LDNE Volleyball Season Wrap-Up

By Clare Wiltse

Sports Contributor

The Lyons-Decatur Volleyball team finished the year with a District Runner-Up Plaque, but a rugged schedule that included three State qualifiers eliminated them from a winning record. Two EHC teams were in the elite eight.  Howells-Dodge and Humphrey/LHF each beast LDNE twice.

Northeast finished with an 11-23 record.  The team with four seniors had five more wins that in 2012. They had a three match winning streak early in October. The Cougars finished with a 3-8 mark against EHC teams.  At the EHC tournament, they took twelfth in the sixteen team contest.  They got encouragement with an win over a D-2 team, Bancroft-Rosalie who would be in their sub-district.

After playing against larger schools during the year, Northeast’s move to the NSAA D-2 playoffs seemed like a snap.  Northeast had a pair of 3-1 wins to move to the District finals.  They had wins over Winside and Bancroft-Rosalie, who had as winning record. Their season came to an end as fourth rated Mead defeated the L-D girls in three hard fought sets.

The 2013 rotation included four seniors, two sophomores, a junior and freshman.  Senior Hannah Christiansen and junior Darcey Simonsen were named honorable mention members of the EHC  All Conference team.  Hannah led the team in Ace Serves and Blocks.  Darcey was a provided a stable ball handler as she had had 453 Set Assists.

Team leaders were Brianne Haskell with 245 kill while Hannah Christiansen followed with 130.  Hannah topped the team with 41 aces with Brianne having 36.  Brianne topped the team in digs with 395 while libero Sarah Alford had 338.  Blocking found Vanessa Peterson on top with 122 with Hannah at 98.

The team says goodbye to four seniors.  Haley Bacon, Vanessa Peterson and Hannah Christiansen had three years on varsity.  Sarah Alford was on varsity the last two years.

The 2014 team will look forward to a team with four experienced players.  Darcey Simonsen will be a senior setter. Brianne Haskell and Maddie Ronnfeldt will be juniors and Kelly Wakeley will be coming off a learning freshman year.