Hoops power Sutton digs up new identity

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BY RON POWELL / Lincoln Journal Star

Being ranked No. 1 is nothing new for the Sutton girls.

But in the past, it’s always been in the winter during basketball season. That is, until this week.

The Fillies, who have been to the state volleyball tournament only once (1991), moved to the top of the first regular-season Class C-2 volleyball rankings on the strength of a 25-23, 25-21, 25-20 win Thursday at preseason No. 1 Ravenna.

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In girls basketball, Sutton has been to the state tournament 14 times with a state title (also in ’91) and four runner-up finishes. The most recent state final appearance was last March.

A 3-0 start in volleyball has built excitement for that sport as well.

“Our fans are starting to get into it,” says libero Courtney Spongberg, the only senior among the Fillies’ returning letterwinner. “We’ve been working hard at volleyball because we want to be competitive in every sport, not just one.

“We were all in shock after we beat the No. 1 team (Ravenna),” Spongberg added. “But we realize it’s only one win and that we have go back to the court and prove ourselves again.”

Spongberg is part of a defense that’s the cornerstone of Sutton’s volleyball success. She had a team-high 17 digs against a powerful Ravenna team that includes two-time all-state outside hitter Madison Pernicek. Sophomore setter Cori Ehmen, a transfer from Heartland, had 15 digs to go with 12 assists.

Another sophomore, 5-foot-10 outside hitter Vanessa Van Kirk, registered 14 digs to cap an all-around match that also included a team-high nine kills and two ace serves.

Between defense and strong serving, the Fillies kept Ravenna off-balance most of the match.

“We played probably as good a defense for three sets as any match I’ve coached at Sutton,” said coach Chris Ericson, who is  in his third season. “We kept a lot of rallies going long enough to force an error or get a kill ourselves.

“We served 70 times and only missed four all night,’’ the Sutton coach added. “We served aggressively and got them out of system. That limited what they (Ravenna) could do.’’

Van Kirk and Ehmen are two of five sophomores Sutton has in its regular rotation. Claire Bergen, a 5-10 middle blocker, had six kills against Ravenna. Jamie Van Kirk, a 5-9 outside hitter and standout basketball player, chipped in five kills. Six-foot middle Jessica Osterhaus had five ace blocks against the taller Bluejays.

Sutton runs a 6-2 attack as Ehmen hits in the front row and junior Brittany Stone sets in those three rotations.

The sophomores “are a group that loves to compete,’’ Ericson said. “They enjoy the athletic atmosphere and working together to succeed, no matter what sport it is.”

Sutton faces a difficult week, not surprising since six Southern Nebraska Conference schools ranked in either C-1 (No. 9 Centennial) or C-2 (No. 1 Sutton, No. 6 Wilber-Clatonia, No. 7 Superior, No. 8 Tri County and No. 9 Thayer Central).

Sutton is at Superior for a triangular tonight before playing at Centennial Thursday.

“We’ve put a target on our backs, so we need to come out ready to play every match,’’ Ericson said. “Our conference is so strong right now, you can lose to anyone on any given night.’’

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