2024 NSAA Volleyball Championships Preview
The November tradition of the Nebraska state volleyball tournament rekindles its flame this week in Lincoln as 48 teams have advanced to the six class tournament that begins on Wednesday morning at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Five of the six defending champions have returned with only 2023 Class D-1 champion Sumner-Eddyville-Miller eliminated in the Class D-2 district final round on Saturday. All of the others – Lincoln Southwest (A), Omaha Skutt Catholic (B), Minden (C-1), Lincoln Lutheran (C-2) and Overton (D-2) – will have a crack at another title come Saturday.
Up to date championship information will be delivered via the NSAA Volleyball Championship Central page. First round matches are Wednesday and Thursday with all state semifinals on Friday before the finals move to the Devaney Sports Center on Saturday. All six championship matches will be broadcast on Nebraska Public Media.
CLASS A: Top-seeded Titans look to return to the top
After a run of four straight state championship game appearances came to a heartbreaking end last November, a “new look” Papillion-LaVista South team heads to Lincoln this week hoping to start a new run of success under coach Katie Tarman.
The Titans have made themselves the favorite in a loaded Class A field after winning the Metro Conference title before postseason play began. They head to Lincoln with a 31-6 record to play Lincoln North Star (20-12) when Class A play begins on Wednesday at 5:00 PM.
“It’s been super fun to be around this team,” Tarman said. “We are just super young, we have nine players on our roster who have never experienced the state tournament.
“This year has been a little different and we have faced some challenges and adversity, but we are now in a position that we are grateful to have gone through it all. We think it has made us a better team.”
Senior Charlee Solomon has been the ringleader for Tarman’s new look Titans. The do-everything setter has 556 set assists and 278 kills on the season. Sophomore Lyric Johnson has 302 kills and 81 blocks on the season.
In the wide open field for 2024, returning champion Lincoln Southwest will be on the same side at Papio South with Millard West. The Wildcats gave the Titans one of their losses earlier this season, as did second-seeded Omaha Westside which is on the opposite side of the bracket with Heartland Athletic Conference champion Fremont.
Tarman believes her team has what it takes to again get back to the top of the Class A heap, but she knows it won’t be easy and she also knows seven other coaches feel the same way.
“It’s really been the craziest season (in Class A),” she said. “I truly think the state championship is up for anyone. I think it will come down to what team can keep together and what team can handle the atmosphere the best and play without fear.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Makenna Sanders (Papio South), 217 kills. Delaney Vollmer (Lincoln North Star), 330 kills, 30 ace serves. Ellie Eckman (Lincoln Southwest), 820 set assists, 51 kills, 37 ace serves, 48 blocks. Ava Waters (Millard West), 753 set assists 37 ace serves. Ashlyn Paymal (Omaha Westside), 422 kills, 48 ace serves. Tia Traudt (Grand Island), 546 kills, 33 ace serves, 24 blocks. Mathea Dalton (Fremont), 651 assists, 33 ace serves. Julia Ringenberg (Elkhorn South), 893 set assists, 52 ace serves.
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS (WEDNESDAY). NORTH COURT | Papillion-LaVista South (31-6) vs. Lincoln North Star (20-12), 5:00 PM; Lincoln Southwest (23-8) vs. Millard West (23-8), 7:00 PM. SOUTH COURT | Omaha Westside (29-8) vs. Grand Island (26-9), 5:00 PM; Fremont (28-5) vs. Elkhorn South (24-9), 7:00 PM. Interactive MaxPreps Bracket
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CLASS B: Skutt Catholic hopes to stay on historic run
When Omaha Skutt comes to the state tournament, they bring unprecedented – and active – history with them. Ten straight state finals, nine consecutive state volleyball championships. A 27-game state tournament winning streak.
All of it will be on the line again for the 30-9 Skyhawks and their national schedule. They have not lost to a team from Nebraska this season. They will open with Gretna, one of two “welcome back” Class B teams in the field as they join Lincoln Pius back in Class B again this year.
Guided by senior setter Meghan Anderson (1,080 assists) and a balanced attack with three players over 270 kills on the season the Skyhawks will certainly be the favorite. Addison West has 393 kills and Abbie Hagedorn adds 282 kills.
But strong teams remain behind them. The top of the list is Norris (35-1) which has been in three of the last four finals against the Skyhawks. They won the powerful Eastern Midlands Conference, which has five of the eight Class B entries. Senior Anna Jelinek has 401 kills for the Titans.
As noted, Pius (16-24) and Gretna (25-17) head to state with multiple losses, as they both played heavy Class A schedules in their first year back in Class B. The Bolts’ Faith Venable is one of the top attackers in the state with 510 kills in 2024.
Third-seeded Waverly would possibly await Skutt in a semifinal, with 2022 finalist Elkhorn North on the Norris side of the bracket.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Zoe Rademacher (Norris), 549 assists, 35 ace serves. Ava Markowski (Lincoln Pius X), 936 assists, 124 kills, 38 ace serves. Reagan Walraff (Elkhorn North), 628 kills, 29 ace serves, 28 blocks. Cynley Wilkinson (York), 304 kills, 28 ace serves. Avery White (Omaha Skutt Catholic), 272 kills, 39 ace serves, 27 blocks. Elle Heckenlively (Gretna), 234 kills, 34 ace serves. McKinely Moser (Waverly), 989 assists, 129 kills, 46 ace serves. Hayden Liebsack (Bennington), 448 kills, 83 ace serves.
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS (WEDNESDAY). NORTH COURT | Norris (35-1) vs. Lincoln Pius X (16-24), 9:00 AM; Elkhorn North (27-10) vs. York (25-10), 11:00 AM. SOUTH COURT | Omaha Skutt Catholic (30-9) vs. Gretna (25-17), 9:00 AM; Waverly (29-7) vs. Bennington (21-13), 11:00 AM. Interactive MaxPreps Bracket
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CLASS C-1: In loaded field, Minden looks to repeat success
Defending Class C-1 champion Minden brings a near perfect 34-1 record to the 2024 state tournament and, as the top-seed, most might think they would be the overwhelming favorite to win another state championship.
And, most coaches would tell you the same. They have lost just four sets all season, two to Lincoln Lutheran (a 3-2 win) and that “one” that sticks out – a 2-0 sweep at the hands of Gothenburg in the semifinals of the Southwest Conference tournament just a few weeks ago.
Why is that important, now? The Whippets will have their full attention on their first round opponent. Yes, it’s Gothenburg. Last season, Minden beat the Swedes in a classic five-set semifinal en route to their first title since 1980.
Senior Mattie Kamery and junior Myla Emery do a little bit of everything for coach Julie Ratka. Both will set and can attack for Minden. Kamery has 374 kills and 333 assists to go with 60 ace serves, while Emery has 532 assists, 229 kills and 75 ace serves for the Whippets.
Not only is Gothenburg ready to test Minden, but 2023 finalist Kearney Catholic looms on the same side of the bracket with perennial powers Scotus Central Catholic and Wahoo on the opposite side with second-seeded Pierce as well. Those teams have controlled most of the top-five in the state polls all season long.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Lindly Anderson (Gothenburg), 301 kills, 45 ace serves. Livia Mandernach (Kearney Catholic), 889 assists, 29 ace serves. Sophie Humphrey (Battle Creek), 271 kills, 545 assists, 42 ace serves, 22 blocks. Skylar Scholting (Pierce), 1,084 kills, 61 ace serves. Nora Herian (Pierce) 557 kills, 30 blocks. Shayla Rautenberg (Milford), 293 kills, 22 ace serves. Mallory Dreesen (Scotus Central Catholic), 334 kills. Audrey Waido (Wahoo), 892 assists, 89 kills, 45 blocks, 35 ace serves.
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS (WEDNESDAY). NORTH COURT | Minden (34-1) vs.Gothenburg (23-10), 1:00 PM; Kearney Catholic (24-6) vs. Battle Creek (24-9), 3:00 PM. SOUTH COURT | Pierce (27-5) vs. Milford (24-9), 1:00 PM; Scotus Central Catholic (28-6) vs. Wahoo (25-7), 3:00 PM. Interactive MaxPreps Bracket
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CLASS C-2: Top-seeded Lincoln Lutheran after fourth straight title
Lincoln Lutheran has built one of the most dominant Class C volleyball programs in the state under the guidance of coach Sue Ziegler.
And, 2024 is no exception as the Warriors head back to the state tournament looking for a fourth straight state title, and third in Class C-2. The key, Ziegler says, is being ready come the second week of November.
“We try to always prepare ourselves with a difficult schedule,” the coach said, noting the Warriors three losses are to state qualifiers Norris, Waverly and Minden. “And then I think when you play in our conference (Centennial) all the games are tough.
“Our conference tournament is like a mini-state.”
Indeed in addition to the Warriors, Kearney Catholic and Scotus advanced to the C-1 tourney and Lutheran’s first round opponent is conference mate Hastings St. Cecilia.
One of Ziegler‘s key cogs in the Warriors recent tournament success has been defensive specialist Keri Leimbach. The Nebraska pledge has manned the back row all four years and enters the state tournament with 1,986 career digs.
Fellow seniors Jillian Donovan (966 assists) at setter and attacker Ava Jurevicius (227 kills) have shared captain duties with Leimbach. Ziegler said they have been instrumental in the Warriors success.
“We meet with those captains each Monday during the season,” Ziegler said. “We talk about what we need to do in practice and the little things to get better. Their leadership has shined.”
As usual it’s another deep Class C-2 bracket with just 32 losses in the field of eight and every team at 26 wins or more on the season. State veterans Oakland-Craig and Norfolk Catholic figure to be in the mix as well.
NC’s first round match in the 4-5 game is with state basketball champion Yutan which has a 28-1 record on the season. On the bottom side O-C gets Johnson-Brock and Thayer Central (31-2) faces Freeman (26-4).
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Lily Wohlgemuth (Lincoln Lutheran), 341 kills, 37 ace serves. Peyton Sullivan (Hastings St. Cecilia), 354 kills, 38 ace serves, 69 blocks. Sidonia Wattier (Norfolk Catholic), 318 kills, 368 assists, 49 ace serves. Mylee Tichota (Yutan), 375 kills, 53 ace serves, 28 blocks. Campbell Bohling (BDS), 389 kills, 53 ace serves. Jadie Bayer (Howells-Dodge), 520 serve receptions, 420 digs. Faith Butler (Superior), 1,059 assists.
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS (THURSDAY). NORTH COURT | Lincoln Lutheran (32-3) vs. Hastings St. Cecilia (27-7), 5:00 PM; Norfolk Catholic (28-4) vs. Yutan (28-1), 7:00 PM. SOUTH COURT | Oakland-Craig (30-5) vs. Johnson-Brock (27-6), 5:00 PM; Thayer Central (31-2) vs. Freeman (26-4), 7:00 PM. Interactive MaxPreps Bracket
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CLASS D-1: Unbeaten Southwest seeks first state title
There was plenty of volleyball history at the old Republican Valley High School between Indianola and McCook. From 1986 until their final year as a school in the 2003-04 school year they won 32 matches in Lincoln, including winning seven state championships and playing in five more state finals.
When RV merged with Bartley in 2004, the tradition continued on with state trips in 2004 and 2005. But, there have been just three trips since. However, that includes the past two seasons when the Roughriders have lost heartbreaking five set matches in the opening round each year.
Under coach Kim Barnett, now top-seeded and unbeaten Southwest has lost just eight sets all season and been pushed to five sets just once, by fellow qualifier Cambridge who is on the same side of the bracket. Junior Kyra Neims has 344 kills on the season and freshman setter Aspen Billeter has 867 assists.
There is plenty of tradition on the other side of the D-1 bracket as well. BDS and Superior met in a four-set sub-district win that went to Superior and they could meet again in the semifinals with a little more on the line.
BDS is making their 8th consecutive state tournament appearance and they have won their opening match each time down to Lincoln. Six rotation standout Hayley Sliva does a little bit of everything for the Eagles, as she has 393 assists, 242 kills, 287 digs and 40 aces on the season. Superior sophomore Reagan Meyers has 745 kills heading into state, the most of any player in the tournament.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Atleigh Neims (Southwest), 279 kills, 48 ace serves. Myleigh Weers (Diller-Odell), 368 kills. Brooklyn Holtz (Cambridge), 310 kills, 48 ace serves, 21 blocks. Kaydence Haase (EMF), 375 kills, 53 ace serves, 28 blocks. Campbell Bohling (BDS), 389 kills, 53 ace serves. Jadie Bayer (Howells-Dodge), 520 serve receptions, 420 digs. Faith Butler (Superior), 1,059 assists. Melayna McGregor (Cedar Catholic), 325 assists, 211 kills, 43 ace serves.
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS (THURSDAY). NORTH COURT | Southwest (33-0) vs. Diller-Odell (19-11), 1:00 PM; Cambridge (22-10) vs. Exeter-Milligan/Friend (20-10), 3:00 PM. SOUTH COURT | Bruning-Davenport/Shickley (28-4) vs. Howells-Dodge (18-13), 1:00 PM; Superior (26-7) vs. Cedar Catholic (14-18), 3:00 PM. Interactive MaxPreps Bracket
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CLASS D-2: With fresh faces, Overton aims for a repeat
When Overton hosted their early season tournament this year, Eagle coach Hayley Ryan had a hunch that it might look familiar come November.
She was proven right.
In that tournament, her defending champion Eagles took the tournament title over Central Valley after the Cougars had defeated Shelton in the semifinals. A few weeks later, Shelton upended Overton in a triangular.
“We thought that in our tournament those two teams would both be really good this year,” Ryan said.
With five brand new starters — junior daughter Daisy is the only returner who saw significant time — coach Ryan has been pleased with her team’s 27-5 season that earned them the second-seed in the D-2 tournament. Daisy has 403 kills to go with 47 ace serves heading into the state tournament. Overton will face Wynot (21-9) in a matchup of the two teams in the Class D-2 state basketball final last March.
“We have five new starters, but they all have kind of waited their turn to play for us,” coach Ryan said. “They have worked so hard and we are very fundamentally sound. These kids have been pushing our other players for most of the last three years by making us better in practice.”
Shelton (29-3) grabbed the third seed and Central Valley (27-6) the fourth seed in the D-2 field. Top-seed Leyton is 33-0 and lost just six sets all season. Ryan feels like any of the eight teams who advanced to Lincoln may have a shot to win the title.
“I think when you look at all of the matchups that every team has a shot to win,” she said. “And then from there it’s one game at a time. I think one thing we talk about is playing grounded and comfortable. The teams that can control what they are doing will have a successful weekend.”
Shelton’s first round match up with Stuart – also 29-3 – features two of the top attackers in the class. Reagan Stracke for Stuart has 442 kills, while the Bulldogs Erin Gegg has 351.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Shawnee Gamble (Leyton), 270 kills, 62 ace serves. Jaylee Sobotka (Meridian), 230 kills, 55 ace serves. Bentleigh Dugan (Central Valley), 277 kills, 55 ace serves. Kenna Hagen (Amherst), 506 set assists, 48 ace serves. Kyla Elfgren (Overton), 738 set assists, 34 ace serves. Kenna Oligmueller (Wynot), 333 kills, 40 ace serves. Ellie Morgan (Shelton), 259 digs, 459 serve receptions, 48 ace serves. Addisyn Ketteler (Stuart), 415 set assists, 324 kills, 80 ace serves.
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS (THURSDAY). NORTH COURT | Leyton (33-0) vs. Meridian (20-10), 9:00 AM; Central Valley (27-6) vs. Amherst (23-9), 11:00 AM. SOUTH COURT | Overton (27-5) vs. Wynot (21-9), 9:00 AM; Shelton (29-3) vs. Stuart (29-3), 11:00 AM. Interactive MaxPreps Bracket
Tony Chapman is a freelance writer based in Grand Island. He has written for multiple Nebraska daily and weekly newspapers. His weekly Harvest Sports Newsletter covers a wide variety of Nebraska prep sports.