Wilcox, Neb. – On Saturday, the Wilcox-Hildreth Falcons hosted Sumner-Eddyville-Miller in the D2-7 district finals. Wilcox-Hildreth used a balanced but aggressive attack to sweep the Mustangs 25-16, 25-17, and 25-20. The win puts the Falcons in the state volleyball tournament for the first time since the two districts merged in 2002.
The match marked the fifth time the Falcons and Mustangs had played each other this season and was the second consecutive meeting between the two. Wilcox-Hildreth had won all four matches including Tuesday’s subdistrict championship where the Falcons won in five sets.
With an excited and very large crowd packing the home side of gym, Wilcox-Hildreth took little time in grabbing control of the first set. They opened on a 6-1 run and finished the set by winning seven-straight. Junior Ellie Blank had three aces and three kills to help lead the Falcons to the first set win.
The Mustangs fought back in the second and held the lead through a large portion of the set. Sophomore Kyler Jones was big up front with four kills and a block. SEM took a 17-15 lead, but their hopes of evening the match at one set each was quickly dashed. The Falcons scored 10 unanswered points to take the second set. Freshman Elsie Donley had two kills and two blocks as she began to heat up in the middle block.
With a wealth of momentum on Wilcox-Hildreth’s side, SEM had to find a way to stay alive facing a two-set to zero shortfall. With more stout blocking from Donley, the Falcons completed the sweep by winning the match’s final five points.
SEM (17-14) saw their season come to an end, falling one game short of returning to state where they finished in third place a season ago. Kyler Jones had a game-high 10 kills with one ace and three blocks. Sophomore Haylee Hays was second on the team with eight kills.
Wilcox-Hildreth (21-11) continues to set new heights as a program. The win put them in the state tournament for the first time ever. The Falcons were led by Ellie Blank with nine kills, three aces, and a block. Junior Camryn Bunger had eight kills and one ace. Elsie Donley had a game-high six blocks to go with her six kills.
The Falcons will play on Thursday, November 5, at either 9 or 11 am. First round matches of the NSAA State Volleyball Tournament will be played at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
As of Saturday, official start times and opponents have not yet been announced. Wilcox-Hildreth’s journey in Lincoln can be heard on KUVR, and broadcast times will be announced as soon as they’re available.
