Page 206 - 1995.Millard.North

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Tea01 Unity Key to Late Turnaround

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Senior Whitney Tracy carefull y sets the ball
Although getting off to a pared to others. After losing our "Di stricts was probabl y the best we to one of her teammates to execute a play. The
rough start thi s year, the varsity first four games, it became a fi ght pl ayed all year, because we were so setter is one of th e more crucial pos iti ons i
the game. (Kent Barnes)
volleyball team pulled together and for a winning record," senior Jamie ti ght-knit," junior Mariah Olson
played on toward a winning record, Shafer said . said.
16-15. Another obstacle the team Headed into the state tour-
The key to thi s successful had to face was the height disad- nament and having won the last six
fini sh was the unity that the team vantage. They lacked height for games, including di stri cts, was an
had. "From the beginning, our main blocking and termination purposes, accomplishment due to the team's
th eme and goal was team unity and but made up for it in aggressive, closeness. The season ended with a
teamwork. We wanted to pursue defensive pl ay. "Because we were loss, but it came to Bell evue West,
everything to th e best of our abil- such a short team, we relied on the eventual state champions.
ity," senior Cindy Revell said. being one of the best defensive Shafer and Landa experi -
Beginning the season with teams in the state," senior Jackie enced success as individuals al so.
a 2-8 record, put their goals in per- Landa said. "The strength of the Having 255 di gs this season alone,
spective. "At th at point we basi- team came from their heart and made Shafer the all-time MN leader
call y said 'let's put this behind us hu stl e, which led to our team bein g in digs, with a total of 789. Landa
and start over. ' From then on we strong defensively." moved to the second spot in MN
went 14-7. We finished very strong Beyond those difficulties, hi story in assisted blocks, with 128
and pl ayed our best volleyball at the team saw many highlights. in her MN career. These efforts
the end of the season," coach Deb Among themwas the Trick or Treat helped with the team's season.
Grafentin said . With all of the Tournament. They went in Facing some challengin g
goals, th e number one goal was to unranked and not predicted to win, obstacles along the way, the team's
win the district tournament and but they secured the championship unity helped them turn the season
quali fy for state. anyway by winning over Benson, around, and earn a winning record .
The slow start not onl y Lincoln Northeast and Papillion! "This was trul y one of the best 'team'
created a challenge for the team, LaVista. Becoming di strict cham- efforts MN has ever had," Grafentin
but a unique attitude. "Our team pions by beating Burke and Bryan said. 0
had to fight more thi s year com- was a great success for the team. KudiR~

Stats

Lincoln Hi gh I 0- 15, 8- 15 Metro
River City Invite Mari an 15-1 3, 15 -8
Lincoln Hi gh 8- 15, 4- 15 A.L. 17- 15 ,9-15, 10-15
Mari an 14-16, 15 -10,8-15 Bell evue East 16- 14, 15-12
Bellevue West 6- 15, 4- 15 Bryan 15-11 , 15-2
Grand Island 15- 1, 11 -15 , 15-9 Bell evue West 14- 16, 4-15
Lincoln Hi gh 9-15, 5- 15 A.L. 0-1 5, 13-15, 1-15
Millard South 15-6, 15-4 Westside 15-10, 15-11
Marian 1 1-15 , 15- 12, 9- 15 Trick or Treat Tournament
Lincoln Public Schools Invite Benson 15-3, 15-2
Papi o/LaVista 15-17, 5- 15 Lincoln NE 15-8, 15- 11
Lincoln NE 7-15,3-15 Papi o/LaYi sta 15-11 , 15- 13
Lincon Pius 16- 14, 15-1 2 Districts
Papi o/LaYista 5- 15 , 15-11 , 15-5 Burke 15-2, 15-7
Benson 15-4, 15-3 Bryan 15-10, 15-6
Chicago Invite State
West Pl ains 15-7, 15-8 Bell evue West 2- 15 , 12- 15
Notre Dame 6- 15, 2-15 Won 16 Lost 15
Providence 9- 15, 14- 16
Davenport No 15-8, 15-13 Varsity Volleyball: front- student manager stu dent manager Liz Prendergast, Erin
Officer, Mariah Ohl sen, Whitney Tracy,Jami
Thea Tracy, Lacy Olson, Jackie Petersen,
BellvilleEast 15- 10, 3- 15, 10- 15
Stacey Blatny, Jacki e Landa, Cindy Revell , Shafer, Jenny Cadmus, coach Deb Grafenti
student manager Heath er Adams; back- (J ack Martin Photography)