Unfinished Business: Class D1 Teams Poised for Postseason Return

Get ready for another wild championship race in Class D1.   Last year, Howells-Dodge hauled in its first D1 state volleyball title since the school consolidated in 2012. That area of small-town Nebraska has produced plenty of eye-popping talent over the years, and it all culminated in a dominant 2021 campaign for the Jaguars.   But, expect some fierce competition this fall. The defending champs will face some serious tests from teams that appeared in last year's D1 bracket, and it's time to highlight a few of them here.     Norfolk Catholic   No need to do a double take here. After appearing in the Class C2 state championships last season, the Knights have been reclassified to Class D1 and are poised to make some noise in their new home.   If we're on the hunt for this year's senior leaders, the Knights have a couple of good ones to keep in mind. Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='171633' first='Addison' last='Corr'] was third on the team in kills last year and brings some serious heat on the left pin. When she's in rhythm, she can hit some indefensible shots by simply going over the block. Corr shares captain honors on the team with fellow senior Saylor Fischer, who runs the offense at the setter spot with some great tempo and precision. Norfolk Catholic has already established this duo as the team's leaders in 2022, and their constant impact clearly makes them worthy of running the show.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/08/IMG_4235-scaled-crop-1908x1253-1660454819.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-216295" width="410" height="269"/><figcaption>Yosten (9) anchors the net for Norfolk Catholic at the 2021 state championships.</figcaption></figure>   Of course, we can't forget about Norfolk Catholic's stellar pair of juniors, either. [player_tooltip player_id='104999' first='Avery' last='Yosten'] and [player_tooltip player_id='104998' first='Alli' last='Brungardt'] each tallied more than 300 kills over the 2021 season, and they're back for even more this year. When you put Corr into this equation, there are few Class C2 teams who can boast the battery of hitters that the Knights have. So many close matches are decided by clutch attacks in tight moments, and I'd trust any of these Norfolk Catholic hitters to deliver when a trophy is on the line.     Nebraska Christian   What a journey for Nebraska Christian.   Back in 2020, the Eagles appeared in the Class D2 state tournament as the eighth seed. I was bullish on Nebraska Christian's chances to return to Lincoln last fall despite the team moving up to D1. The team accomplished exactly that and was a set away from taking down eventual champion Howells-Dodge in the semifinal round.   The Eagles are not going to yield this fall. Junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='152907' first='Ali' last='Bruning'] returns to lead the offense and has gained vast high-level experience with VCNebraska during the club season. Her phenomenal distribution has steadily elevated the Eagles throughout her career, and that upward trend ought to continue in 2022.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/08/IMG_4145-edited-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-216507" width="410" height="269"/><figcaption>Bruning runs the offense for Nebraska Christian at the 2021 state championships.</figcaption></figure>   Nebraska Christian has a great core of attackers to lean on, too. [player_tooltip player_id='171637' first='Reghan' last='Flynn'] was a dominant force last year and will likely find another gear in her senior campaign. Likewise, Hope Seip has a chance to expand her role in the offense and build off some efficient performances when she was in the lineup.   Some new names will still need to emerge from this group, so we look forward to seeing the next influx of talent at Nebraska Christian. In any case, there's a good shot for the Eagles to execute the three-peat and get back to Lincoln again.     Maywood/Hayes Center   Another reclassifying team! Maywood/Hayes Center is moving up this year, and it's bringing a lot of last year's stars with it.   The Wolves were not on the losing end of many matches in 2021. Maywood/Hayes Center compiled a 29-3 record and fought through the Class D2 bracket en route to a third-place finish. Now, many of the players from that successful squad will be back to help guide Maywood/Hayes Center's foray into Class D1.   Last year, the Wolves rallied around outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='171584' first='Olivia' last='Hansen'] for some clutch kills in big matches. She surely delivered with great success, as she racked nearly 350 kills on a solid .266 hitting clip. Hansen ought to have a little extra motivation as a senior, and it also helps to have a bunch of familiar faces around her for that final season.   Let's talk about a few of those returnees. Maywood/Hayes Center ran a balanced, efficient offense that allowed players like Kyla Patel, Maddie Doyle, and Alexis Wood to have moments in the spotlight. Wood joins Hansen on the Wolves' senior class and will hope to build off an impressive .285 stat line this fall.   And, don't forget about one of the most prolific stat-stuffing liberos in the entire state. Aniah Seiler compiled some astonishing numbers in 2021, including a whopping eight digs per set and 21 digs per match. Her command of the backcourt was spectacular, and she now becomes another member of Maywood/Hayes Center's formidable senior class that should make the transition to D1 a smooth one.

Get ready for another wild championship race in Class D1.