Lady Jets News Article
Oct. 2, 2007 Lincoln Journal Star
By Lincoln Journal Star
October 02, 2007
Senior-dominated Jets flying high
By RON POWELL / Lincoln Journal Star
Perhaps you could call the six seniors on the Sterling
volleyball team “the jet set.’’
From going out to dinner in Lincoln to studying for tests, they’re
almost always together away from the court. Put them in the gym and
that unity becomes even more evident, a major reason why the Jets
are off to a 13-3 start and are ranked No. 7 in Class D-2.
“We’re very close and we enjoy being around each other,’’ says
5-foot-8 middle blocker MacKenzie McAuliffe, the Jets’ leading
hitter. “We’ve played volleyball together since junior high, so
we’ve developed a lot of chemistry on the court. We have a lot of
love for each other and play with a lot of heart.”
The teamwork and effort more than makes up for a lack of height.
The other middle, senior Stephanie Heusman, is Sterling’s tallest
player at 5-9. The Jets’ setter, Kala Weber, is 5-4. One of their
starting outside hitters, freshman Courtney VanGroningen, is 5-2.
But coach Stan Karr calls this the best passing and defensive team
he’s had at Sterling. That’s made Weber’s job easier in replacing
graduated all-stater KT Salberg from last year.
“They know if we can’t pass the ball, we can’t run the offense,”
Karr said. “As we’ve gone along, they’re doing a better job reading
hitters, being disciplined about where to be defensively according
to the scouting reports. They’re intelligent girls, and they’re
always thinking out there.”
McAuliffe leads a balanced attack with 108 kills and a .364 hitting
efficiency. The two outside hitters, 5-7 senior Maddie Daehling and
VanGroningen, have 96 and 84 kills, respectively. McAuliffe also
leads in ace blocks and ace serves with 36 in each category.
On a senior-dominated squad, VanGroningen’s freshman status
might seem a little out of place. But age doesn’t matter to the
seniors, only performance. “She fits right in with
everybody,” McAuliffe said. “We knew from summer team camp and
watching her play in middle school last year that she’d probably be
in the starting lineup.”
Weber was a defensive specialist last year, but she’s quickly
learned the setting position. Weber (306 assists) has Sterling
operating a quick attack that utilizes everyone on the floor.
“She can put the sets right where they need to be and has a
feel for each one of the hitters,” Daehling said. “She knows where
each of us like it set and we’ve all gotten our timing down with
her. I give Kala props for how she’s handled the position.’’
While the 13-3 start in September has been nice, the second half of
the schedule appears more challenging. After hosting 8-2 College
View and Lewiston tonight in a triangular, Sterling is at Class C-2
No. 6 Elmwood-Murdock on Thursday before playing in the Falls City
Invitational against larger schools on Saturday.
On Oct. 16, Sterling is at defending Class D-2 state champion and
No. 3 Falls City Sacred Heart for a triangular that also includes
Class C-2 No. 7 Lourdes Central Catholic. Two nights later, the
Jets are at Class C-2 No. 9 Johnson-Brock.
Benefit planned
A benefit bake sale for Stephanie Clark is planned for tonight’s
Sterling triangular against College View and Lewiston. Clark, a
junior middle blocker on Sterling’s JV team, was seriously injured
in an automobile accident last month. She is currently recovering
at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, and all proceeds
tonight will go toward her medical bills.
