State Of The State: Issue One

Adams Central volleyball has cracked the Class C-1 rankings and has a big week ahead. A volleyball roundup from Tuesday, as well as updates on boys tennis, girls golf, cross country and more.

Author

Tony Chapman
September 24, 2025

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STEADY LEADER. Adams Central’s Izzy DeJonge goes high for an attack against GICC last week. (Harvest Sports / Dante Boelhower)

🏐🏐 Patriots Eye Big Week Ahead

Libby Lollman’s first seven years as the Adams Central volleyball coach have given a new life to the program, including three trips to the state tournament.

And, as Lollman knows, volleyball can be tough in central Nebraska. There are no days off when you tussle with Minden and Kearney Catholic and GICC and St. Paul and many others on any given day.

“When I looked at the schedule, I thought that we didn’t have any games that were for sure wins or for sure losses,” Lollman said. “Every game is a tough fight in central Nebraska. It’s just great volleyball.”

The Patriots — after losing to Gothenburg in a sub-district final last year — are off to a 10-3 start in 2025 heading into a measuring stick week which started last night with a four-game loss to St. Paul. They host their home invitational on Saturday before a trip to Class B, No. 9 Northwest next Tuesday.

Lollman’s crew has looked a little different this year, but she kind of likes how they have adapted to a 6-2 offense with setters Peighton Hinman, a junior, and sophomore Brynn Smith. The duo has combined for 384 set assists.

“I think for years we have been such an outside heavy team,” Lollman said. “But, this year we are kind of recreating things with the 6-2 and it has worked well for us. Peighton and Brynn are both doing a great job of sharing the ball to different spots on the court.”

AC has relied, too, on the steady leadership of senior Izzy DeJonge who leads the team in kills. Junior Ava Katzberg has added 98 kills and is attacking at a team leading .356. Freshman Kinlee Hinton — Peighton’s sister — also has 98 kills.

“Izzy is just one of those girls who has played a ton of volleyball for us and we just love how she is steady out on the court for our team,” Lollman said of DeJonge.

Ranked 7th in Class C-1 in this week’s Coaches Poll, the Patriots get another big test this weekend when they host their own 8-team invitational that includes Class C-2, No. 6 Centura, Class C-1, No. 9 Malcolm and Class B (RV) Gering. Six of the eight teams in the field have records above .500.

Lollman hopes that for her team, it’s another barometer to see where the end of the season might take them.

“We obviously want playing in the district finals to be an expectation for our program,” the coach said. “But, with this team we have just focused on small goals that are right in front of us.

“We had never beat Kearney Catholic since I was the coach here so doing that was fun. And, we have never won our own tournament. So, that is something we have talked about, but it won’t define our season. Our kids just love being around each other, our practices are so fun. They have been a great group to coach.”

Adams Central junior Izzy Weston attacks the net in a match against GICC. (Harvest Sports / Dante Boelhower)

 📈 📉 Rank ‘Em

Football now just short of halfway, volleyball about there. And, now softball enters the home stretch. The mid-September Coaches Polls for football and volleyball and softball are linked below from nebpreps.com. 

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🏐🏐 The Volleyball Roundup

Quick hitters from Tuesday night action around the state.

🎾🎾 That’s A Racket

Elkhorn tennis coach Jon Holtz tracks the best tennis in the state for the coaches to set up the coaches association’s dual championships — a precursor to the state meet. This year’s NSAA state meet will be in Lincoln on October 16-17 (Class A) and 20-21 (Class B). The duals will take place in Kearney on October 11 and October 13.

Class A defending champion Lincoln East is still at the top of the class, while Class B is led by Lexington with Elkhorn North, Scottsbluff and defending champion Elkhorn Mt. Michael chasing.

CLASS A TEAM STANDINGS

CLASS B TEAM STANDINGS

Lincoln East’s Tasha Kolbas is ranked 11th in the Class A girls golf differential with just 10 days of the regular season left. She finished second at yesterday’s Lincoln city championship. (Harvest Sports / Tony Chapman)

Odds and Ends

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