2022 NSAA State Championship Semifinal Recap

With the quarterfinal round complete, every remaining team in the state championships took the floor at Pinnacle Bank Arena for a day packed full of semifinal action. Day 3 produced plenty of drama as we locked in state title matchups, so let's break it all down here.     Class A   Class A and B sent us into the night with a slate of matches that were bound to be thrillers.   The first Class A semifinal brought defending champion and top-seeded Papillion-La Vista South into a clash with archrival Papillion-La Vista. And this felt like a rivalry matchup in every sense, from the hard-hitting on-court displays to the raw emotion of the crowd.   Papio South struck first with a display of exceptional ball control that has never let the team down throughout the fall. Senior libero Makenzie Dyrstad, a Rutgers commit, was an unflappable defender in the crosscourt. The two-pronged setter position featuring [player_tooltip player_id='109587' first='Kyla' last='Dyrstad'] and Charlee Solomon also worked seamlessly as the Titans claimed the opening set.   The fourth-seeded Monarchs even the match on what ended up being one of the most dramatic sets of the entire season. Papillion-La Vista built a comfortable early lead behind the multi-faceted offense of junior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='109603' first='Mia' last='Tvrdy']. The Oregon commit is known for her attacking prowess off one foot, but Tvrdy also mixed in some two-footed swings on the pins to open up the offense. When Tvrdy wasn't taking monster swings, senior Anna Sis and junior Morgan Glaser were just as reliable on the outside.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588676130521116673?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   But Papio South didn't yield, even after going down 24-19 and facing a mountain of set points. The Titans clawed all the way back thanks to some dramatic, heart-stopping, and often controversial points. After all that, however, the Monarchs still pulled through in a 27-25 decision to tie the match.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588688491697012737?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   Some teams would have run out of steam after dropping such a tight, emotional set. Not the defending champs. Papillion-La Vista South came out of intermission strong and took complete control of the rest of the match. Senior outside hitter Stella Adeyemi was unstoppable down the stretch, but that's nothing new for the Hawai'i commit. Adeyemi got a shot at putting away match point in the fourth set and did not hold anything back.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588702611422973952?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   Following this emotional battle, Lincoln Southwest and Omaha Westside took the stage for the second Class A semifinal. It was a rematch of last year's quarterfinal thriller that went to the Warriors in a five-set thriller.   It turns out that Westside didn't need five sets to win this year's matchup. The Warriors came out firing and leaned on the same players that had delivered the upset win from a year ago. Destiny Ndam-Simpson and Samantha Laird brought nearly undiggable heat on the left side. Perhaps the most important late development for Westside's lineup was the return of senior middle blocker Kensington TeKrony. The Warriors endured three separate injuries at the middle blocker spot this year, but TeKrony's sudden return was a welcomed sight that had the Warriors rolling on the north court.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588721904139276288?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   Lincoln Southwest countered with its patented gap plays to middle blockers Abbie Appleget and Emerson Lionberger, but the third-seeded Warriors always had a counter. The rematch went to Westside in a straight-set sweep, sending the program to new heights in this year's postseason.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588730552169136130?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>     Class B   Class B's semifinals pretty much had all the names you expected to be here. But the product on the court was far beyond what anyone could have expected.   First, top-seeded Elkhorn North entered a blue-versus-blue showdown with fourth-ranked Bennington for a spot in the championship. It was the fleet-footed firepower of the Wolves against the stout ball-control skills of the Badgers.   It was the back-and-forth treat we were hoping for. Elkhorn North junior Reese Booth set a quick offense that has really allowed her strengths to flourish. Northern Iowa landed a gem for 2024. Booth also has a wealth of hitters to tee up, from the Heaney sisters to Ava Spies and Kailey Hrbek in the middle.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588678760621953027?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   Bennington was not intimidated by all this talent. Of course, Nebraska commit Olivia Mauch was at the center of several spectacular defensive plays. Aside from the stout backcourt performances, the Badgers also showed a penchant for causing trouble from behind the line. Freshman outside hitter Evynn Olsen is already finding her stride in that phase.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588683416568233984?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   Still, Class B's top team came up clutch when it mattered most. The 3-0 scoreline doesn't accurately depict how close this contest was, but it was a sweep nonetheless. In its third year of volleyball competition, Elkhorn North has claimed a spot in the state championship.   Then, it was time for the two legendary powerhouses to spar. Omaha Skutt Catholic has defeated Norris in the past two Class B championship matches, giving the SkyHawks their sixth and seventh consecutive titles. This matchup feels as old as time.   Several stars of Friday's match have been around for a while, too. Senior outside hitter Morgan Burke has piled up kills for Skutt en route to the best statistical season of her career. On the other side of the net, Norris senior Gracie Kircher has racked up stats in more ways than one as a setter and a left-side hitter. Her versatility is stunning.   And, in case you needed more talent in this matchup, both teams fielded D1-bound liberos. Skutt's Paisley Douglas and Norris's Mallorie Meyer, both juniors, have such an expert command of the middle-back area and mesh well with their adjacent defenders. You can count on both teams running some slick transition offense off the digs of their liberos.   So, how did this match pan out? The first set unsurprisingly became a back-and-forth affair before the third-seeded Titans pulled ahead in the end. Senior middle blocker Anistyn Rice was a huge early spark plug in the frontcourt as Norris pounced in Set 1.   Then, it was Skutt's turn to deal a blow. While Burke regularly receives a lot of attacking volume, the SkyHawks looked to senior setter-hitter Ivy Leuck for production in the second set. It was the right call, and the seven-time defending champs promptly tied the match.   The SkyHawks showed their might again in the third set and went up 2-1. What happened after that can hardly be described.   It was already past 10:00, but Skutt and Norris played a fourth set that makes you forget the time. Neither team could break out to a comfortable margin, and we were destined to get a deuce battle. Both teams held multiple set points and made sprawling plays to shock the packed crowd. Teams ran out of subs. When it was all over, Skutt Catholic secured a 33-31 win to end the match in four and keep the eight-peat dream alive.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588739561387331585?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>     Class C1   Class C1 and C2 made up the middle portion of the semifinal round. This mid-day slate was filled with powerhouse teams that all had the necessary components for a championship run.   The C1 slate began with top-seeded North Bend Central facing off against #5 Gothenburg, which upset Malcolm in the second round. A confident Swedes team was certainly capable of scoring another upset, but C1's top team presented a new challenge.   North Bend Central rolled to a 2-0 lead behind the same core group that made the Tigers a one-loss team. Junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='105002' first='Josie' last='Cleveringa'] was scoring at will, and senior middle blocker Kaitlyn Emanuel was right there with her. Sophomore setter Kathryn Gaughen did a great job putting her hot hitters in positions to succeed.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588614987949670401?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   But, against all odds, Gothenburg found a way to rally. The Swedes strike me as a group that wasn't content with last year's quarterfinal finish, and many of the same players are back from that 2021 team.   It took a deuce effort, but Gothenburg got on the board with a 26-24 win in the third. Junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='104982' first='Clara' last='Evert'] found her rhythm, and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='173534' first='Taryn' last='O'Hare'] was effective on the other pin.   With momentum firmly on Gothenburg's side, the Swedes roared out to a big lead in Set 4 and never relinquished it. That trend carried into the fifth, where the Swedes finished the reverse sweep and secured the program's first-ever berth in the state volleyball championship match.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588632061241589760?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   The 2-versus-3 contest in C1 featured Minden and Grand Island Central Catholic, two teams with differing styles but a wealth of high-level experience. Only one could advance.   Set 1 went to GICC, a program with a championship history that speaks for itself. This year's iteration of the Crusaders leans on a talented core of veterans who have all been under this pressure before. It's only fitting that [player_tooltip player_id='103091' first='Lucy' last='Ghaifan'], a steady senior who can attack from anywhere on the floor, became the focal point of GICC's offense Friday night. Her connection with junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='104674' first='Carolyn' last='Maser'] lifted the Crusaders to an early advantage.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588658445670289408?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   However, we knew Minden would find a way to respond. Senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='106701' first='Bailey' last='Rogers'] was a crucial catalyst for defensive plays that started to wear down GICC's attackers. Meanwhile, the Whippets got some offense of its own from senior middle blocker Sloane Branham-Beck and sophomore setter-hitter [player_tooltip player_id='173530' first='Mattie' last='Kamery']. Minden evened the match at a set apiece to turn the tides back toward the Whippets.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588651035005812738?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   Still, GICC's physical frontcourt managed to rebound. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='59214' first='Gracie' last='Woods'] made contributions in just about every way possible. The Crusaders fell in last year's semifinal round, and they were determined not to let it happen again. GICC ran away with the third and fourth sets to put this history-rich program back in the C1 finals.     Class C2   A C2 champion other than top-seeded Lincoln Lutheran would require the Warriors to lose for the first time all year. Even with all the postseason pressure, Lincoln Lutheran appeared to enter Friday's semifinal with the same calm, confident demeanor we've seen all year.   It showed in the way the Warriors played. The #1 seed produced another sweep over defending C2 champion Oakland-Craig to reach the state championship match. Yes, senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='59212' first='Abby' last='Wachal'] had her typical share of kills. But Lutheran also achieved some nice balance between players like junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='109592' first='Sophie' last='Wohlgemuth'] and senior middle blocker Erika Young. Senior captain [player_tooltip player_id='152108' first='Elecea' last='Saathoff'] deserves a lot of credit for the way she distributes to these talented hitters.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588616745270792193?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   Oakland-Craig will return a core group next year that should keep it in the championship hunt. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='173535' first='Adi' last='Rennerfeldt'], [player_tooltip player_id='173516' first='Brandi' last='Helzer'], and Gretchen Seagren are particularly impactful and have a lot of highlight moments yet to come.   After Lincoln Lutheran earned its bid to the C2 championship, Archbishop Bergan would try to put the top two seeds in the finale with a Knights victory over #6 Amherst.   That win wouldn't come easily, however. Amherst swept through #3 Cross County to reach the semifinals, and the Broncos carried that momentum into Friday night by swiping the opening set. Junior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='122819' first='Hannah' last='Herrick'] quickly established herself as the primary terminator for Amherst, and she did it from just about anywhere along the net. It also helped Herrick to have junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='122828' first='Josie' last='Loshonkohl'] backing her up with some consistent passes and stout floor defense.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588640057988382721?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   Of course, the #2 seed had a response. Bergan got fantastic production from senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='152097' first='Kaitlyn' last='Mlnarik'], a six-rotation with a role similar to Herrick's. Junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='152865' first='Summer' last='Bojanski'] was outstanding in Friday's contest, adding to her long history of tournament success. Lest we forget senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='152100' first='Rebecca' last='Baker'], who has been getting the most out of this offense for the past few years.   This savvy group showed its resilience by taking over the match following the opening-set loss. Bergan would not be denied another shot in the state championship match--even in a different class.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588663834356908032?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>     Class D1   Class D1 and D2 were first on the floor for Friday's semifinals, and these two groups produced some nail-biters right away. Not a bad way to kick off the morning.   #1 Norfolk Catholic and fourth-seeded Bruning-Davenport/Shickley faced off in the first Class D1 semifinal on the north court. And, in a bit of a surprise, it was the lower seed jumping out to the 1-0 lead.   BDS featured an excellent medley of stout backcourt defense and terminal frontcourt attacking to put pressure on D1's top seed. Campbell Bohling had a positive impact in the backcourt, and [player_tooltip player_id='495081' first='Kinzley' last='Bohling'] had a breakout match on the left side alongside veteran [player_tooltip player_id='102192' first='Jess' last='Hudson']. The Eagles were rolling.   However, Norfolk Catholic found a way to seize control. The Knights have done that throughout the year, after all. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='83539' first='Channatee' last='Robles'] was stellar yet again. Junior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='104998' first='Alli' last='Brungardt'] also put her stamp on this semifinal with both her offense and defense. Even with some early adversity, the Knights found a new gear in the succeeding three sets. A 3-1 win over a tough BDS squad secured Norfolk Catholic's bid to the title match.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588555563310682112?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   While BDS's upset bid fell short, D1's other underdog team had a field day. Seventh-seeded Cedar Catholic had already gotten a taste of upset glory in Thursday's five-set win over #2 Cambridge. Next on the docket for the Trojans: third-seeded Maywood-Hayes Center.   The attitude, balance, and firepower of Cedar Catholic make the team seem like anything but an underdog. [player_tooltip player_id='103103' first='Laney' last='Kathol'] and Lexi Eickhoff make up perhaps the most intimidating outside-middle combination in Class D1. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='104590' first='Jozie' last='Becker'] is also a tall talent that provides valuable leadership for the Trojans.   Maywood-Hayes Center made a valiant effort to keep pace with Cedar Catholic as [player_tooltip player_id='171584' first='Olivia' last='Hansen'] and Alexis Wood continued to anchor the Wolves' offense. In the end, though, the #7 seed scored an emphatic 3-0 win to put this electric Trojan lineup on the championship stage.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588583125977686018?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>     Class D2   Our Class D2 tournament preview mentioned the depth and strength at the top of this group. That seems to be panning out here in Lincoln.   The first D2 semifinal of the morning pitted top-seeded Howells-Dodge against #4 Shelton. After both squads were two of the most formidable Class D2 contenders, only one could advance to the championship match.   And this match gave us more than we could've imagined. The #1 Jaguars brought a heavy dose of senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='59193' first='Grace' last='Baumert'] whenever possible, and senior Carly Bayer had another strong outing in the middle. Senior setter Blair Fiala was as aggressive as ever from the setter spot. This senior core lifted Howells-Dodge to a win in the opening set, and the Jaguars seemed primed for another championship appearance.   However, the next two sets showed the fighting spirit of the Bulldogs. Shelton boasts a veteran group of its own, led by senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='122756' first='Dru' last='Niemack']. Senior outside hitter Sidney Gegg has also been formidable. Behind some inspired, resilient play, the Bulldogs roared to wins in Set 2 and Set 3 to inject some nervous energy into the arena.   Howells-Dodge is a defending champion for a reason, though, and the Jaguars' comeback bid showed every bit of this team's spirit. The Jaguars clawed back to force a fifth set, and all bets were off in the tiebreaker. It was only fitting that the deciding set went to deuce with both teams having match points. Eventually, Baumert hammered another kill to put Howells-Dodge back in the state title match for the second year in a row.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588559863793471488?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   Speaking of teams looking to return to state championship matches, Humphrey St. Francis took the floor for the second D2 semifinal. The Flyers came into the matchup as the lower seed, however, and second-seeded Overton was a tough draw.   Still, HSF pulled through to win a two-point opening set. [player_tooltip player_id='152092' first='Kylee' last='Wessel'] was back to her usual ways of leading the Flyers' onslaught. Ball control was another strong point for the Flyers with the sister duo of Hannah Baumgart and Emma Baumgart running the show at libero and setter, respectively.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588583757543456768?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>   Overton responded to the narrow setback by dominating the second set. [player_tooltip player_id='105006' first='JoLee' last='Ryan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='172559' first='Natalie' last='Wood'] kept building their highlight tape from the middle, and the Eagles steadied out on the defensive end.   But the pendulum of this match kept swinging as the Flyers punched back in the third set. Then, Overton forged a comeback in the fourth set to win 27-25 after pushing through a Humphrey St. Francis match point. The north court had its second five-set contest in as many matches.   After a bevy of scoring runs in the race to 15, the second seed had just enough left to finish the match. Overton punched its ticket to the Devaney Center in dramatic fashion after falling down 2-1.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588595247629873152?s=20&t=KvoqCLlh5Vob1cBHWNcnxg </div></figure>

With the quarterfinal round complete, every remaining team in the state championships took the floor at Pinnacle Bank Arena for a day packed full of semifinal action. Day 3 produced plenty of drama as we locked in state title matchups, so let's break it all down here.