Rankings Update: Season Heating Up as it Winds Down

Even with temperatures consistently falling outside, the Nebraska high school volleyball season is about to really heat up in the final two weeks of the regular season. There are no changes at the very top of the classes in the latest Nebraska Elite High School Rankings this week, but we are starting to see some separation as teams look to head into postseason play at the top of their games. In Class A, Millard West has remained at the top for an extended period by being able to stay consistent all year long. Among the next seven teams, Millard North and Omaha Marian are perhaps separating themselves a little. Millard North has was eight of its last nine matches with wins over #1 Millard West, #4 Papillion-LaVista,  and #5 Lincoln Southwest. Its only loss in that stretch has some to #3 Omaha Marian. Marian, meanwhile, has not been able to go on a long winning stretch all season as it battles injuries, but is close to being fully healthy now. The Crusaders, which play Millard West and Millard North this week, have a combined 7-4 record against teams ranked 1-8 in Class A. In Class B, Grand Island Northwest proved it is human by getting pushed to the brink by Class C-1 #9 Columbus Lakeview 25-8, 22-25, 26-24. The Vikings along with Lincoln Pius X, Waverly and Omaha Skutt have been planted at the top of the standings all year, but Gretna is on the cusp of breaking into that upper echelon with its recent play.. Class C-1 is still the most wide-open field in the state. There does seem, however, to be four teams that have positioned themselves at the top with those four being Columbus Scotus, Minden, Gothenburg and Ogallala. The consistent play from those four has somewhat separated them from a pack of about 15 other teams which makes C-1 the most excited class to watch come postseason. Hastings St. Cecilia is the class of C-2, but Guardian Angels Central Catholic of West Point made a huge statement by sweeping four Class A schools and a Class B school this weekend en route to the Omaha South Invitational title. The upper-team Class C-2 teams could easily hang tough with the best teams in the state. The top four teams in D-1, led by St. Mary’s of O’Neill have consistently dominated all year long, meanwhile in D-2, Bertrand at 21-0 and Giltner (21-1) and Ewing (18-2) have a firm grasp on the top three spots in the rankings. For the complete rankings in all classes, please click on the High School Rankings tab at the top of the page.