💚🏐💛 THE HAWKS ARE HEADED TO STATE! 💛🏐💚

HISTORY IN THE MAKING. HAWK PRIDE IN FULL FORCE!

For the first time since 2010, the Hay Springs Lady Hawks are headed to the NSAA State Volleyball Tournament! 🎉

And this trip to State comes with a pretty special full-circle moment!

In 2010, our current assistant coach was on the court as a Lady Hawk competing at State. Now, 16 years later, she’s headed back to the State Tournament, this time coaching alongside her mom, Lisa Merritt, who also coached that 2010 State Tournament team!

From player to coach, from mother and daughter to coaching side by side, some Hawk traditions are simply too special not to celebrate!

And make no mistake… these girls aren’t traveling all the way from Western Nebraska just to say they made it to State! 🤠🏐

They’re headed east to MAKE SOME NOISE IN LINCOLN, turn some heads, and set the record straight on just who those HAY SPRINGS HAWKS are! 💚💛

We may come from a small town out west, but these girls are bringing BIG dreams, BIG determination, and a whole lot of HAWK PRIDE!

🏐 STATE VOLLEYBALL — FIRST ROUND

📅 Thursday, November 5, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM (Central Time)
📍 Pinnacle Bank Arena — Lincoln, Nebraska
🆚 Hay Springs Hawks vs. Bancroft-Rosalie Panthers

📣 ATTENTION HAWK FANS HEADING TO LINCOLN!
The Hawks will play on the SOUTH COURT at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Remember, the arena has a clear bag policy, and tickets must be purchased online.

LET’S FILL THOSE STANDS WITH GREEN AND GOLD! 💚💛

📺 CAN’T MAKE IT TO LINCOLN? WATCH FROM HOME!
Catch the Hawks in action on the NFHS Network(subscription required)!
🏐 NFHS Network — Live Streaming: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/associations/nsaa

Find official brackets, schedules, ticket information, venue details, and tournament updates!
🏆 NSAA STATE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS CENTRAL: https://nsaahome.org/nsaa-volleyball-championships-central/

Whether you’re making the trip to Lincoln or cheering from home, let’s show these girls just how proud we are!

16 YEARS IN THE MAKING. ONE INCREDIBLE HAWK FAMILY.

CLASS D-2: Defending Champion Wynot, Top-Seed St. Mary’s Have Title Hopes

State-tournament mainstays St. Mary’s and Wynot will be joined by a heavy Western Nebraska flavor in the Class D-2 bracket. Three teams in this year’s field are from the Mountain Time Zone.

Defending state champion Wynot is making the program’s 14th trip to state, including its fourth straight appearance. The fourth-seeded Blue Devils (21-10), who open against Crawford/Sioux County (24-8) possess one of the most dominant players in the field in Calley Stewart (373 kills and 103 blocks).

Last season, the Blue Devils won their first state title in a five-set match over Cambridge and have turned the tide after starting the season 6-6. Since then, they have lost three matches to Class C-1 and C-2 teams and a fourth match in the Lewis and Clark final to Class D-1 qualifier Bloomfield (29-0).

After missing the tournament in 2024 and 2025, St. Mary’s (29-4) is back as the top seed and will take on Sandhills/Thedford (22-9) in the first round. The Cardinals — riding a 16-game winning streak — are seeking the school’s first state title since capturing back-to-back crowns in 2013 and 2014, while the Knights went on the road to Elba to earn their first trip to Lincoln since 2015.

On the other side of the bracket, Mullen (30-2) is the No. 2 seed and will meet Wilcox-Hildreth (21-11). The Broncos, which lost to Cambridge in the opening round last year, is the only team other than Wynot that returns to the D-2 field this year. Third-seeded Hay Springs (23-7), featuring the heavy hitting Devyn Young with 409 kills, faces off with Bancroft-Rosalie (20-12) in the other match.

Crawford/Sioux County is in the field for the first time as a co-op. Crawford last qualified in 2014, while Sioux County has never made it to Lincoln. Wilcox-Hildreth is also in for the first time as a consolidation. Hildreth last qualified in 2000 and Wilcox in 1996.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Callie Kai (Bancroft-Rosalie), 679 assists, 68 ace serves, 279 digs; Peyton Osmotherly (Crawford/Sioux County) 280 kills, 70 ace serves, 265 digs; Devyn Young (Hay Springs), 409 kills, 57 ace serves, 62 total blocks, 243 digs; Jenna Donohoe (Mullen), 321 kills, 69 total blocks, 233 digs; Pyper Ickes (St. Mary’s), 331 kills, 443 digs; Grace Johnston (Sandhills/Thedford), 668 assists, 54 ace serves; Camryn Bunger (Wilcox-Hildreth), 276 kills, 35 total blocks, 343 digs; Calley Stewart (Wynot), 373 kills, 54 ace serves, 103 total blocks, 313 digs..

FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS (THURSDAY). At Pinnacle Bank Arena (North Court) | St. Mary’s (29-4) vs. Sandhills/Thedford (22-9), 9 a.m.; Wynot (21-10) vs. Crawford/Sioux County (24-8), 11 a.m. At Pinnacle Bank Arena (South Court) | Mullen (30-2) vs. Wilcox-Hildreth (21-11), 9 a.m.; Hay Springs (23-7) vs. Bancroft-Rosalie (20-12), 11 a.m.

Below you will find a link to buy tickets, the schedule of the games, order state shirts, facility information, etc.  Please note, all venues DO have a clear bag policy!

https://nsaahome.org/nsaa-volleyball-championships-central/

💚🏐💛 THE HAWKS ARE HEADED TO STATE!!! 💛🏐💚

D2-4 DISTRICT CHAMPIONS! 🏆

🔥 HAY SPRINGS DEFEATS DORCHESTER, 3 SETS TO 1! 🔥

WHAT A WIN, LADIES!!! Our Lady Hawks punched their ticket to the NSAA State Volleyball Championships! Your hard work, determination, and HEART have paid off, and we couldn’t be more proud!

🏐 STATE VOLLEYBALL INFORMATION:
📅 Thursday, November 5 at PBA in Lincoln, NE
⏰ Morning session — Exact game time TBA

📣 IMPORTANT SCHOOL SCHEDULE CHANGES:
💚 Wednesday, November 4: Early dismissal at NOON
💛 Thursday, November 5: NO SCHOOL

Let’s pack the stands, bring the noise, and show everyone what HAWK PRIDE is all about!

NEXT STOP: STATE! 🏆

GO HAWKS!!!