NCA All-Star Volleyball Game Coverage

Red All-Stars win 5 game thriller against the Blue All- Stars


  One-hundred and five kills out of 207 points scored may be the biggest stat that highlighted the night in this epic 5 game Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Game. Katie Hughes(Seward) was an outside hitter for the Blue All-Stars and not only was she tied for most team kills at seven with two other teammates, but she was one of the most dominant players of the game. Hughes seemed to take control of her team whenever she was playing. She even controlled where the setter was suppose to set the ball for an opportunity at a kill either for herself or a teammate such as Cassie Effken(Lincoln Pius X) or Elaine Kramer(Gretna), who also had seven kills.
  Hughes showed why she was one of the most dominant outside hitters statewide last year.
  Kelsey Stratman(Skutt Catholic) also had a “killer” night, recording a match-high nine kills.
  Before the game, coaches high-fived each other. The teams came up with their own breakdown chants. The Blue team would gather in a circle and did the very well known and popular dance, “the Bernie” after an ace.
  The players were not only introduced before the game and received their all-star awards, but they were introduced live on tv, which could’ve been the first time for most of the girls.
   After the 3rd set, the Most Valuable Teammate Award was handed out. For the Red All-Stars, it went to Lea Sack(Lincoln Pius X), who seemed incredibly shocked her teammates picked her, and for the Blue All-Stars, Cassie Effken, who seemed just as excited to receive the award as she was to be playing in the game in general.
  The atmosphere of Lincoln North Star, not only by the players, but from the fans, was excitement. The place was rockin’ and shakin ‘after each score or huge play.
  Set One was very intense. The Red All-Stars took an early timeout because the Blue All-Stars jumped out to a 6-1 lead. Although the timeout seemed timely and as if it had helped, they had dug themselves into a pretty deep hole.
  Back-to-back kills by outside hitter, Claire White(Exeter-Milligan), put the score at 7-4. But they fell back to their old ways and couldn’t always capitalize on opportunities. White had 3 more kills after another set of back-to-back kills .The score was now 16-14.
  The Blue All-Stars scored four unanswered points, topped off with a huge kill by Hughes. But out of nowhere, the Red All-Stars starting playing like they were all stars. They scored eleven points while holding the Blue All-Stars to two points to take Set One in a miraculous comeback that was sealed with three kills and two aces.
  Set Two was as intense as the first. What can be better than a comeback? Extra play. Blue took an early lead of 13-7, but allowed four kills in a row to Red that put the score at 13-11. After back-to-back kills by Stratman and an ace by Maggie Anderson(Lincoln Southwest), the score was tied at 17-17. The set went on to be tied six other times. After Blue took the 25-24 game-point lead, Red called a timeout to think it over. Blue won Set Two, 26-24 after a costly mistake of a hit for Red went out of bounds.
  Set Three was similar to Set One in both gameplay and result. Red jumped out to an early lead at 4-1 and eventually 14-10. At this point in time, all looked lost for Blue in this set, but then the gap was closed to 17-15 and then tied at 17-17. Red took a much needed timeout as they looked tired, winded, and frustrated. After the timeout, it looked as if Red was ready to play, but they gave Blue their first lead at 18-17. And as soon as Red took the lead back at 19-18, Blue stole a point to tie it at 19-19.Two huge kills and an ace later, the score was now 24-20 for Blue and the victory of Set Three was capped off with another kill.
  The match was now 2-1, Blue.
  Set Four was the least exciting. It was heavily one-sided by Red. It was a set full of kills and mistakes by Blue. With the most kills in this set than any other, the front line of the Red All-Stars were busy and dominant. At one point, after a Scarlett Howerter(Lincoln Pius X) kill, the score was 20-13. And Morgan Heise(Wood River) sealed the win with a kill to take Set Four, 25-16. It was seen as a blowout.
  The match was tied at 2-2.
  Set Five. A set that is not typically played, except in close games like these. It’s a set to 15 points. After, two of the first three serves for Jordan Chohon(Columbus Scotus) were aces, Blue took an early 3-0 lead and Red took an early timeout. Then Red pulled it closer, 3-2. And after two kills and a block, they took the lead at 8-5. Just a few points later, another huge kill by Red put them ahead 10-6.

  It was 14-7, game-point and match-point after an ace by Cristina Silver(Grand Island). Then Silver served it and Hughes called for a set into her zone. The ball slammed into Red’s hardwood floor, it seemed like a momentum shifting kill, but with the score 14-8, it was a longshot. Blue served on the game-point and match-point, but couldn’t quite pull a comeback out after hitting it out to hand a 15-8 Set Five victory and a 3-2 match victory to the Red All-Stars.