Key Matches This Week: Class C-1

<p><u>Grand Island Central Catholic and St. Celilia</u></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><u> </u>GICC and St. Cecilia will both open up the 2017 season on Thursday night at GICC. GICC missed the state tournament last season, so they want to get themselves back on track to get to state in 2017. Junior middle Kamryn Willman was cleared to play for GICC earlier this month, so GICC will be at full strength come the start of the season. The Crusaders are ranked #2 in the preseason top 10, but will be playing in what could be the toughest class in all of Nebraska this year. If GICC wants to make a run at state they have Wahoo, Bishop Neumann, defending champions Omaha Concordia, Jaela Zimmerman and the Malcolm squad, as well as Lincoln Lutheran with a stacked lineup standing in their way. Thursday night could be the start of an epic season for the Crusaders and they and St. Cecilia should have a great matchup.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><u>Lincoln Lutheran and Raymond Central </u></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><u> </u>Lincoln Lutheran and Raymond Central will begin their seasons on Tuesday night at Lincoln Lutheran. Lincoln Lutheran could be one of the teams to beat this season and they want to make history this year. They haven’t won a state title since 2004, but want to change that this season. With an All-State Setter in <strong>Hope Leimbach</strong>, an All-State outside hitter in <strong>Marriah Buss</strong> who transferred to Lincoln Lutheran before moving to Lincoln and an All-State libero in <strong>Erin Williams </strong>who transferred from Lincoln North Star, this team could take state this year for the Warriors. When you have 3 girls from the same club team, as well as other returning players to contribute for the Warriors, you gotta believe that they can put together the strength and chemistry to win a state title. The journey for Lincoln Lutheran begins on Tuesday night at home. Their match with Raymond Central could be the start of a legendary season for the Warriors.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><u>Wahoo and Raymond Central</u></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After Raymond Central plays Lincoln Lutheran on Tuesday night, they have to turn around and play Wahoo on Thursday night to start out a tough first week of the season. Wahoo is ranked #3 in the preseason top 10 and they could be a powerhouse squad in C1 this year. Wahoo has <strong>Elly Larson </strong>who led the team with more than 400 kills last year, her sister<strong> Maddie Larson</strong>, an Illinois recruit in <strong>Kyla Swanson</strong>, as well as setter <strong>Kinsley Tinglehoff</strong>. Tinglehoff has been starting for Wahoo since her freshman year, and she will likely be the all-time assist leader in Class C1 after this season. Raymond Central has a tough first week of the season but it’s good experience for their team to be playing two preseason top 10 teams in the first week of the 2017 season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><u>Omaha Concordia and Columbus Scotus </u></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>With Omaha Concordia being the defending state champions in Class C1 and Columbus Scotus having so many state championships, this is a great first match of the year. The 2 teams will play against each other on Thursday night at Columbus Scotus. The Concordia Mustangs graduated 3 great back row defenders from a year ago, but they still return outside hitter <strong>Taylor Pribyl</strong>, setter <strong>Sami Clarkson</strong>, and <strong>Haley Alharithy </strong>to their squad. The road to repeating as state champions will be difficult for Concordia, considering they have Malcolm, Lincoln Lutheran, GICC, Wahoo and Bishop Neumann all standing in their way. Thursday night’s match will be a good start and a great test for Concordia as they attempt to go back to back this year at state.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>