LINCOLN - While rebounding is usually associated with basketball, not volleyball, the ability to rebound quickly helped the Daykin Meridian Lady Mustangs secure third place in Class D1 at the Nebraska State High School Volleyball Championships Saturday.

The Lady Mustangs downed Pawnee City’s Lady Indians in three sets, 25-20, 25-8, 25-21, at Lincoln Northeast to claim third-place honors.

Meridian finished with a 27-7 record, while Pawnee City was 20-15.

Meridian rebounded from a semifinal loss to eventual-state champion Exeter-Milligan Friday night.

The Lady Mustangs had defeated Exeter-Milligan in the subdistrict final, but had lost to the Lady Timberwolves twice earlier in the season.

“It was a tough loss last night as we wondered how they would respond,” Meridian coach Linda Johnson said. “Their hearts were broken and they were mad and disappointed.”

Johnson said she told the Lady Mustangs Friday night that Exeter-Milligan played a “great game,” but they wouldn’t let that “break” their spirit.

“We wanted them to come out and be aggressive, because third out of 64 (D1 teams) would not be bad,” Johnson said.

On the way to Lincoln Saturday, Johnson said the Lady Mustangs were “quite and subdued.”

Once the Lady Mustangs arrived at Northeast and watched Sutton and North Platte St. Pat’s in a spirited match for third place in Class C2, Johnson said their mood started to change.

“When they saw the first match and the other teams were excited to be playing, they started to think this might be all right,” Johnson said.

By the time they took the court, Johnson said the Lady Mustangs believed they had something to play for.

“Our girls responded and played well today,” Johnson said.

For the Lady Mustangs, Johnson said the third-place trophy meant pride for their school.

“It’s been a lot of hard work and commitment from the girls, especially the seniors, have put in throughout the season,” Johnson said. “They’ve had a great year. It was a tough road getting here.”

Against Pawnee City, Johnson said the Lady Mustangs did a nice job of serving and passing.

The Lady Mustangs middle hitters played a big role in the win, Johnson said.

“Brooke (Hofstetter) stepped up and played well and so did Haley (Dutton),” Johnson said.

Hofstetter has been playing with more confidence the last few weeks.

“What better time to pick it up than right now,” Johnson said.

Setter Taylor Johnson did a good job of mixing up the Lady Mustang offense, Johnson said.

Brandie Sykes led the Lady Mustangs’ offense with 18 kills, while Allison Johnson had 15.

Taylor Johnson had a team-high 41 set assists.

Taylor Johnson, Brooke Hofstetter and Allison Johnson each had two ace serves.

Defensively, Meridian was led by Sykes and Allison Johnson with 18 digs each, while Hofstetter had 17.

Sykes was also credited with three ace blocks.

While the Lady Indians fell to Meridian, Pawnee City coach Leisha Tennal said she couldn’t be more proud of her team.

“We let go a little bit in the second set, but we fought back in the last one,” Tennal said.

Tennal said Meridian was one of the hardest-hitting teams the Lady Indians have faced this season.

The Lady Indians fought in the first and third sets, Tennal said, but allowed Meridian to pull away early in the second set.

“The nerves kind of got to us,” Tennal said. “Meridian kept their focus.”

After coming into the state tournament as the eighth-seed, the Lady Indians knocked off top-seeded Hay Springs Thursday before falling to state runner-up Howells in the semifinals Friday.

Saturday, Tennal said it felt good to have a trophy to take home.

“Finishing in the top four, that’s not too bad,” Tennal said.

Tennal said from the start of the season, getting to the state tournament had been the Lady Indians goal.

“Realistically, we wanted to do the best we could do,” Tennal said. “We knew right off the bat we’d have to work for it.”

The “theme” for the Lady Indians this season, Tennal said was “Believe.”

“We actually started believing when we started playing as a team and playing together not playing for ourselves,” Tennal said.

Pawnee City did not have one outstanding player this season, which Tennal said helped the Lady Indians in the long run.

“If one of our players in down, others pick her up,” Tennal said.

Pawnee City’s attack was led by Callie Percival with eight kills, while Karryn McQueen had six and Janae Koester had five.

Trisha Sejkora had eight set assists for the Lady Indians, while Haley Habegger had six.

Sejkora and Percival each had two ace serves.

Defensively, Pawnee City was led by Cheyney Rohlmeier with 10 digs, Percival and Emily Turnbull with nine each and Jordan Lang with eight.

Meridian vs. Pawnee City

Ace serves: Meridian (Taylor Johnson two, Brooke Hofstetter two, Melanie Baxa one, Allison Johnson two). Pawnee City (Trisha Sejkora two, Callie Percival two, Jordan Lang one). Kills: Meridian (Taylor Johnson one, Hofstetter four, Haley Dutton four, Baxa four, Brandie Sykes 18, Allison Johnson 15). Pawnee City (Percival eight, Karryn McQueen six, Janae Koester five, Michelle Hinrichsen one). Set assists: Meridian (Taylor Johnson 41, Baxa two). Pawnee City (Sejkora eight, Haley Habegger six, Percival one). Ace blocks: Meridian (Hofstetter one, Sykes three). Pawnee City (Percival one). Digs: Meridian (Ashley Hansel 13, Taylor Johnson 11, Hofstetter 17, Dutton six, Baxa 11, Sykes 18, Allison Johnson 18). Pawnee City (Sejkora two, Habegger three, Percival nine, Cheyney Rohlmeier 10, Lang eight, Emily Turnbull nine).