Lady Raider volleyball to open season against powerhouses

The Sidney High Lady Raider volleyball team will make the 123-mile drive on I-80 East to begin its season with a triangular match against North Platte and Ogallala on Thursday at North Platte High School.

Sidney hasn't beaten either North Platte or Ogallala in any of the three seasons head coach Sarah Wilson has been on the Lady Raider sideline. North Platte and Ogallala combined for a record of 54-18 last season.

As the new season is about to get underway, Wilson is hoping to change that. But she knows the going will be tough, especially on the road.

"We know we are playing two really strong teams [on Thursday] and starting out with really tough competition," Wilson said. "But that's what we want to see. That will make us play at our highest level and we're excited about that opportunity."

Class C1 Ogallala was fantastic in 2013, finishing the year with a 33-7 record as the No. 18 ranked team in Nebraska.

The Lady Raiders feel prepared to take on that challenge though. Wilson is helping to reinforce that by sending her team a clear and simple message.

"We're at the point now where we've had two or three good weeks of practice and we're just ready to get out there, meet a team and see where we stand," Wilson said.

"This week our goal is to play as clean a game as possible, to cut down on the unforced errors."

Sidney will play the first game of Thursday triangular match against North Platte at 5 p.m. The Lady Raiders will then take on Ogallala at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m., North Platte will battle Ogallala.

Starting lineups: Savanna Rosenbaum (MB), Annalise Lecher (MB), Kelsey Knight (OH), Jasmine Jallen (OH), Kaylee Jessen (S), Emily Mahr (S), Sara Von Seggern L).