Bluejays Third in State
Only 10 teams across the state can end their season with a win, and the Bluejay volleyball team is in this elite class. Finishing their season with a 29-6 record, third place in Class C1, district champions, and Mid-State conference champions, the team has much to be proud of.
“I have a lot of very good memories from this season,” head coach Zach Weber states. “We certainly had a lot of triumphs and great wins on the court, but I'm going to miss this senior group and their, to put it as nicely and accurately as I can, tomfoolery. They made things fun. I've been in more TikToks than I care to mention, but in hindsight, after the stresses of the day-to-day season have abated, I appreciate those fun moments the most.”
Claiming third at state was no easy feat for Pierce. The magic number for the Bluejays was 306 total points scored for the tournament; 94 in the Kearney Catholic game, 107 in the Wahoo game and 105 in the Milford game.
Saturday’s consolation game for third place was the only match at state where the Bluejays played less than five sets.
Pierce dropped the first set of the third place game to Kearney Catholic, 25-19. This was followed by three back-to-back wins, 25-22, 25-13, 25-13.
“I'm happy with our approach to the whole week. It takes a very special group to get two wins at the state tournament. This was the first time in school history that has been accomplished,” Weber comments. “Friday did not go how we wanted, but the kids responded against a tough Kearney Catholic team. After the first set, I just told the seniors how special they are to me and how much I've enjoyed coaching them. It was important to me and to them that we go out on the best possible note and play the best we could.”
Never say die. That was the spirit the Bluejays embodied as they faced Wahoo in the semifinal game on Friday, November 8. After losing the first two matches 25-22 and 25-23, Pierce rallied and won the third match 25-20.
The fourth set also ended in a Bluejay win, 25-22.
Although the final score was 15-12, Pierce faced an uphill battle the entire set. The fifth set did not start well for the Bluejays, who trailed 6-0 and later 11-2. The loss set Pierce to face Kearney Catholic in the class C1 consolation game.
Although taking five sets and creating a dramatic atmosphere for the crowd and the bench, the Pierce Bluejays enjoyed a first round victory over the Milford Eagles.
Pierce, enjoying their second consecutive year at the state volleyball tournament, won the first set 25-23.
The second and third sets did not go well for the Jays, as they lost both sets 25-20.
However, in the fourth set, the Bluejays reset and were able to grab the victory 25-21.
After being tied at two wins each, the game was forced to the fifth set. Trailing 12-6 at one point, Pierce rallied for the 15-13 win.
“This senior class deserves to feel proud of their time as Pierce High volleyball players. The program is significantly better than they found it. I miss them already,” Weber says.
Skylar Scholting led the team in ball handling amassing 1263 assists this season.
Scholting and Scarlett Babl led the team in serving with 91.7 percent accuracy. Scholting served 539 times with 71 aces while Babl served 303 times with 15 aces. Also recording a high serving percentage with 90.4 percent accuracy were Abigail Cone and Emily Endorf. Cone served 521 times with 50 aces, and Endorf served 342 times with 30 aces.
Claudia Riggert led the way in blocking with 88, followed by Cone and Nora Herian who each had 34. Hadleigh Collison added 33 blocks this season.
Leading the team in attacking was sophomore Nora Herian, who wrapped up the season with 630 kills, setting a new team season record. Other top performers were Cone with 390 kills and Riggert with 280 kills. As a team, the Bluejays averaged 13 kills per set.
