Braun, Cook lead Pius X past Omaha Mercy

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BY RON POWELL / Lincoln Journal Star

The feared letdown after winning last weekend’s Beatrice Invitational never materialized for the Lincoln Pius X volleyball team Thursday night.

The Class B No. 3 Thunderbolts rode Natalie Braun’s 16 kills and Lauren Cook’s all-around play to an impressive 25-16, 25-19, 25-14 victory against No. 7 Omaha Mercy before an estimated 500 spectators at Pius X’s Bishop Flavin Gym.

“Mr. (Jake) Moore has been on us all week in practice not to be satisfied with what we’ve done so far,’’ said Cook, the 5-foot-8 Super-State setter and UCLA recruit who had 30 assists, six kills and two ace blocks against Mercy.

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The Thunderbolts (7-0) went 6-0 in the two-day Beatrice tournament and defeated top-ranked Northwest in the championship match.

“He (Coach Moore) told us, ‘You won, now you have to move on,’’’ Cook added. “‘You have to focus on the future, not the past.’”

While Braun, a 5-8 senior outside hitter, did the most damage offensively, Cook kept the Mercy defense off-balance by spreading the ball from pin to pin and getting numerous attackers involved. Allie Falter, a 6-1 junior middle blocker and first-year starter, had six kills and three ace blocks.

Three other seniors — Kayla Gaden, Erica Effken and Liz Bachman, combined for 12 kills and four ace blocks.

“When you have the best setter in the state (Cook) like they do, you’re tough to defend,” said Mercy coach Paul Goodwin, whose team slipped to 3-1. “She moves the ball around, and it’s hard to prepare for a team that has four hitters who can attack from any spot.”

Behind the offense of Reid Rauterkus and Erin Dougherty, the Monarchs held a 15-14 lead midway through the second set. The Thunderbolts, however, responded with nine unanswered points to take a 23-15 lead. Elle Ross served eight straight points during the run, which included three kills from Braun and a Ross ace.

“That second set was crucial because if we lose that, it’s anybody’s match,’’ said Moore, whose team served seven aces. “Like last weekend, I thought our serving helped us a ton. They weren’t able to get in system, and the free balls we got gave us lots of options offensively.”

Rauterkus paced Mercy with nine kills, while Dougherty added seven kills and two ace blocks. Setter Erica Sampson put up 19 assists.

Reach Ron Powell at 473-7437 or rpowell@journalstar.com.