LINCOLN – The Omaha Marian volleyball team claimed victory at the Lincoln Northeast volleyball invite held on Saturday. The Crusaders, currently ranked No. 9 in Class A, showed strong performance throughout the tournament, ultimately sweeping Class B’s No. 6 Waverly in the championship match with scores of 25-15 and 25-21.
In the first set, Omaha Marian took control early, establishing a solid lead of 19-12. However, the second set presented a challenge as Waverly surged ahead with an early lead of 7-2, prompting a timeout from the Crusaders. After regrouping, Omaha Marian regained their focus and fought back to take a narrow 19-18 lead, securing the set and match victory in the process.
Other teams in the tournament had mixed results. The No. 10 Lincoln North Star Gators faced tough competition, losing both of their matches. They encountered Waverly first, battling it out to a close finish but ultimately falling in three sets: 25-22, 24-26, and 15-25. Later, they faced off against Class B’s No. 9 Gretna, again losing in three sets with scores of 25-23, 22-25, and 23-25. Gretna’s Elle Heckenlively led her team with an impressive 11 kills.
The host Lincoln Northeast Rockets had a mixed performance as well, going 1-1 for the day. They lost to Lincoln Standing Bear in a close match, finishing with scores of 24-26, 25-16, and 17-25. However, they bounced back with a solid victory over Lincoln Southeast, winning that match 25-19 and 25-17.
As the volleyball season continues, fans can expect an exciting few weeks ahead as teams shake up the standings and fight for top rankings.
