To Be Determined) Stanton tournament (1-Day Tournament, >4 Teams) Stanton

09/22/20 Wisner-Pilger Triangular (host: Stanton)

09/22/20 Pender Triangular (host: Stanton)

09/29/20 Tekamah-Herman Triangular (host: Tekamah-Herman)

09/29/20 Oakland-Craig Triangular (host: Tekamah-Herman)

10/01/20 Wayne

10/06/20 @ Howells-Dodge

10/08/20 Pierce

10/13/20 Twin River

10/15-10/17 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament (2/3-Day Tournament) TBA

10/20/20 @ Lutheran High Northeast