Class C-1: Wahoo makes state tourney return memorable, overcoming Scotus CC

The Wahoo volleyball team is back at the state tournament for the first time in a while, at least by its standards.

The Warriors are going to stay a while, too, after buckling down for a four-set win against Scotus CC (21-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-21) in a Class C-1 first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

A bumpy start didn't suggest it was going to be a welcomed return for Wahoo, which won titles in 2017, 2018 and 2020 but hasn't made it to state since.

Wahoo let the first set slip away and then got blitzed early in the second. As Scotus CC raced out to an 8-2 lead, Wahoo coach Katie Peterson called timeout.

"It was about adapting to the environment," Peterson said. "Obviously, this is new to a lot of our girls, and they knew that we had to be relentless. We had to be aggressive with everything that we were doing. And that showed our confidence was building."

Wahoo clicked from there. It slowly chipped away at the deficit, finally pulling even at 19-19 in the second set.

That's when Gracey Fairbanks chimed in with a key sequence, scoring on a kill and a block. Gretchen Seagren then slammed home set point. It was game-on now.

Seagren had 26 kills, many of which came in the match's most pivotal moments. The middle blocker is a key piece of the Warriors' veteran core that has craved a chance to play at state.

"They know what's on the line," Peterson said. "They've wanted this for a long time, since they're freshmen, and they know that they have to go get it every single point. That leadership really shows on the court for them. They're trying to adapt as well, but taking the team along, taking them underneath them."

Then it was the Warriors' turn to start sets with an exclamation point. Wahoo shot out to a 7-1 lead in the third set and won comfortably.

Wahoo was again the aggressor in the fourth, opening up an 8-2 lead that quickly jumped to 20-10.

Scotus CC made it interesting, scoring on seven straight rallies. But Wahoo closed the door on kill from Cameryn Sather and McKenna Smith.

Kearney Catholic 3, Battle Creek 0

Payton Dzingle and Hazel Haarberg each had 13 kills to lead the Stars to a 25-22, 25-15, 25-23 win in a first-round match.

Kearney Catholic and Minden will play at 1 p.m. Friday.

It's Robbie Jachum's first state win as the Stars' coach. The former assistant took over for longtime coach Kris Conner.

Nate Head is the sports editor of the Journal Star. On Twitter Love

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