Late-September Grind: Nebraska’s Marquee Week 5 Matchups

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's time to make a statement.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school season goes by quickly, and late September is a time to make a mid-season push before the next high-stakes month begins. The best way to make that statement is to earn a head-turning victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska's Week 5 slate offers several opportunities for teams to do just that. It's been a while since we've previewed some mid-week contests, but this is perhaps the best time to do it. Wildcard standings are close, and everyone is looking for a little leverage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few bouts we'll be watching.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Lincoln East @ Columbus</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a big Tuesday contest in the Class A race.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln East and Columbus are sitting right on the fringe of Class A's top tier. The Discoverers are 10th in this week's wildcard list while Lincoln East is 13th. Any marquee victories can help boost that standing ahead of Class A's unique district format.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spartans have embraced new leadership in 2024 with right-side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='189327' first='Kacey' last='Porter'] leading the offense. [player_tooltip player_id='189413' first='Alexandra' last='Rasmussen'] has moved to the left side and has nearly accumulated triple-digit kills. [player_tooltip player_id='516706' first='Sophia' last='McEwen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='625558' first='Eva' last='Gutz'] are new faces in the backcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Columbus is a popular dark horse pick for this year's state tournament. [player_tooltip player_id='275936' first='Paighton' last='Erb'] has reached a new level with 3.6 kills per set. [player_tooltip player_id='395104' first='Ayla' last='Janssen'] chips in with 3.2 terminations per set, fortifying a veteran group for the Discoverers. A takedown of Lincoln East would keep the hype train rolling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Archbishop Bergan @ Bishop Neumann</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Archbishop Bergan vs. Lincoln Lutheran</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Lincoln Lutheran @ Bishop Neumann</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Are we allowed to lump an entire triangular together for this feature?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class C2 competitors will keep close tabs on what happens on Tuesday at Bishop Neumann. The 10-5 Cavaliers are hosting Lincoln Lutheran and Archbishop Bergan, both of which are sitting in the top six in the wildcard standings. Bishop Neumann will lean on high-flying outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='498992' first='Brooke' last='Thiele'] and [player_tooltip player_id='568816' first='Kyler' last='Cada'] to compete with these volleyball dynasties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The three-time defending state champs are back on top in the C2 race. Lincoln Lutheran is getting over four kills per set from [player_tooltip player_id='275943' first='Lily' last='Wohlgemuth'] and another 2.6 from [player_tooltip player_id='152042' first='Ava' last='Jurevicius']. Ball control remains a strength with [player_tooltip player_id='155029' first='Keri' last='Leimbach'] and [player_tooltip player_id='342613' first='Jillian' last='Donovan'] anchoring that unit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, we have the 13-2 Knights from Fremont. Archbishop Bergan has unleashed sophomore attacker [player_tooltip player_id='458128' first='Peyton' last='Langhorst'], who has amassed 4.5 kills per set through a month of competition. Fellow sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='458143' first='Tessa' last='Powers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='735210' first='Reagan' last='Cansler'] are also big contributors. Bergan is in a good spot for C2 seeding but can surge even higher with this week's slate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":666917,"width":"405px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/IMG_3445-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-666917" style="width:405px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wohlgemuth goes up to block in Lincoln Lutheran's 2024 season opener against Waverly.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Norfolk Catholic vs. Columbus Lakeview</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is another matchup that's part of a triangular. Norfolk Catholic and Columbus Lakeview meet on a neutral floor in a Tuesday duel hosted by Wayne.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We also get a chance to address two different classes in this C1-C2 crossover clash. Columbus Lakeview carries the banner for C1 and sits 10th in the wildcard standings with a 6-4 record. The Vikings have enough firepower to compete with anyone, and that starts with the frontcourt trio of [player_tooltip player_id='737378' first='Jaelyn' last='Mejstrik'], [player_tooltip player_id='298712' first='Katie' last='Rowe'], and [player_tooltip player_id='486918' first='Rallie' last='Boyer'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norfolk Catholic is poised to make its postseason return and is fifth on the Class C2 leaderboards. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='737410' first='Ava' last='Wemhoff'] has been a revolutionary addition with her 2.9 kills per set. [player_tooltip player_id='276203' first='Anslee' last='Watters'], a transfer from nearby Winside, is matching that offensive total. Do-everything setter [player_tooltip player_id='275961' first='Sidonia' last='Wattier'] is back to her familiar role as a setter-attacker hybrid in the 6-2 offense. The Knights have ample talent to prevail in Tuesday's contest, even when faced with a Class C1 foe.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Diller-Odell @ Exeter-Milligan/Friend</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class D1 enters the conversation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two squads will be vying for critical wildcard positioning in the coming weeks. Diller-Odell is 7-3 and is ninth among its D1 peers. Senior attacker [player_tooltip player_id='173559' first='Myleigh' last='Weers'] has a whopping 4.8 kills per set. More terminal production can be found from senior [player_tooltip player_id='269939' first='Baileigh' last='Vilda'], who is chipping in with three kills per set on a 0.224 clip.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Exeter-Milligan/Friend can quickly make up wildcard spots with a win over the Griffins. [player_tooltip player_id='231947' first='Kaydence' last='Haase'] is always a player to watch for the Bobcats, and she's tallying 3.7 kills per set so far this year. First-year setter Reese Tuttle leads the operation and has distinguished herself as one of small-town Nebraska's best freshmen. This is a major "prove it" match for EMF.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Bennington @ Gretna East</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's check back in with Class B for our final entry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This big showdown will be a rematch of last year's state quarterfinal clash, which Bennington won. The Badgers still have their star outside hitter with junior [player_tooltip player_id='253919' first='Hayden' last='Liebsack'] piling up 4.6 kills per set and a game-changing 0.8 aces per set. [player_tooltip player_id='521185' first='Brynn' last='Rasmussen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349408' first='Morgan' last='Douan'] have also found a rhythm with two kills per set apiece.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gretna East looks similar to its 2023 squad--the first team in the school's history. The Griffins are 13-2 behind the persistent frontcourt onslaught of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='342514' first='Maddie' last='Schnell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='189352' first='Hailey' last='Levinson']. [player_tooltip player_id='230003' first='Nyah' last='Potthoff'] guides Gretna East's balanced attack with 9.3 assists per set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams are vying to host district action next month. A win here would go a long way toward securing that right.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->