Grand Island Central Catholic Impresses at Omaha Team Camp
OMAHA – At the University of Nebraska-Omaha team camp there technically is no champion crowned, but it would be hard to say there was a team that had a better weekend than Grand Island Central Catholic did.
A total of 28 teams competed in the two-day competition which ended Saturday. Teams are divided into two pools of 14 and play 9 matches against teams within its pool over the course of Friday and Saturday morning. Then, based on the pool standings, teams are re-seeded for their final three matches to pair teams against squads which finished similarly in the other pool.
In Pool A, Grand Island Northwest took first place, followed by Sioux Falls Christian, Lincoln Southeast and Millard South. Meanwhile, in Pool B, Millard West finished on top with Seward, Wahoo and Grand Island Central Catholic rounding out the top four. Those eight teams then, in essence, battled it out on Saturday afternoon in some of the most competitive matches on the weekend.
As it turns out, those eight teams were all remarkably equal as only GICC was able to scratch out more wins than losses in finishing with a set record of 4-2 in the final three matches. The Class C-1 Crusaders started strongly with a sweep over Sioux Falls Christian – one of the top programs in South Dakota – then finished the day splitting matches with Class A opponents Lincoln Southeast and Millard South.
Millard West, Seward, Wahoo, Sioux Falls Christian, Lincoln Southeast and Millard South each finished 3-3 Saturday afternoon while Grand Island Northwest was 2-4 after being almost unbeatable in its nine previous matches.
As a whole, each of the top eight teams had to walk away from Sapp Fieldhouse feeling extremely good about what it accomplished. To be sure, though, the fact that Class A title contenders Omaha Marian, Millard North, Papillion-LaVista, Papillion-LaVista South and Lincoln Southwest and Class B frontrunners Skutt Catholic and Omaha Duchesne were not in the Omaha team camp field has to temper overall expectations based on this weekend’s results. At the same time, however, being among the top eight in the camp is generally an indicator of a promising season.
Here is a quick look at why, in my opinion, each of the top eight teams from Nebraska should have high hopes for the upcoming season based on what happened this weekend.
Grand Island Central Catholic
Megan Woods is an absolute wrecking ball. The 5-foot-10 OH who is committed to Omaha, was an absolute animal all weekend and is the type of player that can carry a team a long, long ways. Man, she was nails this weekend. As a sophomore last year she had 350 kills.
Even though the Crusaders are dealing with the indefinite loss of MH Kamryn Willman, the team showed it will be able to hold its own until she is able to come back. Willman, who had more than 200 kills and 50 blocks as a sophomore last year, is dealing with a blood clot issue. While the team will no doubt be better once Willman is back on the court, her absence now is allowing young players to gain valuable playing time and confidence which will only pay dividends down the road.
Katie Maser showed why she’s one of the top setters in the state. She sets such a soft and hittable ball. She isn’t as tall or flashy as some other setters out there, but her anticipation and footwork puts her in a position to deliver a good ball a vast majority of the time.
Millard South
Here is what I know for certain about a Jaisa Poppleton-coached team; They’re going to be fundamentally sound and they are going to bust their behinds on the court. That showed all weekend. The Patriots – who don’t have a senior on the team – were easily the surprise of Pool A and they turned a lot of heads with how well they played together this weekend.
With 5-10 junior Claire Larson, Millard South has a legitimate Class A OH who plays much higher than most her size due to her leaping ability. She’s going to be a player to watch this year now that she is in her natural position, as opposed to the middle, where she has played the last two years.
Junior Jordan Harre has developed into a really good Class A libero and when you combine her with sophomore Sam Steele, the Patriots back row is impressive. Steele, who might – MIGHT – be 5-5 on a good day, was actually playing as a full rotation OH this weekend. Steele is a good enough athlete to pull off playing OH, but where she really shines is on defense. And she’s just a flat-out baller. It will be interesting to see if she does stick at OH because the Patriots could also use junior Lauren Walenz in that role, but Walenz was at the beach volleyball national championships this weekend.
There is an intriguing battle for the RS spot for Millard South as both 6-1 junior Kelsey Olson and 5-11 Chloe Nickolisen played well. Nickolisen is the stronger of the two and hits with a little more power, but Olson is more athletic and plays higher above the net. Getting consistent play from the right side will be a key for the Patriots.
Wahoo
The Warriors split matches with Lincoln Southeast, Grand Island Northwest and Millard South, so they proved they are another C-1 team that can play with the big girls. My biggest take away on Wahoo this weekend was just how quick they seem to have meshed together with the addition of Kyla Swanson from Minden. Wahoo is a team that already had three all-state caliber players on it in setter Kinsley Tinglehoff and sisters Maddie and Elly Larson. Swanson, a 6-3 Illinois recruit, comes in with a lot of hype and it’s not very often that teenage athletes can swallow their pride a little and share the spotlight. But, I get the sense that there is a lot of selflessness on that squad and that will allow the Warriors to really flourish this year.
Wahoo walks away from this weekend knowing that it’s legit and can play with anyone. The 1-2 combination of Swanson and Elly Larson is as good as any in the state, regardless of class.
The scary thing is that Wahoo is only probably starting to scratch the surface of what’s possible with the addition of Swanson. Give the Warriors six more weeks of working together – especially Tinglehoff and Swanson on their timing – and they are going to only be better.
Lincoln Southeast
I’m not sure there is anything more beautiful – and scary at the same time – to watch on the court in Nebraska high school volleyball right now than Melanie Brecka hammering a ball on a slide. At least three times today the Missouri-Kansas City recruit smashed a ball so hard it made me flinch in my chair. Dang.
Junior Lexi Long – at 6-2 – has always been an intriguing prospect because of her height. This weekend she showed she’s come a long ways in developing her athleticism and coordination and she should be a major factor this year.
I always like to be as honest as possible, and I have to say that I honestly don’t know who was setting for Lincoln Southeast and didn’t get a chance to find out – I’m guessing Shelby Burns, but I’m not certain. Whether it was Burns or someone else, the Knights have a legit setter after losing their starter last year to graduation.
Defense has always been a staple for the Knights and Madison Renn was outstanding in the matches I got to see. The tradition lives on.
Seward
Good news for Seward is that in the last six seasons it has averaged 22 wins a year. Bad news for Seward is that it has zero trips to state and just one district win in the last six years. The good news for Seward is that the Bluejays showed this weekend that they are capable of making a solid run in a Class B that isn’t as deep this year as it has been in the past.
On Saturday afternoon Seward split with Millard South, Sioux Falls Christian and Grand Island Northwest. And, for the record, the Bluejays swept Grand Island Central Catholic on Friday as well. Seward played at a high level all day both days. The Bluejays’ success was no joke or fluke – they are going to be tough to deal with this fall.
At 6-foot-1, Camryn Opfer is a very, very strong presence at the net and – even though she can bury a ball with her heavy swing – she makes good shots and has excellent court vision. Every team Seward faced had a hard time dealing with her. It’s hard to say that a player who had more than 350 kills last year – as Opfer did – is going to have a “breakout” year this year but that’s what I think is going to happen. She will prove to be one of the top players in the state this fall.
Then there is 5-6 Rylee Opfer who is just a gritty baller and defensive wizard. She’s an impressive player, and she doesn’t shy away from big moments. You may remember her, especially if you are from Elkhorn South, as the player that hit the shot to send the game into overtime AND the game-winning shot in overtime to beat the Storm in the first round of the Class B state basketball tournament this spring.
Millard West
The Wildcats were probably the most dominant team all weekend with just a slight hiccup in dropping both sets against Sioux Falls Christian on Saturday afternoon. Christian won the first set 27-26 (sets were capped at 27) and was trailing in the second set when time expired. And, Millard West did this without all-state libero Jaiden Centeno and blossoming right side Jada Key.
Millard West has the best back row depth of anyone in the state, hands down. Jordan McCormick is a full-rotation OH that projects most likely as a libero at Wayne State. Maggie Sempeck turned in an all-state caliber season last year as libero with Centeno out with an injury and is committed to NAIA national power Midland University. The Wildcats back row play was really good for July and will be the foundation for their success this fall.
Not many teams will be as big at the net as Millard West, which can run out athletic 6-footers Bailey Wilson, Hailey Petersen, Key and Gabby Nordaker. Even though she’s only 5-10, Ashley Bush is a high riser at OH and led the team in kills last year.
Setters Sydney Daniels and Breanna Green are solid and both showed they are capable of leading the Wildcats to success, although neither is probably suited to run a 5-1 in Class A, so if first-year coach Joe Wessel goes with a 6-2 offense, it will be interesting to see what combination of hitters and setters click the best.
Grand Island Northwest
What can I say about the Vikings? Until Grand Island Northwest lost both sets to Millard West in the final match of the day, the Vikings had been pretty much firing on all cylinders (for it being July at least). And that’s with a team that graduated three of its top five kill leaders from last year and with a fourth – Taylor Hageman – on the sidelines with a knee injury. So, the Vikings roll into Omaha with just one player who had more than 75 kills last year and promptly wins its pool and – once again – looks like a title contender in Class B.
Taryn Mayfield, a 5-9 full-rotation OH who led the Vikings in kills last year, is your typical GI Northwest prototype that is athletic, well-rounded and smart with her shot selection and ability to use an opponent’s block. She will likely carry a heavy load for the Vikings this year and is more than capable of handling it.
Would have been hard to find a team that did a better job of serving and passing this weekend than Grand Island Northwest. Any wonder why the Vikings are always successful?
I’m looking for big things this fall from Jadeyn Stutzman defensively and Sydney Simmons as a setter. They are both seniors with a good amount of experience and every year seniors step up and perform at a high level in the GI Northwest system – those two are prime candidates for 2017.
Final Pool Standings with Saturday Afternoon Cross-Pool Match Record in Parenthesis:
Pool A
- Grand Island Northwest (2-4)
- Sioux Falls Christian (3-3)
- Lincoln Southeast (3-3)
- Millard South (3-3)
- Omaha Marian JV (5-1)
- Sioux Falls O’Gorman (2-4)
- Waverly (1-5)
- Elkhorn South (5-1)
- Millard West JV (2-4)
- Aurora (4-2)
- Lincoln East (2-4)
- Bellevue East (1-5)
- Union (3-3)
- Fort Calhoun (0-6)
Pool B
- Millard West (3-3)
- Seward (3-3)
- Wahoo (3-3)
- Grand Island Central Catholic (4-2)
- Gretna B Team (4-2)
- Bellevue West (2-4)
- Grand Island (1-5)
- Lincoln Pius X (4-2)
- Sioux Falls Rosevelt (5-1)
- Gretna A Team (3-3)
- Rapid City Stevens (3-3)
- Elkhorn (5-1)
- Sheyenne (4-2)
- Norfolk (4-2)