LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The Central Kansas Rampage volleyball team finished with a 4-5 record in the 13-and-under USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Central Kansas Rampage defeated Texas Storm 25-20, 25-20; and lost to Wildfire Nationals, Sunrise, Fla. 25-16, 27-25 in Saturday's bracket play. The Rampage downed Ozark Nationals, Ark. 25-14, 25-11 Friday to finish 3-4 in pool play.

The Rampage defeated Sunshine Westside, Calif. 25-0, 25-0 and AS Earl, Ga. 14-25, 26-24, 15-12. The Rampage lost 25-22, 25-16 to HJV Elite, Houston, Texas.

“We had super fun matches and saw some amazing competition,” said Rampage head coach Crystal Schroeder.

The Central Kansas Rampage lost three matches by close margins Thursday.  NRG VBC, Texas def. the Rampage, 25-21, 25-27, 17-15 in a tight three-set match. CVC Black, Iowa edged Rampage 26-24, 25-20 in another tight match. CIA Black, Ohio downed the Rampage, 25-22, 20-25, 15-6.

Team members include Great Bend’s Denver Ringo (11), Miya Nachtigal (12), Kya Behr (17), Jadynce Schroeder (30), Kimmy Hofflinger (98), Hoisington’s Sofia Simic (8) and Kelsi Maier (21) and Ellinwood’s Regan Widener (5). 

Head coach Crystal Schroeder is assisted by Brendyn Schroeder.

“Three of the girls have competed together since they were 10 years old,” Schroeder said. “Two players were added the following year. Three more players are new to the team this year.”

The team typically plays a competitive schedule from January through March, but some teams played into April.

Schroeder has been pleased by the team’s progress.

“Attitude is definitely our biggest strength,” Schroeder said. “They are so driven to win that they push each other to extraordinary heights. Fundamentally they are sound and smart. They make good decisions and communicate well on the floor.”

Schroeder said the team has gradually improved as the new players learned their new roles.

“We have so much talent, but it took the season for them to really understand each other and trust that their teammates would be there to take care of them,’ she said.   

Matches can be viewed online on ballertv.com.  

https://www.ballertv.com/events/usa-volleyball-girls-junior-national-championship 

AMERICAN POOL, 13 UNDER

POOL 3—HJV Elite, Houston, Texas 7-0; CVC Black, Cleveland, Ohio 6-1; CIA Black, Iowa 5-2; Central Kansas Rampage 3-4; Sunshine Westside, Pacific Palisades, Calif. 3-4; AS Earl, Roswell, Ga. 2-5; NRG Elite, Mansfield, Texas 2-5; Ozark Juniors, Fayetteville, Ark. 0-7

CENTRAL KANSAS RAMPAGE (3-4)

WEDNESDAY—W Sunshine Westside 25-0, 25-0; W AS Earl 14-25, 26-24, 15-12; L HJV Elite 25-22, 25-16

THURSDAY—L NRG VBC, 25-21, 25-27, 17-15; L CVC Black, 26-24, 25-20; L CIA Black 25-22, 20-25, 15-6

FRIDAY—W Ozark Juniors 25-14, 25-11

BRACKET FLIGHT 1—Central Kansas Rampage def. Texas Storm, El Paso, 25-20, 25-20; Wildfire Nationals, Sunrise, Fla. def. Central Kansas Rampage, 25-16, 27-25; Wildfire Nationals def, HLAG, 25-20, 23-25, 15-2