FALL SPORTS
C7
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
Ismael Rodriguez Jr. / The North Platte Telegraph
McKenna Little (19) of North Platte elevates to spike the ball as Jenna Curtis (3) and Jaedy Commins of Ogallala defend on Oct. 21, 2019, in Ogallala.
Bulldogs hope another year of experience pays off Working on chemistry North Platte Class A
Aug. 28-29.............................at Bellevue West Invite Sept. 3. .............................................Sidney/Ogallala Sept. 8. ............................................................Gering Sept. 10. ................................................at Northwest Sept. 12. ......................................... at Kearney Invite Sept. 15. ................................................... at Ogallala Sept. 18-19. ...................................at Lincoln Classic Sept. 24. ...................................................... Hastings Oct. 1...........................................................at Aurora Oct. 2-3......................................at Twin City Tourney Oct. 6..........................................at Kearney Catholic Oct. 15................................................ at North Platte Oct. 20................................................ at North Platte Oct. 24............................................. at Alliance Invite
The Bulldogs return a veteran squad with seven seniors on the ros- ter. That group includes Neff, who has been North Platte’s setter since her freshman season; and middle blocker MaKenna Little, who is in her third year as a starter. The team also has four defen- sive specialists who are seniors as well. The Bulldogs’ varsity roster includes three ju- niors and a sophomore. “We have great (senior) leadership,” Hammond said, “They have done a great job in terms of talking with the young- er players and getting them into the team atmo- sphere.” That experience shows on the court as well. “We’ve all been play- ing together since seventh grade, so we all know how to communi- cate (during games)” Neff said. “We know how to talk with each other and critique each other if we need to. I think that is re- ally going to help with both our offense and our defense.” Little said the team’s chemistry seems stron- ger overall. “I feel we had cliques
By TIM JOHNSON tim.johnson@ nptelegraph.com
There is a bit of a dif- ferent feeling around the North Platte volleyball team this year. With Clancy Hammond in her second campaign as coach, there is more of a comfort level for the players in the program with both the systems and expectations. “Last year was pret- ty tense. Everything was new,” said Bulldogs se- nior Peyton Neff. “This year we feel way more comfortable with every- body (on the coaching staff), so I think that is really going to help.” Hammond feels the same way as she said the first season was a chance for the coaching staff to get their feet set with the program. “We figured out last year things that we want- ed to do differently for this year,” Hammond said. “I think also just the players building relationships as team- mates (last year) helped them build a trust in (the coaches). We are excit- ed this year to see how those relationships con- tinue to build.”
couple of games I think it will be just kind of fig- uring things out a little more (with the rotation) and getting used to the flow of the game again.” said Gracelyn Cauffman, the Bulldogs senior de- fensive specialist. Hammond said there are a number of keys for the Bulldogs to reach the goals that they have set for the season. The biggest one right now is player’s health, especial- ly in a season set during the coronavirus pandem- ic. “It’s staying healthy and keeping kids in prac- tice and their ability to play,” Hammond said. “Other goals are kind of set aside right now. We want to keep them in school and that really is our biggest challenge right now.”
and different groups at times last year,” Little said. “It wasn’t a big deal as there wasn’t any dra- ma but it didn’t seem like we were all as one on the court. This year it has been a lot better and we are working to keep that strong.” The hope is that it might pay off in a suc- cessful run this year. The Bulldogs are com- ing off a 15-21 season — the fourth-straight losing season since the program posted a 37-4 mark in 2015 and reached the Class A state tourna- ment. The Bulldogs plan to use 11 players consistent- ly this season, and the early portion of the sea- son could be used to see where people fit into the rotation. “Going into the first
Telegraph file photo Peyton Neff embraced and excelled in new roles in 2019. She’ll return for her senior season as the start- ing setter.
VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULES
Class B Lexington
McCook Aug. 27. .....................................Lexington Sept. 1. .................Minden/Chase County Sept. 3. ................................... at Hastings Sept. 8. ........................................ Ogallala Sept. 10. .................................... Holdrege Sept. 15. .................................. at Hershey Sept. 19. ............................ McCook Invite Sept. 26........................at Holdrege Invite Sept. 29................. /CambridgeCozad Tri Oct. 2-3.................... at Twin City Tourney Oct. 8................................at Lexington Tri Oct. 13..........................at Broken Bow Tri Oct. 15............................... at North Platte Oct. 23............................ at SWC Tourney
Class C1 Broken Bow
Chase County Aug. 27. ....................................... Ogallala Sept. 1. ............................... at McCook Tri Sept. 5. ........................at Lexington Invite Sept. 10. ............... Alliance, at Bridgeport Sept. 17. ............Maywood-Hayes Center Sept. 19. ........................ at McCook Invite Sept. 22..................................... at Sidney Sept. 24. ......................... DCS/St. Francis Sept. 29...... Gothenburg/Perkins County Oct. 1..............................at Sutherland Tri Oct. 6.................................. at St. Pat’s Tri Oct. 8................................Perkins County Oct. 13...................................... at Kimball Oct. 17.........................SPVA Tournament Oct. 20..................................... at Hershey
Aug. 27. ...................................at McCook Sept. 1. ....................................... at Cozad Sept. 3. ..............................at Holdrege Tri Sept. 5. ............................Lexington Invite Sept. 10. ...................................... Hershey Sept. 17. ................................Broken Bow Sept. 19. ...................at Central City Invite Sept. 24. ..... Northwest/Kearney Catholic Sept. 29..........................................Aurora Oct. 2-3.................... at Twin City Tourney Oct. 6.........................................at York Tri Oct. 8......................McCook/Gothenburg Oct. 15-17. .........at Central Conf. Tourney Oct. 20..............Holdrege/Adams Central
Aug. 28. ................................... at Hershey Sept. 3. ..............................at Gothenburg Sept. 5. ........................at Lexington Invite Sept. 10. ................................ at Cozad Tri Sept. 17. ................................at Lexington Sept. 19. ..........................at Seward Invite Sept. 24. ...............................at Gibbon Tri Sept. 26.......... at Adams Central Tourney Oct. 1.................................ay Ravenna Tri Oct. 6.......................................Ord/Cozad Oct. 8.................................. at Ogallala Tri Oct. 13............................. at Ainsworth Tri Oct. 15.......................at Kearney Catholic Oct. 20..............................................Quad Oct. 23............ at SWC Tourney, McCook
Please see SCHEDULES, Page C9
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