State Volleyball: Diller-Odell wins first ever state championship!

This year for state volleyball, I followed the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins en route to the school's first-ever state championship. 

By now, you've probably heard the story. Diller-Odell had finished state runner-ups in 2015 and 2016, and in third place in 2014. Coming into the 2019 year, the team was surrounded by talks about finally getting a championship. And the Griffins debuted a brand new gym this fall. Talk about expectations! 

And then... the Griffins took state. Straight sets all three matches. First it was conference-foe HTRS at Lincoln Southeast. Then Hartington Cedar Catholic at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Finally, they defeated Archbishop Bergan at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Three gyms. Three foes. Three days. 

And so here are 30 of my favorite photos from the Griffins' journey at state. For more photos and coverage, please visit the Beatrice Daily Sun! 

Thanks for viewing!

- Marcus

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Diller-Odell's Karli Heidemann receives a serve as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the HTRS Lady Titans in the first round of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at Lincoln Southeast. Diller-Odell's Karli Heidemann tips the ball over as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the HTRS Lady Titans in the first round of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at Lincoln Southeast. Diller-Odell's Karli Heidemann serves during the first set as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the HTRS Lady Titans in the first round of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at Lincoln Southeast. Diller-Odell's Emily Swanson celebrates a point as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the HTRS Lady Titans in the first round of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at Lincoln Southeast. Diller-Odell's Ava Lovitt (middle) sends an attack over the net as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the HTRS Lady Titans in the first round of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at Lincoln Southeast. Diller-Odell's Mackenzie Vitosh (middle) spikes the ball as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the HTRS Lady Titans in the first round of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at Lincoln Southeast. Diller-Odell's Emily Swanson leaps for a tip as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the HTRS Lady Titans in the first round of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at Lincoln Southeast. Diller-Odell celebrates a point as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the HTRS Lady Titans in the first round of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at Lincoln Southeast. Diller-Odell's Addison Heidemann (right) sets the ball as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the HTRS Lady Titans in the first round of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at Lincoln Southeast. Diller-Odell's Emily Swanson celebrates a Griffin point as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the HTRS Lady Titans in the first round of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at Lincoln Southeast. Diller-Odell's Addison Heidemann sets the ball as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Hartington Cedar Catholic Trojans in the semifinals of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Diller-Odell's Madelyn Meyerle (right) sends the ball over the net as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Hartington Cedar Catholic Trojans in the semifinals of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Diller-Odell's Madelyn Meyerle (12) and Mackenzie Vitosh (2) attempt to block during the second set as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Hartington Cedar Catholic Trojans in the semifinals of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Diller-Odell's Karli Heidemann leaps to tip the ball as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Hartington Cedar Catholic Trojans in the semifinals of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Diller-Odell's Emily Swanson spikes the ball during the second set as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Hartington Cedar Catholic Trojans in the semifinals of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Diller-Odell's Mackenzie Vitosh leaps for a spike as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Hartington Cedar Catholic Trojans in the semifinals of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Diller-Odell's Addison Heidemann serves during the second set as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Hartington Cedar Catholic Trojans in the semifinals of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Griffins react to a point during the third set as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Hartington Cedar Catholic Trojans in the semifinals of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Diller-Odell's Emily Swanson (left) and Madelyn Meyerle (right) reach for an attempted block as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Hartington Cedar Catholic Trojans in the semifinals of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Diller-Odell Lady Griffins celebrate after defeating the Hartington Cedar Catholic Trojans in the semifinals of the Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Lady Griffins prepare to take the court at the Bob Devaney Sports Center for the Class D1 State Volleyball Championship against the Archbishop Bergan Lady Knights on Saturday, November 9, 2019. Diller-Odell's Addison Heidemann celebrates after the Griffins force a timeout as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Archbishop Bergan Lady Knights in the Class D1 State Volleyball Championship on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Diller-Odell's Mackenzie Vitosh controls the ball near the net as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Archbishop Bergan Lady Knights in the Class D1 State Volleyball Championship on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Diller-Odell's Emily Swanson flies toward the net to tip the ball as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Archbishop Bergan Lady Knights in the Class D1 State Volleyball Championship on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Diller-Odell's Mackenzie Vitosh focuses downcourt during the third set as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Archbishop Bergan Lady Knights in the Class D1 State Volleyball Championship on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Diller-Odell's Kyleigh Barnts reacts after a Griffin point during the third set as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Archbishop Bergan Lady Knights in the Class D1 State Volleyball Championship on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Diller-Odell's Ava Lovitt reaches out for a dig as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Archbishop Bergan Lady Knights in the Class D1 State Volleyball Championship on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Diller-Odell's Karli Heidemann speaks with teammates during the third set as the Diller-Odell Lady Griffins defeat the Archbishop Bergan Lady Knights in the Class D1 State Volleyball Championship on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Diller-Odell Lady Griffins celebrate after defeating the Archbishop Bergan Lady Knights in the Class D1 State Volleyball Championship on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Diller-Odell Lady Griffins celebrate after defeating the Archbishop Bergan Lady Knights in the Class D1 State Volleyball Championship on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.