Live Laugh Volleyball Mayson Custer, freshman, patiently waits for the Bennington Badgers serve to come over. Photo by Megan Monismith

You just got served "Volleyball is an exciting sport and requires a commitment to myself and my team," said Jadyn Makovicka, freshman. "I like playing volleyball because it gives me a chance to set goals and work hard." Photo by Megan Monismith

Teamwork makes the Dream Work the freshmen team talked with Coach Mike Brandon to discuss the plays against Bennington. Photo by Megan Monismith

She is not a waitress, but she knows how to serve Carson Opfer, junior, serves the ball to the Bennington Badgers. "Watching all the girls develop their skills as well as my own over the years has been incredible," said Opfer. "I think everyone in the gym works hard, and I appreciate others pushing me to get better. Getting to play and grow with the varsity girls this year has also been a very rewarding experience". Photo by Megan Monismith

Setting the play Angela Gahan, sophomore, plays

against Bennington on Sept. 29, 2015, and the JV team won the game. Photo by Megan Monismith

073JV & Freshmen Volleyball

invested time Became Closer as a Team

Been there, dug that Liz Wewel, sophomore, Gabbie Sorrentino, junior and Karlie Kuhn, sophomore wait for the volleyball to return to their side of the court. "This season has pushed me to step up in my leadership role on the team," said Gabbie Sorrentino, junior. "I have also been pushed to compete for my position on the court, which makes me strive to get better." Photo by Makayla Irwin

Each high school student at GHS invested their time into something they especially cared about. This year, the JV and Freshman volleyball players and their coaches have invested time into each other. The teams have became one through bonding with each other. �Being a part of the volleyball team means a lot,� said Kiley Tremel, junior. �The three months out of the school year we get to spend together is the best time of the year. Everyone on the team works so hard, which makes practices and games an amazing experience.� With some of the team saying they are a �family,� they have always helped each other out whenever it was needed. All of the volleyball players had a �big sister� or "little sister" this season, meaning the seniors and juniors (�Big Sister�) were paired up with a sophomore or freshman (�Little Sister�). They had the opportunity to get to know each other, and they purchased each other presents. "I didn�t know what to expect as a freshman and was a little nervous

starting the season,� said Jadyn Makovicka, freshman. �The upperclassmen were great role models and very helpful on and off the court.� To be a part of a team, it does not just take the players but also the coaches. All of the coaches had their own way of coaching that related back to their teaching method. Coach Ashley Gross coached JV volleyball, Coach Sarah Cosgrove coached the freshman, and Coach Mike Brandon coached Varsity Volleyball. �I believe coaching is teaching, so my philosophies are very similar,� said Coach Mike Brandon. �I believe that students and athletes need to know that you are invested in them and that you genuinely care about them. I believe that making mistakes is part of the process of improvement, so I encourage my students and athletes to take risks, try new things, and grow as human beings.� Every player and coach had a definition of what it meant to be a part of the team this season, whether it was playing on the court or giving

advice on techniques. -Makayla Irwin

"My most memorable moment of the season was our win over Papillion South in the Bellevue Invitational. Our team worked hard to earn every point."

-Jadyn Mackovicka, freshman

MISS MANAGERSThe volleyball team had a three team managers: Cassidy Bartenhagen, junior, Kuren Gilmore, freshman, and Amanada Kwasniewski, junior. The managers wanted to spend their extra time working on school work and focusing on others sports but still wanted to be a part of the volleyball team. "I chose to be a manager because I didn't want to play this year," said Bartenhagen. "I wanted to focus my time on basketball, but I still wanted to be a part of the team since all of my friends still play." They also really enjoyed being around the girls this season. "I am one of the volleyball managers because the girls are great," said Amanda Kwasniewski. "

6POSITIONS

LIBERO

MIDDLE HITTER RIGHT SIDE HITTER

DEFENSIVE SPEACIALIST

SETTER

OUTSIDE HITTER

On Oct. 21, 2015, all three of the Gretna Volleyball teams met at volleyball player Jaisa Russell's house to decorate pumpkins. They based their pumpkin decoration on a theme they drew. Coach Ashley Gross helped organize this event. Some of the pumpkin themes included super heroes, Disney, and celebrities. The winners were Abbie Huffman, sophmore and Jayda Hammer, freshman.

BIG & LIL SIS

Live Laugh Volleyball Mayson Custer, freshman, patiently waits for the Bennington Badgers serve to come over. Photo by Megan Monismith

You just got served "Volleyball is an exciting sport and requires a commitment to myself and my team," said Jadyn Makovicka, freshman. "I like playing volleyball because it gives me a chance to set goals and work hard." Photo by Megan Monismith

Teamwork makes the Dream Work the freshmen team talked with Coach Mike Brandon to discuss the plays against Bennington. Photo by Megan Monismith

She is not a waitress, but she knows how to serve Carson Opfer, junior, serves the ball to the Bennington Badgers. "Watching all the girls develop their skills as well as my own over the years has been incredible," said Opfer. "I think everyone in the gym works hard, and I appreciate others pushing me to get better. Getting to play and grow with the varsity girls this year has also been a very rewarding experience". Photo by Megan Monismith

Setting the play Angela Gahan, sophomore, plays

against Bennington on Sept. 29, 2015, and the JV team won the game. Photo by Megan Monismith

073JV & Freshmen Volleyball

invested time Became Closer as a Team

Been there, dug that Liz Wewel, sophomore, Gabbie Sorrentino, junior and Karlie Kuhn, sophomore wait for the volleyball to return to their side of the court. "This season has pushed me to step up in my leadership role on the team," said Gabbie Sorrentino, junior. "I have also been pushed to compete for my position on the court, which makes me strive to get better." Photo by Makayla Irwin

Each high school student at GHS invested their time into something they especially cared about. This year, the JV and Freshman volleyball players and their coaches have invested time into each other. The teams have became one through bonding with each other. �Being a part of the volleyball team means a lot,� said Kiley Tremel, junior. �The three months out of the school year we get to spend together is the best time of the year. Everyone on the team works so hard, which makes practices and games an amazing experience.� With some of the team saying they are a �family,� they have always helped each other out whenever it was needed. All of the volleyball players had a �big sister� or "little sister" this season, meaning the seniors and juniors (�Big Sister�) were paired up with a sophomore or freshman (�Little Sister�). They had the opportunity to get to know each other, and they purchased each other presents. "I didn�t know what to expect as a freshman and was a little nervous

starting the season,� said Jadyn Makovicka, freshman. �The upperclassmen were great role models and very helpful on and off the court.� To be a part of a team, it does not just take the players but also the coaches. All of the coaches had their own way of coaching that related back to their teaching method. Coach Ashley Gross coached JV volleyball, Coach Sarah Cosgrove coached the freshman, and Coach Mike Brandon coached Varsity Volleyball. �I believe coaching is teaching, so my philosophies are very similar,� said Coach Mike Brandon. �I believe that students and athletes need to know that you are invested in them and that you genuinely care about them. I believe that making mistakes is part of the process of improvement, so I encourage my students and athletes to take risks, try new things, and grow as human beings.� Every player and coach had a definition of what it meant to be a part of the team this season, whether it was playing on the court or giving

advice on techniques. -Makayla Irwin

"My most memorable moment of the season was our win over Papillion South in the Bellevue Invitational. Our team worked hard to earn every point."

-Jadyn Mackovicka, freshman

MISS MANAGERSThe volleyball team had a three team managers: Cassidy Bartenhagen, junior, Kuren Gilmore, freshman, and Amanada Kwasniewski, junior. The managers wanted to spend their extra time working on school work and focusing on others sports but still wanted to be a part of the volleyball team. "I chose to be a manager because I didn't want to play this year," said Bartenhagen. "I wanted to focus my time on basketball, but I still wanted to be a part of the team since all of my friends still play." They also really enjoyed being around the girls this season. "I am one of the volleyball managers because the girls are great," said Amanda Kwasniewski. "

6POSITIONS

LIBERO

MIDDLE HITTER RIGHT SIDE HITTER

DEFENSIVE SPEACIALIST

SETTER

OUTSIDE HITTER

On Oct. 21, 2015, all three of the Gretna Volleyball teams met at volleyball player Jaisa Russell's house to decorate pumpkins. They based their pumpkin decoration on a theme they drew. Coach Ashley Gross helped organize this event. Some of the pumpkin themes included super heroes, Disney, and celebrities. The winners were Abbie Huffman, sophmore and Jayda Hammer, freshman.

BIG & LIL SIS

Megan  Monismith  Informational  Graphic  Illustration