2024 NSAA State Championships Instant Reactions: Day 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Day 2 drama. It's a state tournament staple.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thursday's quarterfinal slate featured Class C2, D1, and D2. We had already set a high bar for drama on Day 1, but the intrigue carried right into our second half of first-round action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's the breakdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Familiar faces running the show</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thursday's classes featured several teams who thrived in bracket play a year ago. That experience has seemingly yielded further success in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even the biggest underdogs were impressive. The morning started with the 1-versus-8 showdown between top-seeded Leyton and 2023 state semifinalist Meridian. Despite Meridian's impressive 2023 run, the Mustangs entered Thursday as the hunter against an undefeated Warrior squad. If that was the team's mentality, it worked.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meridian quickly swiped a 2-0 lead behind an impressive collection of frontcourt talent. Senior outside hitter Taelyn Filipi showed incredible range from the outside while [player_tooltip player_id='462578' first='McKenzie' last='Hofstetter'] was the go-to in the middle. This core group showed the same prowess we had seen in last year's Lincoln stint. Though the match ended in a 3-2 Meridian loss after a remarkable Leyton comeback, we have to give a nod to this familiar contender in the small-town scene.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meanwhile, Overton was making the most of its repeat tournament berth. Returning stars like [player_tooltip player_id='275971' first='Daisy' last='Ryan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='582846' first='Braelyn' last='Florell'] led the new-look Eagles to a 3-0 sweep over Wynot. This clinched Overton's third-straight appearance in the Class D2 semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":717782,"width":"438px","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/5/2024/11/IMG_4351.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-717782" style="width:438px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wood</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second wave of Class D2 quarterfinals gave us two more winning teams with recent tournament success: Central Valley and Shelton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central Valley entered Thursday's match looking to improve on its 2023 quarterfinal effort. The Cougars faced off against a tough Amherst program that finished runner-up in Class D1 a year ago. Fortunately, Central Valley rallied around its medley of young stars to lock up the 3-0 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore setter [player_tooltip player_id='498986' first='Annaka' last='Wood'] was the key piece of Central Valley's brilliant showing. Her willingness to take risks made Central Valley a tough in-system team to stop. Freshman outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='702684' first='Bentleigh' last='Dugan'] capitalized on those opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelton replicated Central Valley's emphatic victory with a 3-0 win over Stuart. Last year's quarterfinal loss as the No. 8 seed likely added some extra fire to the newly minted No. 3 team in Class D2. [player_tooltip player_id='253923' first='Jalyn' last='Branson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='275970' first='Erin' last='Gegg'] carried a heavy load in the frontcourt and overwhelmed the Bronco defense with jaw-dropping angles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class D1 added more returning teams to the quarterfinal winner's circle, and one of them hasn't lost all year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bartley Southwest is on a multi-year run of tournament berths, but the 2024 season has featured the best Roughrider team yet. This 33-0 team added another W to the column with its Thursday sweep over Diller-Odell.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've known about the physical middle duo of Anikka and [player_tooltip player_id='275947' first='Kyra' last='Nelms']. These high-flying attackers were as effective as ever, but they had help along the way, too. Freshman setter [player_tooltip player_id='737397' first='Aspen' last='Billeter'] was not deterred by postseason pressure and kept improving as the match progressed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The D1 powerhouse conversation wouldn't be complete without Bruning-Davenport/Shickley. The Eagles won back-to-back state titles in 2018 and 2019, laying the foundation for BDS to be a tournament staple ever since. This year's title pursuit continues after a quarterfinal win over Howells-Dodge. The setter-hitter connection of [player_tooltip player_id='380823' first='Hayley' last='Sliva'] and [player_tooltip player_id='342619' first='Campbell' last='Bohling'] can take this squad to the top, but BDS is also achieving great balance when it's needed most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We got one more dose of familiar dominance when the Class C2 quarterfinals closed out the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, this conversation starts with three-time defending champion Lincoln Lutheran. The Warriors started the four-peat bid with a 3-0 win over Hastings St. Cecilia. This effort was buoyed by seniors like [player_tooltip player_id='155029' first='Keri' last='Leimbach'] and [player_tooltip player_id='342613' first='Jillian' last='Donovan'] who have never lost a postseason match with Lincoln Lutheran. However, the junior class is also thriving with [player_tooltip player_id='275943' first='Lily' last='Wohlgemuth'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349457' first='Bella' last='Sjuts'] putting up strong frontcourt numbers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second-seeded Oakland-Craig joined the growing list of perennial powerhouses. But, unlike Lincoln Lutheran, the Knights had to grind through a lot of extra volleyball in the quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oakland-Craig's veteran weapons were exceptional. [player_tooltip player_id='464903' first='Briar' last='Ray']'s quick arm was on full display, and [player_tooltip player_id='173516' first='Brandi' last='Helzer'] showed her veteran savvy. But a scrappy, physical Johnson-Brock squad pushed No. 2 Oakland-Craig to the brink in a five-set thriller. More on that later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're also getting used to seeing Yutan on the championship stage. The Chieftans took the stage in the final wave of Class C2 quarterfinals, and all the fond memories came back. Tichota was soaring on the outside while Amelia Dieckman was an exceptional in-system option.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Athletes making lasting impressions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like our rundown of Day 1, we're using the second half of this feature to list off some persistent standouts from Thursday's matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We finally got an in-person look at top-seeded Leyton, and this squad looked the part after facing early adversity. [player_tooltip player_id='728397' first='Sydney' last='Fortune'] found ways to work around Meridian blocks that were fully committed to stopping her. Gritty defense was also a defining characteristic of the Warriors with Kaydence Haupt leading the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The all-around efforts of Stuart senior [player_tooltip player_id='269959' first='Addisyn' last='Ketteler']. She jumped onto our radar through her showings at past state tournaments. The versatile setter-hitter has added a wicked arm swing to her arsenal in addition to guiding the offense from the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Diller-Odell ran into a buzzsaw against Bartley Southwest, but that can't overshadow the competitiveness of the star Griffin attackers. [player_tooltip player_id='269939' first='Baileigh' last='Vilda'] and [player_tooltip player_id='173559' first='Myleigh' last='Weers'] matched Southwest's physicality and kept Diller-Odell within striking distance, particularly in Set 3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":717786,"width":"445px","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/5/2024/11/IMG_4578-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-717786" style="width:445px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Meyers</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Higher seeds held firm for most of the day, but Exeter-Milligan/Friend defied the trend with a 3-0 win over defending D2 runner-up Cambridge. The Bobcats were propelled by veteran outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='231947' first='Kaydence' last='Haase'], who showed a knack for working around the big Cambridge block. Junior libero Taylin Schluter affected ball control through her passing and serving, giving EMF a wealth of advantages against D1's No. 4 seed. It's not a huge upset, but it carries a lot of weight for the Bobcat program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big-time performers were all over the court for the Class D1 quarterfinal finale: a five-set thriller between No. 3 Superior and sixth-seeded Hartington Cedar Catholic. The Wildcats pounced early in Set 1 behind a steady dose of [player_tooltip player_id='458060' first='Reagan' last='Meyers'], a sophomore who has topped Nebraska's kill chart for most of the year. [player_tooltip player_id='462592' first='Halle' last='Bargen'] piled on from the middle blocker spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cedar Catholic's heavy hitters included seniors [player_tooltip player_id='728402' first='Lauren' last='Bernecker'] and Katelyn Arens. Bernecker had clutch swings that eventually carried the Trojans to victory in Set 2 and Set 3. But, in accordance with all the drama we've seen on the south court, Superior made an improbable comeback to swipe the match in five after facing a match point. Meyers closed the match with over 30 total kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hastings St. Cecilia deserves a shoutout here. We'll spotlight [player_tooltip player_id='396732' first='Payton' last='Sullivan'], Meyers' club teammate at South Central NE. Sullivan showed her full range with swings from the middle, on the outside, and with a variety of tempos. She was never intimidated by the stout Lincoln Lutheran block and has had an indelible impact on the St. Cecilia program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don't forget about the five-set warriors from Johnson-Brock. The Eagles forced five against Oakland-Craig after being down 23-20 in the fourth. The tiebreaker showcased the physical dominance of senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='155057' first='Taryn' last='Ottemann'], who is now approaching 1,000 career kills. [player_tooltip player_id='462595' first='Chloe' last='Vice'] dug in along the end line and proved why she's one of Nebraska's most productive liberos. The Eagles triumphed over second-seeded Oakland-Craig to produce the biggest upset of the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thayer Central wielded its balanced, experienced lineup en route to a four-set win over No. 6 Freeman. [player_tooltip player_id='495097' first='Ella' last='Brueggemann'] and [player_tooltip player_id='529184' first='Emma' last='Brueggemann'] had that uncanny connection that only they can achieve. [player_tooltip player_id='731672' first='Piper' last='Havel'] was locked in from the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, Norfolk Catholic put a bow on Day 2 with a five-set struggle victory over Yutan. [player_tooltip player_id='276203' first='Anslee' last='Watters'] is still proving her impact potential as a new addition to the Knights' lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->