Johnson County wins invitational title

Daily Sun sports

TECUMSEH - Tecumseh-Johnson County Central’s Lady Thunderbirds won their own invitational volleyball tournament Saturday, picking up three victories en route to the championship.

“These girls really wanted to win our own invite and, for many of them, this was their last chance,” Johnson County coach Ben Swanson said.

In pool-play action, Johnson County defeated Nebraska City Lourdes, 23-25, 25-13, 25-15, and Hebron-Thayer Central, 25-19, 25-14.

Taking on Exeter-Milligan for the tournament title, the Lady Thunderbirds earned a 25-11, 25-13, win.

Swanson said Lourdes gave Johnson County an early “wake-up call” in the first set.

“They (Lourdes) had us down nearly the entire set, but the girls kept fighting back,” Swanson said. “Even though we didn’t win that set, we had a bit of momentum with the way we nearly came from behind to get close.”

From that point on, Swanson said, the Lady Thunder birds showed “great focus” in the team’s game plan and executed the things they needed to to win all three matches.

One of the keys for the Lady Thunderbirds in the tournament was their serving, Swanson said.

“Our serving was a great weapon not only to score, but also to keep the other team out of their offense,” he said.

Next action for Johnson County, 17-1, will be Thursday at Auburn.

Johnson County Invite

Fifth-Place Match

Lourdes def. Falls City, 25-16, 25-16

Third-Place Match

HTRS def. Thayer Central, 27-29, 25-18, 25-13

Championship Match

Johnson County def. Exeter-Milligan, 25-11, 25-13

Johnson County vs. Lourdes

Ace serves: Johnson County (Kelsi Holthus five, Kate Wellensiek five, Jamie Straube one). Kills: Johnson County (Straube 14, Wellensiek eight, Holthus five, Sara Smith one). Set assists: Johnson County (Brittney Lester 14, Lisa Niedermeyer 14). Ace blocks: Johnson County (Straube three, Wellensiek two, Smith one, Holthus one).

Johnson County vs. Thayer

Ace serves: Johnson County (Straube four, Wellensiek two, Holthus one). Kills: Johnson County (Wellensiek 10, Holthus eight, Straube six, Smith three). Set assists: Johnson County (Lester 16, Niedermeyer eight, Straube one). Ace blocks: Johnson County (Straube four, Smith two, Shelby Blum one).

Johnson County vs. Exeter-M

Ace serves: Johnson County (Holthus four, Wellensiek two, Niedermeyer two, Lester one). Kills: Johnson County (Straube 14, Wellensiek four, Holthus four, Smith three, Blum one). Set assists: Johnson County (Lester 13, Niedermeyer eight, Straube one). Ace blocks: Johnson County (Straube three).