Courtside: Where You Should be – for Thursday, Sept. 5

**Note – Nebraska HS Volleyball will be live tweeting from the Lincoln North Star at Lincoln Southwest match tonight. Please follow along on Twitter or mention us in your tweets with updates from other matches around the state at @NebHSvolleyball

It’s opening night for Nebraska High School volleyball and this evening certainly has a handful of marquee matchups. It is a fairly light schedule in Class A tonight as most teams prepare for the Bellevue Invitational on Friday and Saturday, but three ranked teams are in action and there are a few triangular featuring clashes between Class C & D powers. Here is a look at what you can’t afford to miss out on today.

CLASS A

#9 Lincoln North Star at #3 Lincoln Southwest – 6:30 p.m.

A meeting between two of the top teams gets the season started in Class A. The Heartland Athletic Conference crown is clearly up for grabs this year and the winner of this match gets an early leg up on everyone else. Creighton recruit Marysa Wilkinson and standout setter Madison Egger lead Southwest while North Star has a strong top eight, led by seniors Aspen Green and Vonnie Reckling.

Grand Island Triangular with #10 Fremont & Lincoln High – 5 p.m.

As mentioned above, the HAC is wide open and these three conference members will get early looks at each other. Fremont and Grand Island are dark horses in the HAC. The Tigers feature a pair of the top underclassmen hitters in Molly Schiermeyer and Gessica Gdowski and this is a chance for them to get off to a quick start before facing the likes of #2 Millard West and Class B powers Gretna and Elkhorn South at their own invite on Saturday. Grand Island counters with its outstanding setter McKenzie Fyfe and a pair of returning hitters in Abby Crouch and Ashton Riedy.

CLASS B

#9 Norris at Bennington – 6:30 p.m.

Was Kelly Clarkson right when she sang, “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger …?” Norris is about to find out as it begins the season without 5-foot-11 outside hitter Maddy Bruder – one of the top juniors in the state. With a group that includes 6-foot-2 middle and Furman recruit Kasey Hohlen, Mackenzie Allen, Meg Gratopp and Kylie Hohlen the Titans still have the talent to make a run at the Class B title. Bennington’s Sarah Christianson health is key for the Badgers.

#6 Elkhorn South at Elkhorn – 6:30p.m.

What could be better than fighting for city-wide bragging rights the first night of the season? Elkhorn libero Adasia Bromberger – a University of Missouri-Kansas City recruit – will have her hands full with the deep rotation of powerful hitters the Storm has.

Class C

#4 Hastings SC Triangular with #3 Lincoln Christian & #9 GICC – 5 p.m.

There will be talent littered all over the gym during these matches. Lincoln Christian has depth led by college recruits Hannah Taylor (Bellevue University) and Hannah Olsen (UN-Kearney). Hastings St. Cecilia has one of the state’s top junior setters in Clare Hamburger and senior outside hitter Morgan Nikkila. Grand Island CC counters with a formidable frontline of seniors Elysse Gratopp and Sam Moravec and junior Emma Benton.

Class D

Plainview Triangular with #5 St. Mary’s and #6 Ewing – 5:30 p.m.

Class C-2 Plainview tangles with D-1’s St. Mary’s and D-2’s Ewing, each among the best in their class. Riley Funk, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter, of Ewing is the player to watch here.

Hampton Triangular with #2 Exeter-Milligan and #10 BDS – 5:30 p.m.

The last time Exeter-Milligan was on the volleyball court, the Timberwolves were hoisting the Class D-1 state championship trophy. Having dropped down to D-2 this year, Exeter-Milligan looks to establish itself as the team to beat again in 2013. Timberwolves’ libero Erica Yount should be one of the top talents in D-2 this season.