Wildcats fall one match short of state volleyball tournament

by Diane Stamm

Grant tribune-sentinel

The Wallace volleyball team’s season came to an end Saturday with a loss to Stuart (22-10) in district finals at Broken Bow.

After winning their district, the Wildcats earned the number eight seed in districts and were paired up against ninth seeded Stuart.

Stuart came out on fire in the first set and Wallace found itself in a 0-10 hole to start the match. The Wildcats were never able to cut into the deficit, losing 13-25.

Wallace continued to struggle to serve receive against Stuart’s Sydney Estill in the second set, falling behind 1-6. The Wildcats were never able to cut the lead to less than six points and lost the set 18-25.

The Wildcats held a 13-12 lead in the third set. Wallace couldn’t stop Stuart’s 2-13 run to end the set and the match ended with a 15-25 loss.

Wallace Head Coach Krystal Sauser said she’s extremely proud of this group of girls and their season! 

“Everyone on the bench to the girls on the floor were an important part of the success they were able to achieve this year. I can’t thank them enough for making this season one to remember,” she said.

Subdistrict win

Wallace advanced to the district final with a sweep of Paxton. 

The Wildcats controlled the first set and took a 25-13 win.

The Wildcats trailed 8-12 in set two. Wallace took the lead for good at 15-14 before winning the set 25-20.

Big serving runs by Kaley Sauser and Brooke Bryant sealed the win for the Wildcats. Wallace won the match with a 25-13 win in set three.

Sauser said it’s never easy to play a team four times in a season, as the Wildcats did against Paxton this fall.

“The girls knew they had to stay focused and control the things they could control to be able to get the win and continue on to a district game,” Sauser said.