Opening Day 2025: Four Marquee Thursday Matchups to Follow

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So it begins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thursday marks the opening day of Nebraska's high school season, and we're always eager to watch the flurry of results trickle in from across the Cornhusker State. We're getting our first look at returning powerhouses, new-look rosters, and fresh faces looking to make an instant impression. There's nothing better than the start of a new fall journey.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And, just like any other year, Nebraska is kicking off the 2025 campaign with a wealth of head-turning matchups. Here are four of our picks on Thursday night's docket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Lincoln Lutheran @ Waverly</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The series continues.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln Lutheran and Waverly have met for opening-day faceoffs for a while, and the tradition continues in 2025. These elite programs have produced countless classics over the years, including back-to-back five-set thrillers in 2023 and 2024. The Warriors and Vikings split those two matches, with Waverly winning as the visitor last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This time, it's Lincoln Lutheran's turn to travel and play spoiler. The four-time defending state champions return a strong group of veteran leaders, including [player_tooltip player_id='349457' first='Bella' last='Sjuts'], [player_tooltip player_id='808241' first='Lily' last='Wohlgemuth'], and [player_tooltip player_id='349486' first='Lauren' last='Kuhlmann']. They'll be tasked with slowing down Waverly's stacked junior class, led by Minnesota commit [player_tooltip player_id='458165' first='McKinley' last='Moser']. Hallie and [player_tooltip player_id='458124' first='Gracie' last='Lauenstein'] will command the two left-side hitter spots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1829346064341610872","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1829346064341610872 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Millard West @ Omaha Westside</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We had to get Class A involved.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Day 1 always offers at least one Class A matchup between perennial postseason contenders. This year's slate gives us Millard West and Omaha Westside, two of the four semifinalists from the 2024 tournament field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each program hopes to go a step further this time. Millard West will look to South Dakota commit [player_tooltip player_id='458126' first='Ava' last='Waters'] for guidance at the setter spot. Fellow captain [player_tooltip player_id='275897' first='Taya' last='Thaden'] should be a frequent setting target for Waters in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meanwhile, Omaha Westside is transitioning from last year's transformative senior class and will bring new names into the fold for 2025. We're eager to see how emerging stars like [player_tooltip player_id='458183' first='Kherington' last='Snider'] and [player_tooltip player_id='562301' first='Darriana' last='Damper'] fit into the starting lineup. Of course, veteran leadership will still be present through all-state performers like [player_tooltip player_id='253928' first='Madeline' last='Lamb'] and [player_tooltip player_id='276195' first='Makenzie' last='Wingett'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Shelton @ Nebraska Christian</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The small-town scene should produce some big storylines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":881355,"width":"428px","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/5/2025/08/IMG_4959-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-881355" style="width:428px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Branson attacks in the 2024 Class D2 state championship match.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelton is riding high after its first-ever state volleyball championship, and optimism should be peaking for a repeat bid. We haven't seen [player_tooltip player_id='253923' first='Jalyn' last='Branson'] on the floor for a while, but the Bulldogs are an instant contender if she's on the floor. Elsewhere, senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='809627' first='Erin' last='Gegg'] is gaining momentum after a 20-plus kill performance in last year's Class D2 championship match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're expecting Nebraska Christian to make another run at the tournament after logging multiple trips to Lincoln this decade. [player_tooltip player_id='275965' first='Taytum' last='Perdew'], who competes with Branson on the club side, can do it all as a setter-attacker for the Eagles. [player_tooltip player_id='809867' first='Sheridan' last='Falk']'s hitting efficiency soared last fall, and sophomore setter [player_tooltip player_id='571950' first='Adeline' last='Hunnicutt'] offers a new dose of high-level experience to the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Kearney Catholic @ Scotus Central Catholic</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Postseason pedigrees are strong with this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kearney Catholic and Scotus Central Catholic are two of the most recognizable volleyball dynasties in the state. We saw a "dormancy" period from Scotus over the past several years, but the Shamrocks shook the slump by reaching last year's state tournament. Many stat-stuffing stars from that team return, including senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='724703' first='Kayla' last='Hoffman'] and do-everything defensive specialists [player_tooltip player_id='728658' first='Brooke' last='Krienke'] and [player_tooltip player_id='351528' first='Sophia' last='Langan']. They'll make the transition process easier for Scotus' new cast of featured attackers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Stars could leverage their frontcourt firepower to take down the Shamrocks. Uber-athletic outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='832720' first='Hazel' last='Haarberg'] is back for another year, and she'll operate alongside [player_tooltip player_id='809818' first='Natalee' last='Wright'] in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This matchup might have the most question marks of any contest on this feature, but opening day is about venturing into the unknown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->