Bluejays crowned champions

Published 2:42 pm Thursday, November 12, 2026

By Mike O'Brien

‘Give it your all’ was the message given to the Guardian Angels Central Catholic volleyball team heading into the winner-take-all set of the Class C2 State Championship match on November 7 at the Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln.

That message was received as the Bluejays fought off a potential reverse sweep and captured a 3-2 win over Centura to secure the Class C2 State Volleyball championship title.

“We knew we had to play as a team. We knew coming together as a team would help us play our best volleyball,” GACC junior Hailey Kreikemeier said.

“The worst thing in a state championship game is to get reverse swept, and we knew that wasn’t going to happen to us. We knew we had to start out on top.”

After losing 25-15 and 25-14 in the third and fourth sets, there was a big sigh of relief when the Bluejays scored the opening point of the final set.

“We knew in that fifth set, we didn’t have as many points to give, so we needed to start out strong and play like we knew how we could play. That is what won us the set,” GACC junior Bailey Gerths said about jumping out to a lead.

“Starting 3-0 gave us so much momentum with the crowd and student section. That really helped us earn points.”

Head coach Maddie Gideon doesn’t remember exactly what she said prior to that final set, but the pep talk worked as her players overcame the pressure and were locked in.

“The big message was leave it all on the court; you don’t get these 15 points back,” Gideon said. “When you work so hard, you don’t want to look back and think ‘man, I wish I would have tried a little harder or been a little more aggressive’. We got a little tentative in that third and fourth set. If you’re going to go out, go out swinging.”

Things were clicking quite well for the Bluejays early on as they won sets one and two, 25-22 and 25-17. The rest of the way, however, was anything but easy.

“When it comes to volleyball, it’s such an emotional sport. We talked about two not being enough; you have to get three,” Gideon said. “We’ve been reverse swept before, so we wanted to be sure we weren’t content with just the first two sets we won.”

Gideon added, “I’m just very happy for this group of girls. There are so many good and tough things that come with coaching, but seeing the smiles, reactions and emotions that these girls had after that final point just made me feel like the proudest person in the world. The determination I’ve seen these last few weeks really paid off.”

This marked the school’s fifth state championship in program history, and first title since 2004 when the Bluejays won four straight.

“Coming into the tournament, we knew we had the opportunity to put a banner on the wall,” Kreikemeier said. “It’s been my dream ever since I was in fourth grade, and I knew this team could be the team to achieve it.”

And they did it without any seniors on the roster.

“We don’t have a senior, but don’t give these girls too much credit. They’ve been playing on varsity for three years now, so it’s about time,” Gideon joked.

GACC ended their season with a 27-7 record. Despite having seven losses, Gideon said a tough schedule is what prepared this team for their championship run.

In a gym full of championship banners, one more will be raised.

“Right now, there is a huge space on the left side of our gym. We’ve said it so many time about there being that spot there,” Gerths said. “So, it’s really special that we are the team that gets to put one up there.”

Championship: Saturday, November 7

Class C2 State Volleyball

GACC def. Centura

25-22, 25-17, 15-25, 14-25, 15-8

GACC: Bailey Gerths 23k, 2s, 19d, 3b; Hailey Kreikemeier 15k, 1a, 14d, 1b; Kara Ridder 14k, 2s, 6d, 2b; Charlie Ridder 2k, 1s, 2d, 4b; Emma Cohee 1k, 44s, 1a, 7d; Alli Ritter 1k, 2d, 1b; Tia Strehle 1s, 2d; Riley Wegner 2s, 23d.

Key: a-ace serve, s-set assist, k-kill, d-dig, b-block