In the 2023 state semifinals, the Wolves volleyball team fell to the nine year defending state champions, Omaha Skutt Catholic. Coming into the 2024 season, the Wolves they knew they had a challenge ahead as they had graduated six seniors who were major contributors to the programs success.
During the off season, the team held open gym sessions twice a week and attended multiple camps to build team chemistry on the court before a tough schedule, facing many Class A and top Class B teams.
“After the ‘23 season, I knew we had a few roles we needed to replace,” head coach Jenny Gragert said. “However, I expected to be competitive in our conference, district, and state knowing we had the personnel to reload quickly.”
To kick off the season the Wolves hosted a jamboree against Omaha Westside and Papillion-Lavista South. The Wolves didn’t come out victorious, but they saw their potential for the season.
On Aug. 29, the Wolves played their first regular season at Elkhorn High School with a win. The at the annual Bellevue West Invite where they defeated Elkhorn South, Millard West, Gretna High, and Millard North.
On Sept. 3 the Wolves swept Gretna High School and Hasting High School in three sets. These wins marked a milestone for head coach Jenny Gragert of 100 program wins.
On Sept. 12 the Wolves faced the Waverly Vikings and fell in a five-set match.
“We realized it wasn’t going to be easy,” senior libero Lexie Wright said. “We weren’t going to breeze through the season and losing that game was a wakeup call for us.”
The following weekend the Wolves defeated Scottsbluff, Norfolk, Gretna East and Millard West at the annual Kearney Invite. Outside hitters Shay Heaney and Reagan Wallraff were named All Tournament Team.
They swept their three next games against Millard South, Blair, and Standing Bear.
The Wolves faced a loss to Elkhorn South, their cross-town rivals. After losing the first two sets, the Wolves battled back winning two sets of their own and forcing a fifth set. In the end, they lost, but it showed their ability to compete with high level teams.
The Wolves claimed two top Class B wins against Bennington and Gretna East.
On Oct. 10 the girls prepared to face Papillion-LaVista South, the No. 1 ranked team in the state, and in a huge upset, the Wolves swept the Titans.
They then played the Norris Titans, No. 1 in Class B, and fell in three sets.
“Against Papio-South we played our gam of volleyball and the switch was when we didn’t against Norris,” freshman defensive specialist Reese Wallraff said.
On Oct. 22 the Wolves swept Lincoln Northwest in their last regular season home game and honored the four seniors: Shay Heaney, Lindsey Hrbek, Alexis Wright, and Alayna Vaughn.
To start off postseason play, the Wolves hosted Sub-Districts, and swept Schuyler. The following day they fought in a tight match against Bennignton to claim the Sub-District B-1 championship spot.
On Nov. 2, the Wolves hosted the B-4 District Final against #13 Plattview High School. In a three set match, the Wolves punched their ticket to the state tournament.
“I wanted us to get through the first round and take the tournament one game at a time,” Wright said. “We needed to play our game and focus on our side of the court.”
In their first round of state match against York High School on, Nov. 6th the Wolves won in three sets to advance to the semifinals.
Facing Norris for the third time this season, the Wolves knew that the game was going to be a dog fight. In three competitive sets resulted in a loss for the Wolves to the eventual state champions of Norris High School.
“Overall this year went very well, we learned a lot and reall grew as a team,” senior Shay Heaney said. “Our relationships strengthened and that showed on the court.”
