Jones could play big role for Northeast this year

NORFOLK – A Cedar Catholic graduate is hoping to play a big role in the Northeast Community College volleyball team’s new season.

The Hawks have seven sophomores and 10 freshmen who spent much of training camp coming together as a team and are ready to hit the floor for the first time as a group during live action.

Amanda Schultze is preparing for her 12th year as the head coach for Northeast and has brought in a roster of 17 student-athletes who all hail from the state of Nebraska. What does having a group full of players who grew up experiencing, ‘The Good Life,’ signify?

“It means more support and fans traveling,” Schultze said. “Most of them are small-town kids who were three-sport athletes and have to work for things they want or need. Their work ethic is usually outstanding.”

Northeast volleyball has more freshmen on the roster than sophomores, but when asked about who has shown leadership qualities so far from her returners, there are a few names who come to mind.

“Shaylyn Safranek (Merna),” Schultze said. “Jayda Christensen (Norfolk) has improved a lot over the last year. Alexa Cunningham (Wausa) shows everything in her actions. She shows up every day and works hard.”

At a two-year college there is always an emphasis placed on freshmen that can step in immediately and Schultze has been impressed by her new additions so far.

“Mya Hedstrom from O’Neill St. Mary’s High School stands out,” Schultze said. “She is an outside that can play all the way around. Six rotations. She is about six-foot tall. Just athletic and long. She has a lot of power and is a solid passer, which helps in the back row.”

Hedstrom competed in the 2024 Northeast Nebraska All-Star Volleyball Game with fellow freshmen Daveigh Munter-McAfee (Wakefield), Katy Jones (Hartington), Allison Wieseler (Wynot), Teya Boyer (Plainview) and Mallory Eriksen (Laurel).

Jones is another newcomer who has caught the eye of Schultze.

“Katy Jones from Cedar Catholic High School is another one,” Schultze said. “Almost every single practice we’ve had she brings a lot of energy when she steps on the floor. If there is a shanked ball, she chases after it and always gets a hand on it. I don’t know if there’s been one that she hasn’t gotten a hand on. She brings that type of hustle and excitement.”

Bringing in a freshman class of 10 student-athletes is a little larger than usual, but Schultze and her staff put their heads together and created a plan with their recruiting class.

“Our thought process was we lost two outsides,” Schultze said. “I needed to be deeper in that outside position with players that could play in the back row if needed. I knew our setter and libero positions would be big.”

Speaking of her coaching staff, Schultze added former Northeast volleyball standout Liz Christensen as an assistant coach this year and is thrilled by the early returns she has seen from her new bench mate.

“She has a lot of coaching experience,” Schultze said. “She stepped in the first day and acted like she had been here awhile. She is comfortable and confident. She is a really great asset to our team. She hit in college too so she has a lot of experience with hitting, where my experience is with setting and passers. It is really nice to have her on staff. Somone who knows our program and knows what is expected.”

Northeast Volleyball went on an incredible stretch from 2016-2019 where they appeared at the national tournament four-straight seasons. Region 11 remains one of the tougher conferences in the country and Schultze understands the importance of taking the one-day-at-a-time approach while also valuing the rich tradition here.

“We talk about it here and there as the season gets going,” Schultze said. “Once we start conference games it will be talked about more and we will look at their team goals. We remind each other at the beginning of practices to get 1% better every day that we step on the court. We have the depth, the experience and the leadership needed.”

Throughout fall camp, Schultze has noticed that her group has been coming together as a team each and every day.