BENNINGTON, Neb. — Norris volleyball has enjoyed plenty of success, especially in recent years.
The No. 1 Titans are Nebraska’s back-to-back defending Class B champs and entered the Eastern Midlands Conference Tournament with a 27-1 record. The lone blemish: a five-set loss to Gretna on Sept. 29.
There were no guarantees the Titans and Dragons would meet again this season, and Saturday’s eight-team field was far from an easy road to arrive at that matchup.
However, Gretna and Norris took care of business in the quarterfinals and semis, and the EMC Tournament championship featured the rematch.
“This couldn’t have been a better game to play,” said Norris senior Alli Bornschlegl. “I think after we lost to them, everyone was like, ‘What happened?’ And we were like, ‘We don’t know,’ and we were hungry for that win. I think it really showed, especially in the second set.”
That hunger led Norris to a sweep, avenging that late-September loss. Norris earned a 25-23 win in the first set and sealed the title with a 25-16 victory in the second.
Norris opened the day with 2-0 sweeps of Hastings and Gretna East, and the Titans have won 68 of their 74 sets this season overall. Their 30 wins sit atop Class B and the state.
Speaking of state, perhaps Saturday was a preview of what players, coaches and fans can expect next month in Lincoln.
“It kind of felt like a mini state tournament to us,” Bornschlegl said. “Playing Gretna, which is great. Waverly is great. Gretna East, Bennington – there’s not a bad team in EMC. I think coming away with a plaque is probably one of the best feelings besides the state championship. But I feel like this is just kind of a breakthrough in our season and we really clicked at the end. So, I feel like we can only go up from here.”
“We’re lucky to be in such a good conference where I think over half the schools in our conference will probably be at the state tournament,” added head coach Christina Boesiger. “So to bring them all together for one day almost three weeks before postseason I do think is really valuable.”
Boesiger lauded her team’s focus and effort throughout the day, specifically praising their discipline and consistency. It’s been one the biggest differences since that Gretna loss, and the Titans played consistently and clean on Saturday.
“I think we played really well together as a team,” said senior Malorie Boesiger, who leads the state in aces and assists. “I think a lot of stuff we’ve been working on since our last game, we’ve been working hard in practice and implemented it well today.”
Now the goal is continue building off Saturday’s success.
Norris has four just regular-season matches left, beginning Tuesday against Bennington. Three of those four matches are also at home, something Coach Boesiger and her seniors are looking forward to.
After winning the ultimate prize the past two years and getting that taste, there’s a clear desire to get back. Yet the Titans know they can’t look ahead, and they’ll have to earn it.
“They know the feeling of it and how fun it is to be in that position, but they also know how hard you have to work to get there,” Coach Boesiger said. “Nothing is given and it doesn’t matter that we’ve won the last two years. That doesn’t win us anything this year and I think that’s been one of the biggest things about this team. They’re never coasting. They are working hard and since we got back from Arizona, they have just been very intentional in practice and not ever going through the motions.
“We want to be peaking in three weeks, and we don’t want to be peaking right now. We’re still on that upward climb and just enjoying the ride.”
