East powers way past West

The power of the East squad came through at the end of the Southeast Nebraska All-Star Volleyball Game Friday night at the Southeast Community College-Beatrice Truman Center.

Powered by a strong hitting attack, the East defeated the West in five sets, 30-27, 29-31, 25-30, 30-26, 15-11.

East head coach Kara Engles of Humboldt Table Rock Steinauer knew coming in her squad should have an advantage at the net.

“Our strength was our hitters,” Engles said. “I felt we had the strongest hitters.”

Engles said once the East squad “settled down” Friday night and started passing the volleyball, they were able to use their hitters to their advantage.

“We were able to get them the ball and they were able to put it away,” Engles said.

One of the power hitters for the East was Firth Norris graduate Michelle Burow, who will be continuing her volleyball career at the University of Northern Iowa.

Burow was named as the all-star game's Most Valuable Player at the conclusion of the five-set match.

“Michelle Burow is just awesome,” Engles said. “She gets to anything you set her and pretty much puts it away every time.

Along with hitting the ball well, Engles said Burow also blocks the ball well.

“She (Burow) throws up a great block,” Engles said.

Engles said the East probably had four players who could have been the MVP.

Along with Burow, Engles said Adams Freeman graduate Jodeen Rademacher attacked the ball well, Falls City Sacred Heart graduate Liz Bieker played all five sets for the squad and Norris graduate Lauren Burbach did a good job setting the ball.

Having former high school teammates Burow and Burbach on the floor at the same time was also a plus for the East squad, Engles said.

“We made sure to put those two together,” Engles said. “We could see right away in practice they don't have to talk a lot. They just know where the other one is going to be.”

Engles said overall all of the East players did a “super job” in the match.

Coaching an all-star team is a fun experience, West coach Linda Johnson said, because for the most part, coaches can just sit back and watch what goes on.

Heading into the match, Johnson said she knew the West would have to rely on its quickness on the court.

“Obviously, with Burow and Rademacher on the other side, we were outsized,” Johnson said.

After losing the first set, the West rallied to win the next two sets before losing the final two.

“We struggled passing and couldn't get our offense going (at the end),” Johnson said.

Johnson said all five sets were “very close” and all of the players on both sides competed hard.

Sutton graduate Elizabeth VanKirk had some key jump serves for the West team, Johnson said.

Johnson said Fairbury graduate Stephanie Ebke passed the ball well and put up some good blocks at the net, while Hebron-Thayer Central graduate Calicia Hergott also played well all around.

Playing for the East squad were Jessica Stauffer and Laura Thames, Humboldt Table Rock Steinauer; Whitney Hippen and Kelly Flesner, Lewiston; Kala Holmes, Nebraska City Lourdes; Bieker, Falls City Sacred Heart; Burbach and Burow, Firth Norris; Kayla Peterson, Nebraska City; Laurel Sunneberg, Pawnee City; Chelsea Lewis, Falls City; and Rademacher, Adams Freeman.

Competing for the West team were Lindsey Moore and Allee Kuska, Exeter-Milligan; Chelsea Baker, Superior; Jenna Rickstrew, Diller-Odell; Ebke, Fairbury; Morgan Peters, Henderson-Heartland; Andrea Schweitzer, Shickley; VanKirk, Sutton; Elizabeth Hubbard, Seward; Hergott, Thayer Central; Kayla Hoelting, Lawrence-Nelson; and Brittany Dux, Daykin Meridian.