Hugs were exchanged, pictures taken, and tears were on every face. For seven girls, it would be the last time they would exit “The Dawg House” as volleyball players and teammates. There is joy, though, for this is not the end of the road for the North Platte Lady Dawgs, their journey will continue — a journey that both started and will fittingly end in Lincoln, Nebraska at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

With two statement wins over Lincoln High and Omaha Westside, NP advances as the #2 seed to the 2015 Nebraska State Athletic Association State Tournament. “They did everything we asked them too,” assisstant coach Brian Jahnke said, “I told them to hit the ball because not many teams in the state can beat us if we hit the ball.”

Senior middle hitter Olivia Nicholson said, “I didn’t think I would cry, but to see everybody, the boneyard and the parents, always cheering, it was just amazing.”

The Lady Dawgs rolled both teams they played on Wednesday night, obliterating Lincoln High 25-7, 25-5, 25-5, and brutally overpowering the Omaha Westside Lady Warriors, 25-10, 25-13, and 25-16. “We never played down tonight,” Nicholson said. “There was energy during every point whether we were up or down. Keeping energy is a big challenge sometimes.” The Boneyard kept the Dawg House rocking, and the girls took full advantage. As the journey leads to Lincoln, last season’s disappointment is ripe in the team’s mind. Sophomore starter Sami Mauch said, “Last year gave us motivation, we may not have done what we wanted, but we kind found out what we were able to do,” said Mauch.

Nicholson feels the same way, “It hurts when people bring it up, no doubt, but we use it to motivate us to be better this year. I think we feel better this year going in, because we have the experience of playing in a big arena.”

The Lady Dawgs have rolled nearly all competitors this year, including a huge 3-0 sweep of Kearney Catholic on October 29. The only test the team has faced this year comes in the form of the Omaha-Marian Crusaders. The back-to-back reigning state champs have handed NP two of their three losses.

The Dawgs have improved this year in multiple ways. “We are more aggressive at the net, and we are able to tell each other more things. There is more trust between us,” Nicholson said. Trust is huge when on the court against the toughest teams in Nebraska, something that will happen next week at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. “I think we’re gonna bring home the W,” said freshman Hunter Bose.

At some point, the season will end, but the Lady Dawgs are hopeful that the end won’t come until the championship game. The Dawgs’ next game will be Thursday, November 12, at Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska, at 5:30.