By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

The Oberlin prep volleyball team established itself as one of the state's best squads early in the fall.

The Red Devils defeated Phillipsburg, ranked in Class 3A and fourth at state in 2008, 2-1.

At the Gove County Classic in mid-September, Oberlin rolled through a tournament that included tradition-laden programs Weskan, Sharon Springs and Almena-Northern Valley.

In the championship match, Oberlin won 25-18, 26-24 against Hoxie, a team that also reached state. Oberlin won all six tournament matches in two sets.

"We just didn't have any trouble," Oberlin coach Sherri Ruf said.

The Red Devils have boosted their early season resume with several impressive, comeback victories and rose to No. 2 in the Class 2A rankings at 17-1 in the coaches' poll released last week, a ranking that means less when postseason arrives.

"What really matters is sub-state, because we if we play (terrible), then that won't matter. It does motivate us to be No. 1 and that we are No. 1," junior Jordan Dreher said.

Oberlin, which reached state last season, has multiple returning starters. The Red Devils have cruised through the first half of their schedule, with just two matches going to three sets, against Phillipsburg and Cambridge, Neb., the lone loss for Oberlin. Cambridge was a 2008 state runner-up in Nebraska.

"We have had a young team from last year, and we have almost everyone back, and I think it is a stronger team this year," Ruf, in her third year as head coach and 10th in the program, said.

While Oberlin has routinely reached the state tournament, the Red Devils have never placed in school history. Three years ago, they went through a perfect regular season and lost in Day One at the state tournament. Last season, Oberlin lost to St. Marys and Moundridge on Day One, the teams that eventually finished 1-2 in Class 2A.

"We are really motivated to make it to the second day," Dreher said.

Dreher is a three-year starter. She has set since middle school and started as a setter as a freshman. This fall, though, she also hits and Jessica Fredrickson is the second setter. It's a role Dreher relishes.

"I like setting, but I like to hit, too," she said. "I think it gets to be boring if I set the whole time. I like to hit and get the attacks. It just feels good."

Dreher paces the Red Devils with 160 assists, ranks second with 73 kills and is tied with libero Jori Diederich for the team lead with 122 digs.

She has received looks from colleges.

"Jordan does a lot for us," Ruf said. "She also plays hitter and sometimes I even have her run middle, too. She has got a pretty wicked jump serve also. She ... can pretty much do it all."

Senior Adrienne Pauls, a returning all-state player, starts at middle blocker and paces Oberlin in blocks (104) and kills (130).

"She can cut the ball to either side of the block, so she is a smart player also, and the girls look to her for leadership. She is pretty consistent, very good middle player," Ruf said.

Sophomore Kiah Blau plays middle and outside, too, and has collected 55 blocks. Diederich starts at libero, while senior Brandi Diederich is on the outside with senior Ashley Horton.

The roster carries six seniors and four juniors. Helped by a big fan base at home and on the road throughout the fall -- "Volleyball is like the main sport in Oberlin and everybody supports it," Dreher said -- Oberlin has continually won.

"I think that is what has helped, having big crowds," Dreher said.

Ruf labeled the Phillipsburg match, still the Panthers' lone loss, as the team's "best match." At Gove, Oberlin won every set and had just two sets within five points. Last week, Oberlin suffered its first loss, to Cambridge 25-22, 24-26, 25-15. However, the Red Devils defeated Sidney, Neb., and won a close match against Southwest, Neb., 30-28. 26-24. Oberlin continually came back -- and continued improving its impressive resume.

"We did come back from like 8, 10 points like every game in Nebraska," Dreher said. "That is when we first knew we could come back from being down. We just never gave up and we knew we could win."