State Championship Bracket First Impressions: Class D1 and D2
Let’s finish up our initial thoughts and previews on the 2021 state championship bracket. We’ve still got a lot of great teams and matchups to discuss. Be sure to check out our previews that have already been published on all…
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Continue ReadingLet’s finish up our initial thoughts and previews on the 2021 state championship bracket. We’ve still got a lot of great teams and matchups to discuss.
Be sure to check out our previews that have already been published on all the other classes. For this one, though, we’re heading out to the D1-D2 corner of the bracket to gather some first impressions on the duels ahead. The parity here is sure to be wild, so let’s get into some of the storylines.
Dangerous Underdogs
There’s a lot of lower seeds that could go far in these brackets. Don’t count out any underdogs.
Diller-Odell, last year’s D2 champion, finds themselves at the #6 spot in this year’s bracket. Making a postseason run from this position is quite a task, but the Griffins are as equipped as anyone to make this push. This roster is full of players who have been in this position before, and they surely won’t be daunted by this new challenge.
Overton is another one to watch in Class D1. Like Diller-Odell in D2, the Eagles boast some stout pin-hitting talent that can keep them in any match, no matter how tough the opponent. This five seed is going to be a tough out.
You could also see some challengers emerging all the way down to the seven and eight seeds in Class D1 with Elmwood-Murdock and BDS, respectively. BDS is not far removed from its run of back-to-back state titles, and Elmwood-Murdock remains one of the most talented small-town programs in eastern Nebraska. There are obviously going to be some fun matchups to follow in the days ahead.
Championship Breakthroughs Ahead?
We could see a ton of long championship droughts get broken this year, and Class D1 and D2 help demonstrate this. Let’s rewrite some history books this week.
Class D1’s #1 overall seed, Howells-Dodge, has not made an appearance in a state volleyball championship match since the school’s consolidation almost a decade ago. The old Howells High School had a run of three-straight appearances from 2009-2011 that culminated in a 2011 D2 championship, but it’s been a long dry spell since. How sweet it would be to hoist a trophy under the Jaguar banner.
Other favorites in this year’s tournament are also looking for a breakthrough. D1 #2 Mead is looking for their first-ever state title in volleyball. In fact, the Raiders have only made one title match appearance way back in the best-of-three sideout scoring days of 1984. It’s been a minute.
The #1 seed in Class D2 is also seeking long-awaited triumph. Falls City Sacred Heart is coming off a fantastic 32-2 season but has not won a state title in 15 years. This might be the time to get back on the board, but, like any team in Class D1 and D2, there’s a difficult path ahead.