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OMAHA - NEBPreps tagged two Wynot volleyball players the “Players of the Year” at their respective positions on the court.
The Lady Blue Devils won their first-ever Nebraska Volleyball title a little over 10 days ago and setter Haley Wieseler and libero Jaylin Geisen were named player of the year by the NEBPreps organization for their performances in Lincoln and their senior seasons’ as a whole.
Ironically, when the duo were freshmen, former Wynot coach, Tammy Wieseler, thought that group of freshmen needed a setter and libero and tabbed the two current seniors to fit the bill.
“I was actually a setter coming into high school,” said Geisen. “I didn’t start being a libero until Sidney Messersmith showed up my sophomore year. And I couldn’t be happier she made that switch.”
Geisen, who wound up her career with 1,040 career digs and over 50 ace serves in her senior season, was the main cog in the Lady Blue Devils’ run to the state title on the defensive side of the court.
Meanwhile, Wieseler was busy feeding Kenna Oligmueller, Jordan Foxhoven and Mya Pinkelman the ball for kills to grab her spot as the “Setter of the Year” for Class D2.
“It was never a thought in my mind I was going to be a setter, I wasn’t in my whole career until Tammy put me there,” said Wieseler. “One day at practice she pulled me aside and told me I was going to do the drills with the setters. I didn’t believe her at first but once I got the flow of things I thought maybe this could lead to something bigger and better having me at setter.”
Wieseler stayed on as a hitter in her junior campaign and hammered 82 kills during that season.
“I was playing right side as a junior and I accepted my role,” Wieseler said. “I accepted my role this season as well and tried to become the best setter I could be.”
Well, the best she could be translated into not only the best for her team but for all of Nebraska in Class D2.
“It feels good to put up a good set, I know that if I’m able to put the ball in the right spot, our hitters will take care of the rest from there,” Wieseler said. “I would rather have a set turn into a kill. Getting a kill as a setter is cool but I’d much rather have a teammate succeed with my help than killing the ball myself.”
Both players were extremely happy to live out a childhood dream of winning a state title.
“It was awesome to go out there and do something with this group of girls we have dreamed of since we started playing together in the second grade,” said Geisen. “Ever since we were little freshmen all us senior girls have talked about putting a championship banner up in the gym and to be able to say we finally did it is a huge blessing and relief.”
“It was amazing to win a state title, every little kid dreams of winning a state championship and just being to do that with the same people I’ve been playing alongside my whole life is just a surreal experience,” Wieseler said. “Doing it my senior as well was just a bitter sweet ending to end my volleyball career.”
Their current coach, Tristan Wieseler summed up their careers arguably the best.
“As freshmen both girls did not start at their positions and we knew we needed a libero and a setter in this group. We had both of them try each position and eventually my mom ended up committing to Haley at setter and Jaylin at libero,” said Tristan Wieseler. “It was just awesome to see how they grew into their roles over four years and to end their careers at the top in their class at their position. They accepted their roles and just really excelled. We will certainly miss their leadership, along with the other seniors next season.”
