LADY LONGHORNS FALL TO CHADRON IN SUB-DISTRICT PLAY

The Kimball High Lady Longhorns saw their volleyball season come to an end Monday night in the championship game of the C-12 sub-district tournament.

After taking out Mitchell in 3 sets of first round play the number two seeded Kimball advanced with their win over number three seeded Mitchell while number one seed Chadron won in straight sets over number four seed Gordon-Rushville. This set up the exciting title match, won by the highly touted Lady Cardinals from Chadron.

Kimball got off to a rather slow start against Mitchell winning 25-18 26-24 25-17. In the first set after trailing mid-way through the game, Danika Daum had some big hits at the net and Madison Biesecker was providing the sets. In game two Mikayla Fiehtner came through at the end. Trailing 24-23, Fiehtner had a big kill to tie the game at 24-24, then served the two winning points. In game three Ali Hunsaker served 5 straight points including an ace to give Kimball a 20-15 lead and the Horns went on to win 25-17.

In the stat department, Madison Biesecker had 9 service points with 4 ace serves, Ali Hunsaker 8 points with 2 aces, and Mikayla Fiehtner 5 points. Biesecker had 24 set assists, 7 kills and 2 blocks. Danika Daum had 16 kills, 16 assists, and 2 blocks. Fiehtner had 6 kills and Madie Snyder 2 blocks.

Coach Jeri Ferguson said "We didn't get off to a real good start, didn't pass well, but this bunch doesn't panic and settled in and got the job done".

Chadron came into tournament play with a record of 29-4 and left with a mark of 31-4. They are a top notch club but the Kimball ladies were at their best in game one and took a 26-24 win of the first set. Fiehtner had a string of 7 service points to put Kimball on top 17-14. At the tail end of the set, Danika Daum had a big kill to tie it at 24-24, then served the final 2 points with help from Madison Biesecker with a kill and a block for the win.

Kimball got out of their game a bit in set two and three and Cbadron showed why they are ranked so high as they won 25-14 and 25-11. At this point, the Lady Horns could have folded and got blown out, but to their credit, they came back with gusto in the fourth set before losing 27-25. Biesecker was strong all night long but in this set she had a kill to close to 23-22, then served 2 points to tie it at 24-24. Daum had a big hit to keep it tied at 25-25 before the Cardinals served up the final 2 points.

Kimball ended the season at 17-10 and in that final match, Fiehtner had 9 points, Daum 8, and Biesecker 7 with Fiehtner and Biesecker both charted with an ace serve. Daum was Dauminating with 18 kills and Biesecker had 7. Biesecker had 22 set assists and Daum 16. Daum and Biesecker both had 4 blocks, with Fiehtner charted with 3 and Snyder 2. Fiehtner had 10 digs and Raelyn Hinton 8.

It was a night where all of the girls played key roles in the success of the team. Myriah Tyan, and Janel Fiehtner came through with some big plays as did everyone already mentioned.

Coach Ferguson had praise for the play of her ladies. I asked her what she told the girls in the locker room after the season ending loss. "I told them how proud I was of them. I felt they left it all on the floor and that is all you can ask of an athlete. I told them this was the most enjoyable season of my coaching career and how much fun they were to work with."

Coach Ferguson went on to say she will miss this class of seniors, but at the same time she is excited about the kids who are coming back. "Our younger kids have really developed and our practices all year have been exciting." Kimball faced some top quality teams this year, including Chadron, Sidney, Gering, Alliance, Potter Dix, Chase County, and Bridgeport and others. A record of 17-10 is remarkable and a tribute to coach Ferguson and her assistant Erin Monheiser whom she gives lots of credit to. We will recap the entire season for you readers in the next week or two. In the mean time, Good Job Lady Longhorns.