State Championship Finals Recap: Class C1, B, and A

Class C1, B and A took the floor at the Devaney Center to wrap up an exciting 2021 high school volleyball season in Nebraska. Let’s see how we went out this year.   Class C1 (1) Kearney Catholic vs. (3) Lincoln Lutheran Lincoln Lutheran has been the capital city’s most consistent postseason representative lately, and the Warriors had a chance to add another trophy to the collection on Saturday. The three seed started out strong with multiple frontcourt hitters contributing. Katelynn Oxley was a factor right away as she hammered away on the middle quick. [player_tooltip player_id="82215" first="Ashlyn" last="DeBoer"] and [player_tooltip player_id="59212" first="Abby" last="Wachal"] were similarly aggressive at the net. It was a big lead in the middle of the first set for Lutheran, but Kearney Catholic did not fold. [player_tooltip player_id="37577" first="Ashley" last="Keck"] led the team in digs and kills from the outset of the match. Aibrey Mandernach scored at a high clip, too. The Stars were within striking distance at the end but Lincoln Lutheran sealed the first set at 25-23. The first half of the second set was deadlocked before the Warriors found another lead after more strong serving. [player_tooltip player_id="82463" first="Raegan" last="Holle"] and [player_tooltip player_id="155029" first="Keri" last="Leimbach"] were particularly tough behind the line. Kearney Catholic surged back to tie the set at 22, however. Callie Squiers had quite a productive serving run from the middle blocker spot. In the end, though, a kill by [player_tooltip player_id="103113" first="Shanae" last="Bergt"] and an ace from [player_tooltip player_id="109592" first="Sophie" last="Wohlgemuth"] gave Lincoln Lutheran another 25-23 victory and a two-set advantage. Afterwards, it was the Stars that snagged an initial lead. Kearney Catholic kept the Warriors off balance with some good blocking moves and continued all-around success by Keck. Margaret Haarberg piled on with a couple of roofs and [player_tooltip player_id="37552" first="Sydney" last="Conner"] keyed up a massive serving run. The Stars kept their season alive with a 25-17 breakthrough in the third. In the fourth set, Lincoln Lutheran looked to ride their big gun to championship. Wachal put down some huge swings when she was in rhythm, and the Warriors built a lead as a result. Kearney Catholic fought back. The Stars got huge swings from Keck when she wasn’t digging massive heat in the back row. Suddenly, the top seed was up 22-19 with a chance to force five. Then, Wachal elevated to yet another level. The junior outside hitter pounded away every kill for the Warriors down the stretch and tied the set at 24 after fighting off two set points. Fittingly, Wachal put away match point to ice a 3-1 triumph and a Class C1 title. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> WHAT A SET! Kearney Catholic made a huge comeback, was up 22-19 and 24-22, but Lincoln Lutheran rallied behind kill after kill by [player_tooltip player_id="59212" first="Abby" last="Wachal"] to win 26-24 and take the match! <a href="https://t.co/itdXY2YoCk">pic.x.com/itdXY2YoCk</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1457113812470059019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   Class B A rematch of last year’s championship match. We were either going to see redemption or seven in a row. There was palpable electricity in the Devaney Center as both teams went back and forth at the start. Eventually, Skutt went on a big scoring run as [player_tooltip player_id="59194" first="Morgan" last="Burke"] hammered her serves from the endline. [player_tooltip player_id="37531" first="Abby" last="Schomers"] showed her expert feel for tempo and set against the grain with great finesse. This helped the SkyHawks hit over .400 in the first set en route to a 25-17 win. The top seed entered the second set with some extra juice after the setback. [player_tooltip player_id="82269" first="Sydney" last="Jelinek"] was terminating with serious authority, and [player_tooltip player_id="37542" first="Ella" last="Waters"] showed she can do the same off of one or two feet. [player_tooltip player_id="59203" first="Gracie" last="Kircher"] was big on the block. This team is so cohesive when they’re in their element. Skutt made a late charge in the second set, but it was not quite enough as Norris snagged a 25-23 win to tie the match. The third set was a stark reminder of why the SkyHawks came into the night as winner of six consecutive titles. Skutt stepped on the gas. Burke’s errorless night continued, the backcourt was making great transition digs, and Schomers was setting an absolute masterpiece. The two seed won the third set 25-11 to go up 2-1. From there, eyes were firmly set on seven in-a-row. Omaha Skutt surged ahead yet again and looked unstoppable in the fourth. [player_tooltip player_id="109597" first="Paisley" last="Douglas"] added to her dig total and [player_tooltip player_id="37532" first="Ava" last="Heyne"] dented the floor on multiple occasions. With another emphatic 25-15 win, the postseason winning streak reached an incredible new height. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> GIVE ‘EM SEVEN.<a href="https://x.com/SkuttCatholicVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SkuttCatholicVB</a> wins the Class B title for the seventh year in a row! <a href="https://t.co/34LzMvxTq3">pic.x.com/34LzMvxTq3</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1457148096069226497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   Class A The last match of the high school season! Papillion-La Vista South was looking to put a bow on a perfect season, and the championship match got out to a great start. [player_tooltip player_id="152854" first="Morgan" last="Bode"], [player_tooltip player_id="37536" first="Emma" last="O’Neill"], and [player_tooltip player_id="109585" first="Lauren" last="Medeck"] each got early kills as [player_tooltip player_id="37529" first="Ava" last="LeGrand"] distributed the ball nicely. Millard West battled back into the set, though, and got a pair of nice stuff blocks from [player_tooltip player_id="103095" first="Alanna" last="Bankston"]. With [player_tooltip player_id="59192" first="Stella" last="Adeyemi"] in the frontcourt, though, Papio South really started to find their rhythm. The Titans pulled away in the end to take a 25-15 win in the opener. The second set unfolded much like the first. Papillion-La Vista South seized an early lead with an offense that was well-balanced and terminal. The Wildcats forged a response, though, as [player_tooltip player_id="58798" first="Sadie" last="Millard"] started to heat up in the middle. Eventually, though, the great serving and ball control of the Titans was too much to handle. O’Neill recorded her sixth block of the match before the second set was done and Papio South took a 2-0 lead after a 25-14 win. With this big advantage in hand, the Titans would not be denied. [player_tooltip player_id="82412" first="Harlei" last="Cole"] dug absolutely everything in the crosscourt, and Papio South’s transition game continued to flourish. Another 25-14 set win locked up a Class A championship and, perhaps even more impressive, perfection. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The 2021 high school season ends with perfection!<a href="https://x.com/PLSouthTitanVb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PLSouthTitanVb</a> caps off an undefeated season with a Class A championship! <a href="https://t.co/4DgEsCPVms">pic.x.com/4DgEsCPVms</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1457176668498452490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>