The Omaha Marian gymnasium was a busy place Monday, much like the other high school gyms in the state.
It was the first day of practice for fall sports, and 70 volleyball players were working hard. They'll be divided into four squads of varying age and ability by Crusaders varsity coach Jake Moore, who is not a big fan of tryouts.
"I absolutely don't like them," he said. "You're telling some kids they're done because unfortunately, you can't take everybody."
Marian traditionally has been one of the top teams in the Metro Conference, but the program has struggled in recent years. The school has eight state titles but none since 2017, and the Crusaders have been to state only once since 2018.
Longtime coach Moore guided the Lincoln Pius X program for 25 years and led the Thunderbolts to seven championships before stepping down in 2015. He's in his fourth season at Marian and is third among active coaches in career wins with 766.
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The Crusaders went 25-13 last season but narrowly missed state, losing to Lincoln Southwest in the district final. Moore hasn't forgotten the match won by the Silver Hawks 25-21, 14-25, 26-24, 25-22.
"We scored more points but lost the district, which shows how close we were," the coach said. "The girls who are back know we lost three close sets so we have the potential."
Someone else who hasn't forgotten that final match is junior Taylor McLeay, who led the team in kills last season with 260.
"Last season ended in a heartbreaker," she said. "I think coming into this summer we had a lot more motivation and we're using that as fuel."
Taylor, whose mother Amy played and coached at Marian, said she expects good things from the newcomers this season.
"The incoming freshman class is very good and very talented," she said. "I'm excited to see where they take us, along with the players coming back."
Other key returnees will be Campbell Capece, Addison Janke and Erin Cramer. Capece had 247 kills and 345 digs last season, Janke dished out 417 assists and Cramer had 189 kills and 67 blocks.
Janke was one of two setters in the Marian attack, along with graduated Izzy Campie.
"I'm not sure if we'll have a one-setter or two-setter offense this season," Moore said. "That's one of the things we'll need to figure out in practice."
Moore was multitasking just outside the gym shortly before practice officially started. One player still needed to submit the proper form and a worker had just been cheated out of his M&M's at a nearby candy machine.
"I'm also the vending guy," Moore said. "I've got a lot to keep me busy these days."
McLeay said the team is eager to get started.
"Obviously, our biggest team goal is to make it to state," she said. "I think we can make it even farther so I'm really excited for that."
The volleyball season officially begins Aug. 28.
Photos: All-Nebraska volleyball teams through the years
2024
The Omaha World-Herald 2024 All-Nebraska Volleyball Team, from left, Lincoln Lutheran's Keri Leimbach, Norris' Anna Jelinek, Papillion-La Vista South's Charlee Solomon, Omaha Skutt's Addison West, Fremont's Mattie Dalton, Omaha Westside's Ashlyn Paymal and Grand Island's Tia Traudt photographed at Steelhouse Omaha on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
2023
2023 All-Nebraska volleyball team: From left, Papillion-La Vista's Faith Frame, Bennington's Olivia Mauch, Papillion-La Vista's Mia Tvrdy, Lincoln Southwest's Malayah Long, Omaha Westside's Ashlyn Paymal, Papillion-La Vista South's Lauren Medeck, and Elkhorn North's Reese Booth.
2022
2022 All-Nebraska volleyball team: From left: Omaha Skutt's Morgan Burke, Elkhorn North's Reese Booth, Papillion-La Vista South's Stella Adeyemi, Omaha Westside's Destiny Ndam-Simpson, Papillion-La Vista South's Lauren Medeck, Elkhorn North's Grace Heaney and Bennington's Olivia Mauch.
2021
2021 All-Nebraska volleyball team: Gretna's Skylar McCune, Omaha Skutt Abby Schomers, Lincoln Southwest Shaylee Myers, Papillion-La Vista South's Ava LeGrand, Waverly's Bekka Allick, Elkhorn South' Kylie Weeks and Omaha Westside's Destiny Ndam-Simpson at the Owen Sea Lion Shores exhibit at the Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Behind them, a sea lion named Chino is investigating a volleyball.
2020
Led by honorary captain Lindsay Krause of Omaha Skutt at the head of the table surrounded by, clockwise from left, Waverly's Whitney Lauenstein, Wahoo's Elle Glock, Papillion-La Vista's Norah Sis, Elkhorn South's Rylee Gray, Omaha Skutt's Allie Gray and Elkhorn South's Kylie Weeks.
2019
Led by honorary captain Marriah Buss, center, of Lincoln Lutheran, the All-Nebraska volleyball first team. From left: Ava LeGrand of Papillion-La Vista South, Norah Sis of Papillion-La Vista, Lindsay Krause of Omaha Skutt, Kalynn Meyer of Superior, Allie Gray of Omaha Skutt, Izzy Lukens of Millard North.
2018
From left, Emily Bressman of Omaha Marian, Kalynn Meyer of Superior, Jaiden Centeno of Millard West, Lindsay Krause of Omaha Skutt, McKenna Ruch of Millard North and Marriah Buss of Lincoln Lutheran. Not pictured: Millard North’s Izzy Lukens.
2017
From left: Johnson-Brock’s Fallon Stutheit, Omaha Marian's Lily Heim (honorary captain), Superior’s Kalynn Meyer, Omaha Skutt’s Lindsay Krause, Marian’s Emily Bressman and Papio South’s Taliyah Flores. Not pictured: Malcolm’s Jaela Zimmerman.
2016
Back row from left: Jaela Zimmerman, Malcolm; Taliyah Flores, Papillion-La Vista; Elise Baumann, Millard North; Fallon Stutheit, Johnson-Brock. Front row from left: Sarah Swanson, Elkhorn South; Alli Schomers, Omaha Skutt; Brooke Heyne, Omaha Skutt.
2015
From left: Olivia Nicholson, North Platte; Raegan LeGrand, Papillion-La Vista South; Allison Schomers, Omaha Skutt; Brittany Witt, Omaha Marian; Elizabeth Loschen, Omaha Marian; Hali McArdle, Gretna; Sarah Swanson, Elkhorn South.
2014
From left: Priscilla O'Dowd, Papillion-La Vista; Jessica Peters, Papillion-La Vista; Raegan LeGrand, Papillion-La Vista South; Megan Wickey, Omaha Concordia; Carley Remmers, Freeman; Tiani Reeves, Gothenburg; Brittany Witt, Omaha Marian.
2013
The All-Nebraska football and volleyball teams came together for a photo shoot, and the cover was designed to look like a Facebook page with the teams taking one big selfie.
2012
From left: Lexi Elman, Omaha Marian; Kelly Hunter, Papillion-La Vista South; Amber Rolfzen, Papillion-La Vista South; Sydney Townsend, Lincoln Pius X; Alyssa Frauendorfer, Humphrey; Michaela Mestl, Kearney Catholic; Kadie Rolfzen, Papillion-La Vista South.
2011
From left: Kelly Hunter, Papillion-La Vista South; Kadie Rolfzen, Papillion-La Vista South; Amber Rolfzen, Papillion-La Vista South; Lauren Sieckmann, Elkorn South; Katie Brand, Grand Island Central Catholic; Cassie Effken, Lincoln Pius X; Kate Elman, Omaha Marian.
2010
From left: Emily Wilson, Omaha Gross; Kadie Rolfzen, Papillion-La Vista South; Amber Rolfzen, Papillion-La Vista South; Sara McClinton, Millard North; Chelsea Albers, Papillion-La Vista; Kelly Hunter, Papillion-La Vista South; Lauren Sieckmann, Omaha Marian.
2009
Standing from left: Emily Wilson, Omaha Gross; Kadie Rolfzen, Papillion-La Vista South; Sarah Kemp, Bellevue East; Amber Rolfzen, Papillion-La Vista South; Tenisha Matlock, North Platte. Front row from left: Lauren Sieckmann, Omaha Marian; Julianne Mandolfo, Omaha Marian.
2008
From left: Natalie Braun, Lincoln Pius X; Chelsey Feekin, Papillion-La Vista; Hayley Thramer, Ewing; Jamie Straube, Johnson County; Gina Mancuso, Papillion-La Vista; Lauren Cook, Lincoln Pius X.
2007
From left: Tali Fredrickson, Grand Island Central Catholic; Caitlin Mahoney, Omaha Marian; Chelsey Feekin, Papillion-La Vista; Keelin Bourne, Millard North; Gina Mancuso, Papillion-La Vista; Lauren Cook, Lincoln Pius X.
2006
Top from left: Catie Wilson, Omaha Gross; Brooke Delano, Bellevue West; Lauren Cook, Lincoln Pius X. Bottom from left: Gabi Ailes, Bellevue West; Ann Armes, Grand Island; Gina Mancuso, Papillion-La Vista.
2005
From left: Katie Swenson, Omaha Gross; Angela Hlavaty, Lincoln Lutheran; Brooke Delano, Bellevue West; Gabi Ailes, Bellevue West; Brooke Bartek, Lincoln Northeast; Erica Burson, Omaha Gross.
2004
Front row from left: Amanda Gates, Columbus; Jordan Larson, Logan View; Alison Jacobs, Elkhorn; Rachel Schwartz, Lincoln East. Back row from left: Kyla Roehrig, Papillion-La Vista; Korie Lebeda, Omaha Marian.
