For the first time in school history, Halstead was crowned the class 3A volleyball state champions.
The Dragons were victorious after sweeping Nemaha Central in the state championship game.
“It is completely surreal in the moment of winning it,” head coach Dianna Schutte said. “It just felt like all the stars finally aligned. You have to have skill and talent, mental toughness, and a little luck and that all happened for us. We have been knocking on the door of a state appearance the last couple years so to break through those doors feels great. We had a huge community following this entire season with not just family members, but Halstead alumni. People who have watched the ups and downs of Halstead athletics so it feels good for the girls who work so hard and also the town.”
Halstead finished the season 43-2 while having four players named to the all-state tournament team in Bailey Bernal, Katherine Engle, Piper Schroeder, and Dalaina Schutte.
“Our girls were electric even when playing at midnight in the first round,” Schutte said. “Dalaina Schutte is our setter and had an outstanding weekend. She has the capability to make any pass into a play. Her ability to find our hitters this weekend was on point. Our other Senior serving specialist, Sloane Linton had many sets where she found herself serving game point. She has ice in her veins and her ability to come into a high stress moment and serve is incredible. We were down in the semis in the first set and a stretch of her serves helped get us in the lead and we didnt look back after that. We played with more confidence which pooled right into the championship. She also is such a great leader and is the reason our bench kept such a high energy. Our OH Bailey Bernal and Katharine Engel were by far the smallest outsides and there ability to tool and hit between the block helped elevate us.”
