By Marisa Dawson, Photos by Nick Scofield
The Bennington girls volleyball team is navigating its first season in Class A with a mix of early results and valuable lessons, sitting at 4-3 after the opening week of competition.
The Badgers went 3-3 through six matches before adding a decisive 3-0 home sweep of Omaha Burke on Tuesday (25-12, 25-10, 25-7) to improve to 4-3. Three of those contests came at a Bellevue tournament over the weekend, where Bennington finished 2-1 against Sioux City North (Iowa), Lincoln Standing Bear and Omaha Westside.
Head coach Sami Hansen said she feels positive about the group’s early progress.
“I feel good about where we are six matches into the season,” Hansen said. “We’ve had the opportunity to play some really good competition, and those matches have given us a lot of valuable experience early in the season. I’m especially proud of the team chemistry we’ve developed and how willing this group is to compete and continue getting better.”
The move up to Class A has brought a higher level of competition and new opponents. Hansen noted that adjusting to unfamiliar styles of play has been the primary challenge, though the Badgers’ recent schedules have prepared them for the jump.
“The biggest adjustment has been getting comfortable with new opponents and different styles of play,” she said. “Our schedule has been challenging the past few years between our conference and the Class A tournaments we’ve played, so our players are used to embracing those opportunities. We’re continuing to learn what works best for us and how to play to our strengths.”
At the Bellevue tournament, Bennington opened with a dominant 2-0 win over Sioux City North (25-5, 25-15), dropped a 1-2 decision to Standing Bear (25-19, 16-25, 19-25) and closed with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Omaha Westside (25-22, 19-25, 25-23). Earlier in the week the Badgers split results against Gretna (0-2 loss), Millard South (2-1 win) and Elkhorn South (1-2 loss).
Hansen was pleased with the team’s competitiveness across the tournament slate.
“I was really proud of how we competed throughout both days of the tournament,” she said. “We faced a variety of teams and different situations, and our players continued to stay engaged, support each other and battle throughout the weekend. I especially liked how we fought through long rallies and continued to fight back when we were down.”
She pointed to the group’s response in tougher moments as a key takeaway.
“I think the tournament as a whole showed our ability to respond when things don’t go our way,” Hansen said. “We had some moments where we had to fight back, and I liked how our players continued to trust each other and compete. The biggest lesson from the weekend was continuing to focus on what we can control and playing to our strengths.”
Looking ahead, Hansen highlighted team chemistry and players stepping into larger roles as early strengths while emphasizing consistency as the top area for growth.
“I’m really proud of our team chemistry and how well our players are supporting each other,” she said. “We also have several players taking on bigger roles this year compared to last year, and I’ve been happy with how they’ve embraced those opportunities. Our biggest focus is continuing to be consistent, trust each other and play to our strengths.”
The coach’s longer-term vision balances competitive goals with the overall experience of the season.
“Our goals are to win a district championship and qualify for state, but we also want to make the most of this season and enjoy every part of the experience,” Hansen said. “I want this group to continue improving, competing together and building confidence throughout the season. If we can continue to grow, play to our strengths and enjoy the journey along the way, I think we’ll give ourselves a great opportunity to accomplish those goals.”
Bennington continues its non-conference schedule this week as it builds toward the heart of the Class A season.
