Papillion-La Vista shows strength in tourney win
BELLEVUE — By winning the Bellevue Invitational, top-ranked Papillion-La Vista has the percentages on its side that the volleyball season will have a happy ending.
Six of the last 10 Bellevue champions went on to win the Class A state title.
That’s the good news for the 6-0 Monarchs, who rolled through No. 8 Elkhorn and No. 6 Bellevue East before turning back fourth-ranked Omaha Marian 25-22, 25-20 in the finals. Papillion-La Vista did not drop a set in the two-day, 16-team tournament.
But Papillion-La Vista knows there are exceptions to the rule. Such as last year, when Marian beat Papillion-La Vista in the Bellevue Invite finals, only to see the Monarchs capture the state championship.
“Maybe we can reverse roles this season,” Marian coach Rochelle Rohlfs said, smiling.
Of course, that’s something the Monarchs intend to prevent.
“We can’t underestimate anyone. Everyone else will get better during the season, we’ll have to improve, too,” said Super-State outside hitter Gina Mancuso, who led Papillion-La Vista in the finals with 17 kills.
“It’s definitely different for us this year,” Mancuso added. “We know there’s a target on our backs, but we’re calm. Like coach says, ‘Be confident, not cocky.’”
That confidence showed when a younger Marian team (6-1) challenged. An ace block by Ellie Pesavento got Marian as close as 23-22 in the first set, but the Monarchs closed it out on a setter dump by Super-State senior Chelsey Feekin and a kill from sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Albers.
Feekin finished with 20 assists, three ace blocks and five kills. Albers put down six kills.
The second set see-sawed until four unanswered points midway through put Papillion-La Vista ahead to stay. Trailing by one, back-to-back kills by Mancuso gave the Monarchs the lead.
Senior outside hitter Lisa Greisch paced Marian with seven kills and six digs. Michelle Pettit, the opposite, added six kills.
Fifth-ranked Lincoln East finished fifth in the championship bracket, going 5-1 on the weekend. The Spartans lost to Bellevue East on Saturday, but rebounded with wins over Elkhorn and Bellevue West.
Natalie Ebke led the Spartans against Bellevue West with 10 kills and four ace serves. Kelsey Newman, Nicole Gingery and Tara Curtiss added five kills each for the Spartans. Setters Madison MacLean and Emily Swanson combined for 20 assists.
Ninth-ranked Lincoln Southeast went 3-0 Saturday to win the consolation bracket. The Knights (3-2) downed Lincoln Northeast and Omaha Westside before handling No. 10 Papillion-La Vista South 25-22, 25-21 in the finals. The Knights’ Casey Sorensen had six kills and 13 digs in the finals, teammate Haley Lake also had six kills and setter Alyssa Lake put up 15 assists.
Reach Ron Powell at 473-7437 or rpowell@journalstar.com.
Six of the last 10 Bellevue champions went on to win the Class A state title.
That’s the good news for the 6-0 Monarchs, who rolled through No. 8 Elkhorn and No. 6 Bellevue East before turning back fourth-ranked Omaha Marian 25-22, 25-20 in the finals. Papillion-La Vista did not drop a set in the two-day, 16-team tournament.
But Papillion-La Vista knows there are exceptions to the rule. Such as last year, when Marian beat Papillion-La Vista in the Bellevue Invite finals, only to see the Monarchs capture the state championship.
“Maybe we can reverse roles this season,” Marian coach Rochelle Rohlfs said, smiling.
Of course, that’s something the Monarchs intend to prevent.
“We can’t underestimate anyone. Everyone else will get better during the season, we’ll have to improve, too,” said Super-State outside hitter Gina Mancuso, who led Papillion-La Vista in the finals with 17 kills.
“It’s definitely different for us this year,” Mancuso added. “We know there’s a target on our backs, but we’re calm. Like coach says, ‘Be confident, not cocky.’”
That confidence showed when a younger Marian team (6-1) challenged. An ace block by Ellie Pesavento got Marian as close as 23-22 in the first set, but the Monarchs closed it out on a setter dump by Super-State senior Chelsey Feekin and a kill from sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Albers.
Feekin finished with 20 assists, three ace blocks and five kills. Albers put down six kills.
The second set see-sawed until four unanswered points midway through put Papillion-La Vista ahead to stay. Trailing by one, back-to-back kills by Mancuso gave the Monarchs the lead.
Senior outside hitter Lisa Greisch paced Marian with seven kills and six digs. Michelle Pettit, the opposite, added six kills.
Fifth-ranked Lincoln East finished fifth in the championship bracket, going 5-1 on the weekend. The Spartans lost to Bellevue East on Saturday, but rebounded with wins over Elkhorn and Bellevue West.
Natalie Ebke led the Spartans against Bellevue West with 10 kills and four ace serves. Kelsey Newman, Nicole Gingery and Tara Curtiss added five kills each for the Spartans. Setters Madison MacLean and Emily Swanson combined for 20 assists.
Ninth-ranked Lincoln Southeast went 3-0 Saturday to win the consolation bracket. The Knights (3-2) downed Lincoln Northeast and Omaha Westside before handling No. 10 Papillion-La Vista South 25-22, 25-21 in the finals. The Knights’ Casey Sorensen had six kills and 13 digs in the finals, teammate Haley Lake also had six kills and setter Alyssa Lake put up 15 assists.
Reach Ron Powell at 473-7437 or rpowell@journalstar.com.
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