2022 NSAA State Tournament Recap: Day 2

Day 2 was a continuation of the quarterfinal round, with Class C2, Class D1, and Class D2 taking the spotlight at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Be sure to check out our Day 1 recap, where we examine results and standouts from Nebraska's other three classes.   Now, here's a rundown of Thursday's matches.     Class C2   The final group to take centerstage at Pinnacle Bank Arena was Class C2's, and we got plenty of quality volleyball to wrap up the quarterfinal round.   Right away, C2's top two seeds stole the spotlight with a pair of dominant performances. It would've surprised no one to see top-seeded and undefeated Lincoln Lutheran post a convincing win, but the Warriors were still impressive despite all the expectations.   Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='59212' first='Abby' last='Wachal'] is back in her usual postseason form. She set a high bar for herself by dropping over 30 kills in last year's state championship match, but there are few outside hitters in the state terminating like she is.   <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/1588315689064235009?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   The whole Warrior machine was running Thursday night. Sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='155029' first='Keri' last='Leimbach'] was flying all over the court defensively and even brought out a jump spin serve. And, of course, veteran setter [player_tooltip player_id='152108' first='Elecea' last='Saathoff'] helped tie everything together.   <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/1588320260096073731?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   Bayard deserves a lot of credit for putting together a 31-1 season to reach the quarterfinals. Junior pin hitter Danika Hassel is poised for another big campaign in 2023, and fellow juniors Joslyn Hopkins and Dani Harter are also set to return. Watch out for the Tigers.   Across the arena, another higher seed was asserting itself in the C2 title hunt. Archbishop Bergan, last year's Class D1 runner-up, has looked right at home in its new classification. That continued Thursday.   The Knights returned to the state semifinals with a 3-0 sweep over Clarkson/Leigh. A group of familiar faces did a lot of heavy lifting for Bergan, including senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='152097' first='Kaitlyn' last='Mlnarik'] and junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='152901' first='Paige' last='Frickenstein']. Junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='152865' first='Summer' last='Bojanski'] was as sharp as ever in the back 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/1588310332690247681?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   This certainly wasn't a runaway for Bergan, however, as Clarkson/Leigh put together some nice scoring runs to exert pressure on the Knights. Junior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='122806' first='Chloe' last='Hanel'] was a do-it-all player for the Patriots, as she carried just about any responsibility you could ask of her. Likewise, senior Korbee Wendt had a nice night while hitting a variety of gaps. This is a young Clarkson/Leigh group that ought to be back in the championship conversation in 2023.   <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/1588313398155964416?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   Though the first wave of Class C2 ended with two sweeps, things got spooky as we reached the nightcap. It was state championship volleyball after dark.   We see narrow upsets on the state championship stage every year, but few upsets take the form of #6 Amhert's 3-0 sweep over Cross County. This is certainly not a result I would have predicted, but it's a testament to how well the Broncos prepared for this moment. [player_tooltip player_id='122819' first='Hannah' last='Herrick'] led the charge in the Amherst frontcourt while the sister duo of Katy Prickett and [player_tooltip player_id='122830' first='Saryn' last='Prickett'] also proved effective.   Cross County fought back, and [player_tooltip player_id='104973' first='Lilly' last='Peterson'] had some particularly assertive swings that kept the Cougars within striking distance. Still, it wasn't enough to hold back the upset-minded Broncos as the sixth-overall seed won in straight sets.   <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/1588349974047494144?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   An upset appeared to be brewing on the north court's finale, too. Defending champion and fourth-seeded Oakland-Craig has an opening-round matchup with Southwest, and many figured the experienced Knights squad would get right back to the semifinals.   But it wouldn't be easy. Southwest stunned onlookers by cruising through the first set and taking a deuce win in the second to go up 2-0. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='104587' first='Caylin' last='Barnett'] made some smart choices that kept Southwest in long rallies, and many of those marathons went the Roughriders' way. The defending champs were on the ropes.   <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/1588343228591325186?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   Then, the match did a full 180. In matches like these, it's hard to pinpoint why this dramatic change happens. It's just volleyball. Sophomore outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='173516' first='Brandi' last='Helzer'] found a groove, and sophomore setter [player_tooltip player_id='173535' first='Adi' last='Rennerfeldt'] was right there with her. And, to complete the sophomore trio, Gretchen Seagren made some clutch plays to keep scoring runs alive.   After dropping the first two sets, Oakland-Craig looked unstoppable all the way to the conclusion of the fifth set. Day 2 ended with a reverse sweep.   <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/1588357885469556738?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>     Class D1   The middle portion of Thursday's quarterfinals featured Class D1, a class notorious for producing some unpredictable results.   We've already gotten a glimpse at that parity in Lincoln. The 1-versus-8 matchup pitted top-seeded Norfolk Catholic against Nebraska Christian, a team that nearly reached the D1 title match a year ago.   The big-match experience of Nebraska Christian showed up early. Junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='152907' first='Ali' last='Bruning'] led a precise offense that featured a heavy dose of senior [player_tooltip player_id='171637' first='Reghan' last='Flynn'] and freshman Taytum Perdew. Class D1's #8 seed held a late edge in the opening set against Norfolk Catholic.   But that's when the #1 Knights hit the gas. Norfolk Catholic's stifling defense allowed it to fight off a pair of Nebraska Christian set points and capitalize on a set point of its own. A hard-fought deuce opener went to the top seed.   From there, the physicality of Norfolk Catholic took over. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='83539' first='Channatee' last='Robles'] put her hard-hitting style on display and had some key kills to stifle any Nebraska Christian momentum. [player_tooltip player_id='171633' first='Addison' last='Corr'] was similarly impactful on the pin, and Kenzie Janssen was impenetrable from the middle. The Knights went on to dominate the succeeding two sets and secure another sweep for one of the tournament's #1 seeds.   The other Class D1 semifinal in this wave also seemed to be approaching a sweep, but what we finished with was completely different.   Second-seeded Cambridge faced off against a hungry Cedar Catholic that put together a run of late-season upsets to lock up the #7 seed. It was a Trojans-versus-Trojans showdown that did not disappoint.   The higher seed quickly raced out to a 1-0 lead with a 25-19 triumph in Set 1. A wicked combination of Jalen Kent, Jacey Kent, and [player_tooltip player_id='173521' first='Erin' last='Johnson'] quickly set the tone for the orange-clad Trojans. Cambridge can run any combination of routes with this versatile trio, making this team incredibly tough to stop.   However, Cedar Catholic proved well-equipped to counter these attacking threats. Junior middle blocker Lexi Eickhoff quickly forced some Cambridge adjustments after she tallied stuff blocks on three consecutive plays. Meanwhile, senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='103103' first='Laney' last='Kathol'] provided a high volume of kills on the left side. This lethal frontcourt allowed Cedar Catholic to build a large lead in the second set.   <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/1588233073648635905?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   That lead didn't last. The second-seeded Trojans stormed back and eventually forced a deuce marathon. In one of the wildest sets we've seen at this tournament, Cambridge finally prevailed in a 32-30 thriller to go up 2-0.   Cedar Catholic had proven that it could hang with Cambridge, but the underdog just needed to finish sets. Even after the 32-30 heartbreak, the red-clad Trojans managed to flip the narrative of this whole match. Behind, Eickhoff, Kathol, and junior libero Katy Jones, Cedar Catholic notched convincing wins in the third and fourth sets to force a fifth. Then, with the momentum firmly with the underdogs, Cedar Catholic polished off the reverse sweep to deliver the upset of the tournament in Class D1.   <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/1588260046617870336?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   It would take quite an act to top that match, but the next wave of D1 matches gave us much of the same drama. It started with each of the lower seeds winning the opening sets of their respective matches.   On the north court, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller won a deuce thriller over fourth-seeded Bruning-Davenport/Shickley to go up 1-0. Multi-talented middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='109591' first='Mikah' last='O'Neill'] was everywhere for the Mustangs with her full repertoire of frontcourt hitting and backcourt defense. Her unique role meshes well with other talented S-E-M attackers like [player_tooltip player_id='492405' first='Cayleigh' last='Jackson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='492382' first='Jenna' last='Claflin'].   <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/1588271090912333824?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   The other lower seed to steal an opening set was sixth-seeded Meridian, which faced off against tournament returnee Maywood-Hayes Center. Junior outside hitter Jaala Stewart was a steady offensive force for the Mustangs, but Meridian was perhaps aided even more by the stout floor defense of senior libero Kaylee Pribyl.   Both matches then followed the same path with the higher seeds bouncing back to take the next two sets after a loss in the opener. On the north court, BDS found a rhythm behind its long, intimidating frontcourt. [player_tooltip player_id='102192' first='Jess' last='Hudson'] had an effective outing on the left pin, and Hayley Sliva had an immeasurable impact as both a hitter and a setter. [player_tooltip player_id='492374' first='Cloey' last='Carlson'] made her mark in the middle.   Maywood-Hayes Center went up 2-1 on Meridian thanks to some stout ball control and offensive balance. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='171584' first='Olivia' last='Hansen'] and Alexis Wood made up a two-headed monster along the net while [player_tooltip player_id='224781' first='Kiley' last='Hejtmanek'] and Ashlin Broz teamed up to handle the setting duties. Once the Wolves played their brand of volleyball, the third-overall seed quickly seized a 2-1 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/1588282862150725633?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   This is where the two matches diverged. Maywood-Hayes Center stepped on the gas to win in four, but Sumner-Eddyville-Miller was not finished yet. Another 27-25 for the Mustangs ushered in another fifth set in Class D1.   Still, the higher seed pulled through when it mattered most. BDS dialed up its service pressure to build an early lead, and the Eagles never relinquished that advantage.     Class D2   Day 2 started with Class D2, a group full of teams that were popular preseason picks for the state title.   In the first wave of matches, D2's top two seeds clearly demonstrated their readiness to chase that championship crown. Top-seeded Howells-Dodge, a new addition to Class D2 after winning last year's D1 title. The Jaguars, led by a steady offensive onslaught from seniors [player_tooltip player_id='59193' first='Grace' last='Baumert'] and Carly Bayer, claimed a three-set sweep over Stuart on the north court.   Stuart's appearance in the quarterfinal is a great accomplishment, especially given that so many young players are big factors in the Bronco lineup. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='495090' first='Reagan' last='Stracke'] and Addie Ketteler are just a few of the names to keep an eye on as Stuart looks for a repeat tournament bid in 2023.   On the other side of the arena, second-ranked Overton found a little redemption after falling in last year's quarterfinal round. Right away, the Eagles were out to prove Thursday morning that they have the most dynamic offense in Class D2. The wicked middle combination of [player_tooltip player_id='105006' first='JoLee' last='Ryan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='172559' first='Natalie' last='Wood'] was on full display in Overton's tournament opener, and junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='105005' first='Ashlyn' last='Florell'] connected well with both.   <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/1588171197027856389?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   That Overton firepower yielded a sweep on the south court, but seventh-seeded St. Mary's did an admirable job hanging with the electric Eagle attack. Junior middle blocker Mya Hedstrom was the clear go-to option for the Cardinals, turning the Thursday morning matchup into a battle of D2's most efficient scorers.   <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/1588184710693326848?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   The intrigue of this year's Class D2 field carried right into the second wave of Thursday's quarterfinals. In a stark demonstration of how stacked D2 was this year, third-seeded Humphrey St. Francis squared off against Falls City Sacred Heart after the two squads met in last year's D2 championship match.   Unlike last year's bout, however, this opening-round meeting was all about the Flyers. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='152092' first='Kylee' last='Wessel'] anchored the Humphrey St. Francis frontcourt Thursday morning, as she had done throughout the 2022 campaign. Her ability to hit in a variety of gaps makes her a difficult attacker to block, and the third-overall seed took full advantage. A big outing from middle blocker Tessa Deets was also crucial in elevating the Flyers to a quarterfinal sweep over the Irish.   <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/1588218050788007936?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   Despite the loss, Falls City Sacred Heart backed up its status as a perennial championship contender. Olivia Eickhoff and London Nachtigal were a formidable pair that spearheaded a few scoring runs to keep Humphrey St. Francis off-balance. It's easy to see Sacred Heart putting together the necessary components for another run in 2023.   While Humphrey St. Francis was winning its revenge match, Shelton and Diller-Odell were locked in a much-anticipated 4-versus-five battle on the north court.   Elite attacking matchups were everywhere. Of course, it starts with Diller-Odell senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='59202' first='Karli' last='Heidemann'], who entered the tournament leading all Nebraska attacker in total kills with well over 600. That, in itself, might be all the firepower you need in one 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/1588213191976296449?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>   But Shelton countered with some physical athletes of its own. Senior pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='122756' first='Dru' last='Niemack'] has been a regular occupant atop Nebraska's kill leaderboards, while freshman Jalyn Branson was not intimidated by her first appearance on the tournament stage. Senior Sidney Gegg was also incredibly effective in the middle.   The Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Diller-Odell showed its resilience with a convincing win in the third set. It was a back-and-forth match befitting of these two talented teams, and Shelton eventually edged ahead to win in a thrilling fourth set.   <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/1588221982482391042?s=20&t=fLmVErrKBsvrx9xgciD8dQ </div></figure>

Day 2 was a continuation of the quarterfinal round, with Class C2, Class D1, and Class D2 taking the spotlight at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Be sure to check out our Day 1 recap, where we examine results and standouts from Nebraska's other three classes.