One year ago, the North Platte Lady Dawgs walked out of Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. One year ago, tears were on faces and no one wanted to admit it was over. Tonight when more or less the same team left the same building, if there were any tears, they weren’t tears of pain, but ones of pure elation. This time, they would be coming back tomorrow, there would be a next game for the now 36-3 Lady Dawgs. The North Platte High girls will play in a second round game at the State tournament for the first time in a long time. Led by seven seniors, Allison Kuenle, Olivia Nicholson, Josie Cox, Morgan and Madison Raska, and Hayley Schanou, the Dawgs rolled against Lincoln-Southeast. In the first set, the Dawgs came out firing, forcing the Lady Knights into a deep hole, one they wouldn’t climb out of. North Platte easily finished Southeast off 25-16. As the second set began, you could tell that the team on the court this year, had a different feel than the one last year, this year the team had a distinct sway, a real swagger, a true team identity, one found under the brightest lights which they’ve ever played. The team took their mantra “not bitter, better” to heart in the second set, doing exactly what they needed to do against the Knights, systematically finishing them 25-19. In the third set, the Dawgs did more of the same, taking the Knights out quickly and relatively quietly, as the Boneyard drowned out any cheering the other side could muster. As the final point played out, the North Platte students let out a cry of “BULL, DOG, POWER,” as Kuenle hammered it home. Olivia Nicholson, in almost trademark fashion, raised both hands skyward, and the team let out a cheer that was a year in the making. The final line for the Dawgs tonight was 25-16, 25-19, 25-15, straight sets at the state tournament, and the team is fired up for game two. Without starting sophomore Sami Mauch in the lineup, nursing a sprained ankle sustained in practice, Madison Raska filled in wonderfully, helping the Dawgs get one step closer to the State championship. Most analysts will say that it doesn’t matter if one team is better than another, as long as the weaker team is peaking at the right time. The Lady Dawgs, and their 35 shutouts don’t appear to be weaker than anyone in this field, AND they appear to be peaking right now. The next game, something oh so sweet to say, will be tomorrow night, 7 o’clock, at the same Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Lady Dawgs will take on Papillion-LaVista, the #3 team in this tournament. It will be a tough test for the ladies, but there is no doubt that they will lay it all on the line and make all of North Platte proud.