WP gives Blue Devils run for their money, falls in Saturday’s district finals

    Heading into its district final Saturday, the Wauneta-Palisade volleyball team knew it would have its hands full.
    As the 12th seed, WP faced fifth-seeded Wynot (21-9) at Grand Island Northwest.
    Both teams showed some early nerves and struggled to hold serve.
    The Broncos led by two points, 6-4, in the first set before the Blue Devils went on a six-point run. A second run by Wynot quickly left WP trailing 9-13.
    Late in the set a four-point run by WP closed the gap to 17-22. The Broncos held off two set points before falling 19-25.
    Aces by Alexa Sandman, Peyton Cox and GraCee Goings kept the second set close. WP led 9-8 before four-straight points by Wynot gave the Blue Devils the lead. Wynot maintained a three-point lead, but the Broncos hung around. Two more aces by Goings helped WP pull to within one point, 19-20. WP fell behind 21-23 and the teams traded side outs until the final point. The Broncos lost the set 23-25.
    Wynot’s serving game kicked into high gear in the third set. As the Broncos struggled to pass the ball, Wynot steadily increased its lead and WP fell 12-25.
Beat Paxton in subs
    The Broncos hosted Paxton in the subdistrict finals Oct. 26.
    WP fell behind early in the first set 3-10. The Broncos started to find some rhythm late in the set, but dropped the first 12-25.
    Five points by Goings gave WP some breathing room in set two. WP took a 10-4 lead, but saw Paxton roar back to grab a one-point advantage, 17-18. Tied at 23 it was Goings who served out the win for the Broncos.
    WP was in the driver’s seat after a 25-21 win in the third set. Sandman served the Broncos to a 6-2 advantage. The Tigers tied the match at 19 before back-to-back aces by Goings game WP the push it need to win.
    The final set was a tightly contested affair. The set was tied at 17 before Paxton took a two-point lead. Halle Bardsley served WP into the lead for good, 22-20, and the Broncos closed out the match, 25-22.
State begins Thursday
    The Class D2 state tourna-ment will begin Thursday.
    Falls City Sacred Heart (32-2) is the top seed and will play Exeter-Milligan (20-10) in the first round.
    Fourth seeded Stuart (26-5) will play Wynot, who is seeded fifth.
    St. Francis (23-5) is the second seed and will play the seventh seed, Anselmo-Merna (24-8).
    Maywood/Hayes Center (26-2) earned the third seed and will play defending champion Diller-Odell (23-9).
    Another team from WP’s schedule that reached state was Cambridge. The 27-6 Trojans are the sixth seed in Class D1.
    Classes A, B and C1 kicked off the state tournament with games at Pinnacle Bank Arena Wednesday.