Freeman takes control in semi

Top-seeded Adams Freeman was “pushed” by Humboldt/Table Rock-Steinauer's Lady Titans in the first round of the MUDECAS volleyball tournament Monday night, surviving the Lady Titans upset bid by winning in three close sets.

Tuesday night in the A Division semifinals, it was Freeman who was doing the “pushing.”

The Lady Falcons showed their power, downing Daykin Meridian's Lady Mustangs in straight sets, 25-21, 25-11.

With their win, the Lady Falcons advance to meet Exeter-Milligan in the A Division championship match Thursday at 8 p.m.

Exeter-Milligan advanced with a 25-22, 27-25 win over Falls City Sacred Heart, earning their second straight victory over a higher-seeded opponent in the tournament.

Meridian and Sacred Heart will face off Thursday at 5 p.m. in the third-place match.

In the A Division consolation semifinals Tuesday, Nebraska City Lourdes defeated Sterling, 18-25, 25-14, 25-15, and Humboldt/Table Rock-Steinauer downed Tecumseh, 25-23, 25-17.

Lourdes and H/TR-S will face off in the consolation final Thursday at 2 p.m.

All MUDECAS tournament games are being played at the Southeast Community College-Beatrice Truman Center.

Freeman coach Amy Ludwig said the Lady Falcons played well in both sets Tuesday night against Meridian.

“We had more good things pop out than bad things in both sets,” Ludwig said.

Once the Lady Falcons got in a “groove,” Ludwig said the team started playing well overall.

The play of junior setter Katie Schoen was a key for the Lady Falcons, Ludwig said.

“Katie was playing very well,” Ludwig said. “She hasn't had many kills in along time, but she was really finding some sweet spots.”

Schoen led the Lady Falcons in set assists with nine and had three kills.

Freeman had a balanced offensive attack overall led by Kelsey Schuster with seven kills.

Jodeen Rademacher, Schoen and Kelsey Nelson added three each, while Erin Dorn had two.

Along with strong net play, Ludwig said the Lady Flacons served the ball well.

Nelson had a team-high five ace serves, while Rademacher and Schuster added four each.

The team also passed the ball better than they did in the first round, Ludwig said.

“We finally passed the ball tonight,” Ludwig said.

Ludwig said the biggest key to winning the match in two sets was not letting Meridian back in the match once they were down.

“We did not let the other team come back and get seven points in a row like we have been doing,” Ludwig said. “The girls got up and they stayed competitive and were ready for anything to happen.”

Heading into the match, Ludwig said she expected it to go three sets.

“Things have been a little challenging for us,” Ludwig said, “but the girls came out ready to play.”

Meridian coach Linda Johnson said in the first set the Lady Mustangs were “right there” with Freeman.

“We just couldn't keep the momentum going,” Johnson said. “I think we were a little bit intimidated by them.”

In the second set, Johnson said Freeman got on a roll.

“The got us down with their serving and when you can't pass, everything else just falls apart,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the young Lady Mustangs were able to “shake off” mistakes on serve receive.

“It's hard when they're serving at you real tough,” Johnson said. “We got so you could see it in our faces, we didn't want the next one.”

The loss to Freeman should make the Lady Mustangs better overall, Johnson said.

“From that first game, the girls know they can play with anyone,” Johnson said. “We need that confidence.

“We told them before, win or lose, we were going to learn something from this game.”

Meridian was led in kills by Brittany Dux with five, while Brianne Hofstetter had six set assists.

Dux and Hofstetter shared the team lead in ace blocks with three each.

Freeman vs. Meridian

Ace serves: Freeman (Jodeen Rademacher four, Kelsey Nelson five, Kelsey Schuster four, Erin Dorn two). Meridian (Amber Hansel two, Amanda Hansel one, Taylor Johnson one). Kills: Freeman (Rademacher three, Katie Schoen three, Nelson three, Schuster seven, Dorn two, Melissa Hottovy one). Meridian (Brittany Dux five, Jessie Jordening one, Brianne Hofstetter one). Set assists: Freeman (Schoen nine, Stacie Goracke seven, Schuster one). Meridian (Hofstetter six, Johnson one). Ace blocks: Freeman (Rademacher one, Schoen one, Nelson one, Dorn one). Meridian (Dux three, Hofstetter three). Digs: Freeman (not listed). Meridian (Amber Hansel two, Hofstetter one, Brittany Sykes three, Amanda Hansel three, Miranda Baxa two).

Exeter-Milligan 25 27

Sacred Heart 22 25

Exeter-Milligan's Lady Timberwolves continued to be the spoilers in the A Division, knocking off their second higher-seeded team in two matches.

In the semifinals, the Lady Timberwolves downed Sacred Heart's Lady Irish in two sets, 25-22, 27-25.

Exeter-Milligan was seeded sixth coming into the tournament, while Sacred Heart was the second seed.

Lady Timberwolf coach Darcy White said it's “fun” for her team to be back in the finals.

Exeter-Milligan won the MUDECAS A Division championship last year over Tecumseh.

White said she didn't “sandbag” during the MUDECAS seeding meeting, adding she didn't know what to expect from her team early this season.

“I wasn't sure how we'd respond to pressure,” White said. “We've had our ups and downs.”

The Lady Timberwolves had a “tough week” last week, White said, suffering a couple of losses.

But Exeter-Milligan ended the week with a big win, downing previously undefeated Freeman in the Friend Invitational.

White said the Freeman victory was a “huge win” for the Lady Timberwolves.

“We're still finding ourselves right now,” White said. “This is a good time of year to start playing well. Hopefully, we can keep going.”

Last year, White said Exeter-Milligan lost to Freeman at Friend and then “redeemed” themselves by downing the Lady Falcons at MUDECAS.

This year, White said, the Lady Timberwolves will be looking to “prove” themselves again with another win over Freeman.

“We just want to play well and do our best,” White said.

Allee Kuska was the top gun for the Lady Timberwolves against Sacred Heart with 12 kills.

Lindsey Moore had 18 set assists for Exeter-Milligan, while Megan Kuska had a team-high 11 digs.

Katie Briske contributed four ace serves for the Lady Timberwolves.

Sacred Heart's attack spread out its attack as seven players finished the match with at least one kill. Katelyn Wheeler led the way with four kills.

Macie Kuker topped the Lady Irish in set assists with 14, while Liz Bieker led in digs with eight.

Wheeler had team highs in ace serves with three and ace blocks with four.

Exeter-Milligan vs. Sacred Heart

Ace serves: Exeter-Milligan (Rachel Manning one, Lindsey Moore one, Katie Briske four). Sacred Heart (Macie Kuker one, Katelyn Wheeler three, Liz Bieker two). Kills: Exeter-Milligan (Manning one, Allee Kuska 12, Megan Kuska two, Jenna Rhodes six, Lindsey Moore one, Kayti Mark two). Sacred Heart (Kuker two, Alicia Goltz two, Wheeler four, Liz Bieker two, Morgan Handley one, Miranda Chandler one, Rachel Bieker three). Set assists: Exeter-Milligan (Lindsey Moore 18). Sacred Heart (Kuker 14, Goltz one, Liz Bieker 12). Ace blocks: Exeter-Milligan (Megan Kuska one, Rhodes one). Sacred Heart (Wheeler four). Digs: Exeter-Milligan (Manning seven, Allee Kuska four, Megan Kuska 11, Rhodes two, Moore four, Danni Erdkamp nine, Briske four, Mark one). Sacred Heart (Kuker seven, Goltz six, Wheeler six, Liz Bieker eight, Handley two, chandler one, Rachel Bieker two, Erin Bangert five).

H/TR-S 25 25

Tecumseh 23 17

Bouncing back from a tough loss to Freeman in first-round action Monday, the Humboldt/Table Rock-Steinauer Lady Titans defeated Tecumseh, 25-23, 25-17, in the consolation semifinals Tuesday.

Kali Schnacker led the Lady Titans' offense with 11 kills.

Jessica Stauffer had a team-high 18 set assists for H/TR-S and also led in digs with nine.

Tecumseh's attack was led by Jamie Straube with 10 kills.

Shelby Blum had 14 set assists for the Lady Indians, while Nicole Searcey and Kesha Beethe shared the team high in digs with nine each.

H/TR-S vs. Tecumseh

Ace serves: H/TR-S (Laura Thames one, Mari Ramsey one, Jessica Stauffer one). Tecumseh (Nicole Searcey one, Kelsi Holthus one, Kesha Beethe one, Jamie Straube one). Kills: H/TR-S (Thames three, Kali Schnacker 11, Elizabeth McKim two, Paige Schmid six). Tecumseh (Searcey one, Holthus five, Beethe one, Straube 10, Gabrielle beadell one). Set assists: H/TR-S (Ramsey four, Stauffer 18). Tecumseh (Shelby Blum 14, Beethe one). Ace blocks: H/TR-S (Schnacker one, Schmid one). Tecumseh (Strabue two, Beadell one). Digs: H/TR-S (Thames five, Ramsey four, Schnacker six, Stauffer nine). Tecumseh (Sam Watts seven, Searcey nine, Blum one, Holthus five, Beethe nine, Straube four).

NC Lourdes 18 25 25

Sterling 25 14 15

After dropping the first set to the Sterling Lady Jets, Nebraska City Lourdes' Lady Knights rallied to win their consolation semi-final match 18-25, 25-14, 25-15.

Kala Holmes and Laura Gawart shared the team high for kills for Lourdes with 12 each.

Cece Walters had 22 set assists, while libero Christina Harris led the team in digs with 16.

Gawart and Alyse Holmes had five and four ace blocks, respectively, while Alyse Holmes also had two ace serves.

Lourdes vs. Sterling

Ace serves: Lourdes (Kala Holmes one, Alyse Holes two). Sterling (not available). Kills: Lourdes (Kala Holmes 12, Alyse Holmes one, Laura Gawart 12, Jill Crunk five). Sterling (not available). Set assists: Lourdes (Cece Walters 22, Alyse Holmes four). Sterling (not available). Ace blocks: Lourdes (Alyse Holmes four, Gawart five, Crunk two). Sterling (not available). Digs: Lourdes (Walters 14, Kala Holmes 10, Alyse Holmes 14, Gawart eight, Christine Harris 16). Sterling (not available).