by Stephanie Croston
scroston@sewardindependent.com
After a disappointing start to the week, the Centennial volleyball team came back to finish second in its home tournament Oct. 13.
The Broncos opened the week with a loss at Fillmore Central 25-20, 25-22, 25-21 Oct. 9. Coach Alex Anstine said silly unforced errors led to the loss.
“We didn’t play as well as we could have,” she said.
Kate Hirschfeld and Hunter Hartshorn had six kills each, and Brooklyn Gierhan and Kiley Rathjen added five each. On defense, Gierhan picked up 16 digs, and Hirschfeld added 11.
In a triangular at David City Oct. 11, the Broncos lost to David City Aquinas 20-25, 25-14, 25-17 and to David City Public 25-15, 25-21.
“Something was off,” Anstine said.
In the Aquinas match, the team had just 16 kills total, with five coming from Hirschfeld. Against David City, the total kills dropped to 14. Hartshorn had 11 digs against Aquinas, and Merrik Songster had eight against David City Public.
The girls showed up ready to work at practice on Friday, the coach said, and that showed on Saturday.
The Broncos beat Wilber-Clatonia 25-17, 25-14 to open the day. Familiar foe Milford was the next opponent, and CHS won 23-25, 25-16, 26-24 to reach the championship match.
There, Centennial lost to Bishop Neumann 25-23, 25-16.
“We went from eighth last year to second,” Anstine said.
Anstine said the Broncos looked tired in the second set against Neumann.
Against Wilber-Clatonia, Gierhan notched seven kills to lead the offense. Hirschfeld had 13 kills against Milford, and Hartshorn led with seven kills against Neumann.
The Broncos (14-12) play in the Southern Nebraska Conference tournament this week. CHS opened against Fillmore Central Oct. 15 and lost 25-21, 25-19. The Broncos came back Oct. 16 against Wilber-Clatonia and won 25-16, 25-15.
