Unfinished Business: Class B Teams Poised for Postseason Return

Class B is going to be a doozy this fall. What's new?   In case you missed it, we've kicked off our 2022 Unfinished Business series with a look at last year's <a href="https://prepdig.com/2022/08/unfinished-business-class-a-teams-poised-for-postseason-return/">Class A tournament teams</a> that have a chance to make it back to Lincoln this year. Time to bring that conversation to Class B.   Of course, there's still the elephant in the room when previewing Class B: Omaha Skutt Catholic has held the state volleyball crown in the class for the past seven years. Even still, last year's Class B tournament field featured programs that will be legitimate title threats in 2022.   Let's preview a few of them here.     Elkhorn North   The new team on the block is doing just fine.   Elkhorn North is entering its third-ever season this fall, and the Wolves have already managed to stake their claim as a Class B title favorite in 2022. This is no longer the young team full of underclassmen that we saw a couple of years ago.   Club-to-high school continuity is going to be a big theme in this feature, and Elkhorn North has a lot of it. A trio of Premier 17 Gold teammates will join forces again on the high school side and carry a lot of important duties in the Wolves' lineup.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3014-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-215912" width="405" height="269"/><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='59201' first='Grace' last='Heaney'] swings for Elkhorn North at the 2021 state championships.</figcaption></figure>   Purdue commit [player_tooltip player_id='59201' first='Grace' last='Heaney'] will undoubtedly be one of the most dangerous attackers in Nebraska's senior class. She is building off another standout year with Premier Nebraska and can also lean on some familiar allies from the 17 Gold lineup. [player_tooltip player_id='171631' first='Kailey' last='Hrbek'] is back to anchor the middle blocker spot for Elkhorn North, and she is fresh off her pledge to Embry-Riddle during her successful 2022 club campaign. And, as if this club connection wasn't enough, the Premier trio is complete with [player_tooltip player_id='109593' first='Reese' last='Booth'], a 2024 setter who did a fabulous job leading the Wolves' offense last fall and did the same for 17 Gold this spring.   Aside from this group of year-round teammates, Elkhorn North pulls even more talent from across the state's club landscape. Nebraska Elite setter [player_tooltip player_id='155049' first='Peyton' last='Meyer'] had a brilliant showing for 15 Matrix this year and showed what she can do against some of the nation's best prep talent. She will undoubtedly find a role in the Elkhorn North lineup. Fellow 2025 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='155043' first='Shay' last='Heaney'] also returns to demonstrate her prowess on the left pin, while Premier 16 Black libero [player_tooltip player_id='109595' first='Haylee' last='Wolf'] will lead the defense.   No matter how you choose to break down Elkhorn North's roster, it quickly becomes clear that the Wolves have the makings of a championship run.     Norris   For the last two seasons, we've seen the same Class B championship matchup: Skutt versus Norris. The Titans lose some valuable players in 2022, but history shows that you can never count out Norris when November approaches.   Replacing all-state mainstays like setter Maisie Boesiger and outside hitter Ella Waters is not an easy task. Despite this, last year's Norris lineup featured a youthful core of talented players that will return to the fold in 2022. And, as is usually the case with Norris, there will be some new names in the lineup that ought to make a splash with this Class B powerhouse.   First, let's cover some of those returnees. If senior leadership is what you're looking for, keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='59203' first='Gracie' last='Kircher']. The multi-talented Washburn commit can play on the pin or in the middle, so I'm interested to see how her role evolves throughout the season. Norris doesn't have a massive 2023 class, but Kircher's huge impact will likely make up for that.   The Class of 2024, meanwhile, will carry a lot of weight for the Titans. This is especially apparent in the backcourt, where [player_tooltip player_id='105830' first='Sydney' last='Guthard'], [player_tooltip player_id='105001' first='Alivia' last='Hausmann'], [player_tooltip player_id='152864' first='Mallorie' last='Meyer'], and [player_tooltip player_id='187687' first='Grayson' last='Piening'] will keep anchoring the end line after gaining a ton of experience last fall. While we're addressing club connections, Guthard and Piening were a formidable tandem for Premier 16 Red this year and can use that cohesion to their advantage again.   In the frontcourt, [player_tooltip player_id='105000' first='Celia' last='Spilker'] joins Norris' vast group of impactful 2024s. Like many of the other hitters on the roster, Spilker is a player who can slot into a variety of positions. Her primary role last fall was at opposite, but she brings ample club reps as a middle blocker with Nebraska Juniors. Wherever Spilker is needed, she will deliver.   Then, there's the 2025s. Watch out for this bunch. [player_tooltip player_id='155030' first='Anna' last='Jelinek'] made waves last year by seizing the starting libero role as a freshman, and she will surely hang on to a big starting role in 2022. However, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of Jelinek giving up that libero jersey to take on the six-rotation hitting role she just had with Nebraska ONE.   There's another club connection here, too. Nebraska ONE middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='189321' first='Lexi' last='Hasselbalch'] has a shot to make the starting lineup this fall after playing a huge part in 15 Synergy's successful club campaign. Her synergy with Jelinek definitely helps!     Omaha Duchesne   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/08/IMG_2844-edited-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-215909" width="405" height="269"/><figcaption>Gish (3) competes with Duchesne at the 2021 state championships.</figcaption></figure>   It's hard to ignore Duchesne's consistent presence at the state championships over the past few years. The team's 2022 roster makes us optimistic that the streak will continue.   This is also another chance to talk about a big-time club combo that should thrive again with Duchesne. [player_tooltip player_id='173523' first='Elizabeth' last='Layson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='173518' first='Rilyn' last='Gish'] were indispensable frontcourt contributors during Nebraska Elite's run to a 15 Open bid, and they're back to make more highlight moments for the Cardinals. We've mentioned the strength of Duchesne's up-and-coming talent before, and these two athletes embody a bright future for the program.   An influx of young talent hasn't taken our attention off of Duchesne's veteran leaders, though. [player_tooltip player_id='152093' first='Lily' last='Snodgrass'] is a senior middle blocker who has given so much to this program lately. She helps solidify the team's physicality along the net and should hold onto her go-to attacking role. It's also worth keeping an eye on Nebraska Elite middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='187792' first='Emily' last='Love'] as she provides vital leadership as an upperclassman.

Class B is going to be a doozy this fall. What's new?