Previewing the 2023 Bellevue West Invitational

Here it is. A traditional gateway to the start of Nebraska's high school season.   The Bellevue West Invitational is a stacked early-season event whose history spans decades. It's always a must-see on the high school calendar, and this year is no different. We now know the teams and groups slated to compete at Bellevue West this weekend, so it's time to break it all down.   Here we go.     Pool A   Papillion-La Vista South   Western Christian   Omaha Marian   Millard South   What a medley in Pool A. We have some postseason powerhouses, volleyball royalty from across the Missouri River, and everything in between.   Unsurprisingly, Papio South nabs the top overall seed in the event following its second-consecutive Class A state title. We're about to get a small glimpse at what the Titan lineup might look like in pursuit of yet another championship. A two-setter system will likely be prominent, and there are few better go-to attackers in the state than senior [player_tooltip player_id='109585' first='Lauren' last='Medeck'].   Western Christian has become a regular participant in this event and makes the trip from northwest Iowa to compete against Nebraska's best. The Wolfpack have built a volleyball dynasty, and we'll learn a lot about this group over the weekend.   Omaha Marian and Millard South are worthy challengers in Pool A, too. In fact, Marian was Papio South's quarterfinal opponent in last year's Class A tournament. The Crusaders bring a scrappy medley of youth and experience that will offer a legitimate test for the defending champs.   We're also looking for Millard South to take another step forward in what should be a fascinating 2023 campaign for the Patriots. Youth is another storyline for this group that we look forward to monitoring throughout the event.     Pool B   Papillion-La Vista   Millard West   Gretna   A trio of Omaha-area heavyweights are ready to square off in Pool B.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/08/IMG_9836.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-452123" style="width:572px;height:381px" width="572" height="381" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Papillion-La Vista and Omaha Westside compete at the 2022 Bellevue West Invitational.</figcaption></figure>   Papillion-La Vista is the event's #2 seed and a popular pick for this year's championship race. The Monarchs boast a pack of savvy seniors led by [player_tooltip player_id='109586' first='Reagan' last='Hickey'], [player_tooltip player_id='109603' first='Mia' last='Tvrdy'], [player_tooltip player_id='109602' first='Morgan' last='Glaser'], and many others.   We've recently mentioned the huge transition taking place at Millard West, and a good showing here would be an ideal starting point for 2023. Look for [player_tooltip player_id='155037' first='Sierra' last='Pokharel'] to take a vital leadership role as the team's experienced libero. [player_tooltip player_id='187689' first='Cecile' last='Ahrens'] also appears ready to seize full control of the setter spot.   Gretna is another compelling team in Pool B, making this a challenging group for all teams involved. The Dragons will trot out some new faces this year, including on the coaching staff following the grand opening of Gretna East. The journey starts here.     Pool C   Omaha Skutt Catholic   Lincoln East   Millard North   Here's another fun medley to keep an eye on this weekend.   Pool C is spearheaded by more championship royalty with Omaha Skutt Catholic making up one of two Class B participants at Bellevue West. The SkyHawks are seeking a historic ninth consecutive state title, and Skutt is known for challenging itself before getting to postseason play. This is just one example.   Lincoln East, meanwhile, is looking to build on last year's breakout season that culminated in a state tournament appearance. That rise started with an incredible run at the 2022 Bellevue West Invitational, and many of the players from that squad are back. Look out for senior pin hitters [player_tooltip player_id='104986' first='Shandy' last='Faalii'] and [player_tooltip player_id='109612' first='Megan' last='Waters'].   Don't overlook Millard North in this pod, either. The Mustangs have brought an impressive influx of talent into the fray, including an all-state selection at libero in [player_tooltip player_id='155040' first='Kenzie' last='Kucks']. Ball control could be the key to Millard North's upset bid in this stacked tournament.     Pool D   Elkhorn North   Omaha Westside   Elkhorn South   Bellevue West   Good luck trying to predict this group.   It's fitting that both of this invite's Class B participants were last year's champion and runner-up. Elkhorn North brings lofty expectations into the 2023 season, albeit with some new faces due to make an impact in the lineup. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='109593' first='Reese' last='Booth'] still has plenty of stars to feed throughout the frontcourt, however.   Another of last year's state runners-up appears in this pool. Omaha Westside has voids to fill in its front row, but that deficit is alleviated somewhat by the addition of transfer pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='155047' first='Ashlyn' last='Paymal']. We'll be anxious to see how Paymal fits into the equation as the Warriors hope to maintain their high level of play.   Elkhorn South is a wildcard. The Storm were young in 2022, so that could be a good omen for a 2023 surge. We'll get a first look at the team's upward trajectory this weekend.   Finally, there's the host squad. Bellevue West is a history-rich program that knows how to step up on these big stages. Being in a familiar environment could be an advantage that the Thunderbirds harness when they face some volleyball powerhouses. Anything can happen.

Here it is. A traditional gateway to the start of Nebraska's high school season.