Predicting Tonight’s Big Matches: Tuesday, Aug. 29

<p>The first full week of the 2017 season is upon us. With the approved earlier start to the season coming in the summer, it’s not a heavy schedule today, but things will really get ramped up this Thursday.</p> <p>Here is a look at my predictions for the biggest matches of Tuesday, Aug. 29.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;"><strong>Class B #4 Elkhorn South at Class A #1 Millard North</strong></span></p> <p>The Storm roll into Millard with a lot of talent and should push the defending Class A state champs in the season-opener for both teams. The teams have never faced each other, according to my research, so both teams will be flying a little blind in that regard.</p> <p><strong>Prediction: Millard North in four.</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;"><strong>Class A #2 Omaha Marian at Class A #4 Papillion-LaVista South</strong></span></p> <p>With both these powerhouse programs traditionally starting the year in the Bellevue Invitational and playing their first matches against lower-caliber teams in pool play, neither school has started the year 0-1 in several, several years. That changes for someone tonight. The Titans are banged up. Marian is probably already in midseason form.</p> <p><strong>Prediction: Omaha Marian in three.</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;"><strong>Omaha South at Class A #8 Millard South</strong></span></p> <p>Omaha South started its season late last week with a thrilling 5-set win over Omaha Northwest in which the Packers were down 0-2 then won the third set 34-32 before taking the match 3-2. That experience will help Omaha South, but not enough against a balanced Millard South squad.</p> <p><strong>Prediction: Millard South in four.</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;"><strong>Class B #9 Waverly at Ashland-Greenwood</strong></span></p> <p>Ashland-Greenwood actually returns more experience than Waverly heading into this season, but the Bluejays are stepping up a class to take on the Class B Vikings. Waverly will frustrate a lot of opponents this year and Ashland-Greenwood will be the first team to experience that feeling.</p> <p><strong>Prediction: Waverly in three.</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;"><strong>Raymond Central at Class C-1 #5 Lincoln Lutheran</strong></span></p> <p>Lincoln Lutheran swept Raymond Central twice last year. Raymond Central lost just about everyone to graduation. Lincoln Lutheran is a legitimate state-title contender.</p> <p><strong>Prediction: Lincoln Lutheran in three.</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;"><strong>Class D-1 #1 Johnson-Brock at Nebraska City Lourdes</strong></span></p> <p>The good news for Nebraska City Lourdes is that Knights already have a match under their belt and they get to play at home tonight. The bad news is they got swept in their first match by Falls City Sacred Heart and tonight’s opponent – Johnson-Brock – is probably among the top 20-25 teams in the state regardless of class.</p> <p><strong>Prediction: Johnson-Brock in three.</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>