Concordia (Omaha, Neb.) outside hitter
Megan Wickey's first set of her first varsity start, as a freshman, is a memory she would just as soon forget. But since that zero kills performance in a 26-24, 25-18 win over Lincoln Christian, Wickey's career has been just groovy.
"Oh my gosh, it was just terrible," she said. "Then I got into a groove."
Megan Wickey, Concordia
Photo by Dawn Cooksey
That groove continued throughout her prep career, keeping the Mustangs a volleyball power and sending Wickey into a hard fought recruiting war. Kiley Hansen's Mustangs program has posted an 86-32 record over the last four years, a little better than the 75-43 mark her program produced in the four seasons prior to Wickey stepping onto the varsity court for the first time.
"We play the way we know we can play," Wickey said. "It's kind of that world domination thing. We go out with everything we have and make adjustments as needed. We sometimes start slow at the beginning, but then we pick it up. We know we can't underestimate other teams. We can't take plays off. If we don't, then we have the potential to go all the way."
As a freshman, Wickey and company played their way to the Nebraska State volleyball tournament, losing 25-14, 25-19, 25-13 to Class C-1 power Grand Island Central Catholic in first round play. Since then the postseason well has run dry.
The Mustangs came close to making the field of eight a year ago, but fell in the district championship match to Wahoo in five sets. Concordia paid the Warriors back during regular season play in 2014, winning 25-21, 25-23. Ranked second in MaxPreps' latest Class C-1 rankings, the 23-1 Mustangs appear to be in position to make a deep run in 2014.
"After winning the second and third sets, I remember thinking, ‘Oh yes, we got this,' " Wickey admitted of her team's loss to Wahoo last fall. "Then we lost the fourth and fifth sets. I went in with a winning attitude, but I could've pushed harder and I could have pumped up my teammates more.
"When we played Wahoo this year, I went in thinking, ‘I do not like you. I'm here to destroy you.' We won in two sets. That's what we should have done last year."
Wickey has dealt with her share of injuries in her career, including a hip flexor earlier this year and her second concussion suffered while diving for a ball. But the 6-foot-2 Ohio State recruit doesn't sit often and says she'll continue to play at a break neck speed.
"That's never really happened before," Hansen said of Wickey's absence. "She's played sick and she's played injured in the past, so I knew (the hip flexor) was serious. Then, during the conference tournament, she dove for a ball and made a great save. She hit the back of her head on the court."
In Concordia's lone loss of the season, a 29-27, 25-15 setback to 21-6 Aurora, Wickey did not play. In all, Wickey had missed six matches this season. But she was back in form Tuesday as the Mustangs secured wins over 22-6 Columbus Lakeview (25-17, 22-25, 25-21) and 15-8 Wahoo Bishop Neumann (26-24, 25-23).
A second team All-Nebraska selection by Nebraska Prep Volleyball a year ago, Wickey has 265 kills and a .464 hitting percentage in 45 sets played following Tuesday's wins. The six-position player also has 16 blocks, 17 aces and 136 total digs for the year.
While the Mustangs are 5-1 with Wickey out of the lineup, Hansen is pleased to have her seasoned veteran back.
"She's a very smart player for us," Hansen said, "She's improved so much over the four years. She has developed different shots, and she knows when to use them. She still enjoys getting up and hitting the ball hard. But she has an exceptional arsenal.
"When she is playing in the back row, she is so quick. She reads the ball well and she gets to a lot of balls. She is exceptional back there. To be 6-2 and to be that quick, it's a lot of fun."
For Wickey, Concordia volleyball is much like the game itself. Unpredictable.
"With us you never know what's going to happen," Wickey said. "I love it so much. I love my teammates. They are the best girls. We've all become such good friends. And the coaching staff – we're all really tight. Everyday is a new adventure.
"Volleyball is the most unpredictable sport. You never know what's going to happen next. You just have to go out and fight every night. I fell in love with the game at a young age and never let it go. It's so unpredictable."
While Wickey is a huge fan of smacking the ball, she said she prefers playing defense.
"It's so satisfying when someone on the other side of the net goes up for the kill, and you dig up a ball that should have made its way to the floor," Wickey said. "It's like saying, ‘That's what's up. Hit it. Come on.' I never get enough of playing defense."
Wickey's sister Taylor, a 6-4 sophomore at Central Florida University, introduced the future Big 10 star to the game she so cherishes, at a young age. And the siblings eventually built their relationship around the game.
The elder Wickey not only guided her younger sister in the fine art of playing successful volleyball, she helped her gain an edge in the recruiting wars. Wickey narrowed her list of suitors down to Ohio State, Kansas State, Iowa State, Colorado State and Illinois before selecting the Buckeyes.
A highly sought-after recruit, Wickey fell in love with the Big 10 school while she visited its campus. Still, she wanted to play all of her cards. She wanted to leave no stone unturned.
"I still wasn't sure if I wanted to go there," Wickey said. "But I found myself comparing everybody else to Ohio State. It's a good fit. I met the coaching staff and the girls were awesome. If I wasn't playing volleyball there, I'd still want to go there."
By selecting the Buckeyes as the next stop in her volleyball career, Wickey will be competing for one of the better volleyball programs in arguably the nation's most competitive conference. Wickey isn't one to argue, however.
"It's the most competitive conference," Wickey said. "A ton of (conference) teams make it to the tournament every year. I think last year something like eight teams made it. You never know what's going to happen. Penn State is losing this year. Nebraska is losing. You never know what's going to happen and that's exciting to me."
