Talented Rosters Shine in Top-Tier Class A Showdown

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This match was circled on the calendar for a long time. I had to be there.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two of the best teams in the state battled on Tuesday as Papillion-La Vista South traveled to take on Lincoln Pius X. The match was everything I had expected: hard-hitting, competitive action.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Upon watching the Titans take a 3-1 victory at the end of the night, I had several names that stood out on the big stage.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are some stars of the show!</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="108325" first="Lauren" last="Medeck"] - 5'10 OH - Papillion-La Vista South - Class of 2024</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another freshman star emerges. In Tuesday's Class A clash against Lincoln Pius X, it was Medeck who led the way offensively for her Titans squad. That says a lot when you're playing for a team full of athletes who have already made big headlines of their own. Medeck racked up 16 kills in the win, using her powerful, mature swing to consistently shred through blocks. The way she cracked down an overpass late in the match was the highlight of the night (see below). This is a future leader of the Papio South program.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">BOUNCETOWN!<br /> <br /> 2024 outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="108325" first="Lauren" last="Medeck"] on the overpass! 😱😱 <a href="https://t.co/ZobIYow6oa">pic.x.com/ZobIYow6oa</a></p> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1303511009601245184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kylen-sealock/">Kylen Sealock</a> - 6'0 OH - Lincoln Pius X - Class of 2021 (South Dakota Commit)</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sealock's college readiness is obvious. The ‘Yotes ought to be excited about this outside hitter. When Medeck and [player_tooltip player_id="59192" first="Stella" last="Adeyemi"] delivered huge swings for the Titans, Sealock was always there for the counter punch. She had the best range of anyone on the floor Tuesday night; her swings down the line and crosscourt were equally effective. When Pius X needed offense, they often set Sealock in different gaps along the net. With an experienced Thunderbolt lineup, this senior star is motivated to make a big splash in Class A.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">We're exchanging huge swings in a close fourth set.<br /> <br /> Kylen Sealock CRUSHES it down the line. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/nebpreps?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nebpreps</a> <a href="https://t.co/8z7YXoLXDT">pic.x.com/8z7YXoLXDT</a></p> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1303512774463631363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="37536" first="Emma" last="O'Neill"] - 6'0 MB - Papillion-La Vista South - Class of 2022</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">O'Neill was up to the task of facing all those big, physical Pius X hitters. Luckily for this junior middle blocker, she has the length and athleticism to match up with almost any opponent. She was always a threat offensively, too, and came up with some big kills when the Titans needed them most. Her connection with setter [player_tooltip player_id="37529" first="Ava" last="LeGrand"] was a sight to behold. Amid all the talk about Papio South's pin hitters, you can't forget about O'Neill.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">2022 middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id="37536" first="Emma" last="O'Neill"] drops it in to put <a href="https://x.com/PLSouthTitanVb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PLSouthTitanVb</a> up 2 sets to 1! <a href="https://t.co/8fBYO2BV5t">pic.x.com/8fBYO2BV5t</a></p> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1303510165837275137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="108328" first="Cora" last="Thomas"] - 5'11 MB - Lincoln Pius X - Class of 2021</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thomas has the kind of infectious energy that you love to see from middle blockers. She backed up that energy with her play on Tuesday, as she impacted the match in a variety of ways. The Thunderbolt offense made heavy use of the slide, and Thomas was one of the most effective terminators. Her huge stuff blocks, too, brought a lot of momentum to the Pius side, especially in a victorious second set.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="82578" first="Delanie" last="Vallinch"] - 5'9 L - Papillion-La Vista South - Class of 2021</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vallinch did everything you'd want from a libero in the Titans' 3-1 win over Pius X on Tuesday. She controlled serves with great consistency, played fearless defense, and was perhaps the biggest serving threat in the gym that evening. This libero leads a spectacular corps of back row players that includes junior [player_tooltip player_id="82412" first="Harlei" last="Cole"] and senior [player_tooltip player_id="82600" first="Andjelija" last="Petrovic"]. In short, Papio South may have the best group of passers in the state.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Libero kill!<br /> <br /> [player_tooltip player_id="82578" first="Delanie" last="Vallinch"] has put together a great match for <a href="https://x.com/PLSouthTitanVb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PLSouthTitanVb</a> tonight. <a href="https://t.co/SSEWRXhaXm">pic.x.com/SSEWRXhaXm</a></p> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1303508576829345792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="59205" first="Adison" last="Markowski"] - 5'7 S - Lincoln Pius X - Class of 2023</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She's a seasoned signal-caller who is only in her sophomore season. Markowski consistently makes great choices from the setting position, which is a trait that comes from a lot of high-level volleyball experience. Her backcourt defense is strong, and she can hold her own at the net despite her size. On an experienced and talented team, Markowski is the young setter who lets the whole team flourish.</span></p>