Nebraska’s Must-See Late-Season Matchups: Class A and B

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's finish strong.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're steamrolling toward the start of district play and postseason madness, but unfinished business remains in Nebraska's regular season. The mid-October slate offers ample opportunities for teams to find a rhythm while picking up valuable spots in the wildcard hierarchy. This is where marquee matchups come into focus, and we have a few for you to watch out for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which teams are peaking at the right time? These matchups might tell us. Class A and B kick us off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Papillion-La Vista South vs. Elkhorn North</span></strong> - Thu. Oct 9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We don't have to wait long for this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This feature is dropping on the same day as a monumental Class A-Class B clash between Papillion-La Vista South and Elkhorn North. These two already have a history, with Elkhorn North winning both contests against the Titans en route to Week 1's Bellevue West Invite championship. We're about to see how these powerhouses have evolved and adapted.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":576632,"width":"282px","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/5/2024/07/98-Finley-Moone.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-576632" style="width:282px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Moone</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elkhorn North still has [player_tooltip player_id='445956' first='Reagan' last='Wallraff']'s colossal 6.3 kills per set to lean on, but the Wolves have featured several other breakout athletes this fall. [player_tooltip player_id='275901' first='Hayden' last='Booth'] has formed iron-clad connections with [player_tooltip player_id='827611' first='Payton' last='Palmer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='498923' first='Kaitlyn' last='Huff'] to extend Elkhorn North's multi-faceted attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Efficiency numbers are eye-popping on the other side of the net. Papio South middle blockers [player_tooltip player_id='807803' first='Lyric' last='Judson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349416' first='Maddie' last='Larsen'] are hitting well north of 0.300. [player_tooltip player_id='503568' first='Makenna' last='Sanders'] and [player_tooltip player_id='396751' first='Finley' last='Moone'] lead a stacked junior class on the outside and have soared after last year's title experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll see how it translates to a title-worthy bout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Omaha Marian vs. Lincoln Pius X</span></strong> - Thu. Oct 9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Why not stick with the cross-class duels?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class A-B crossovers have generated plenty of storylines this year, and we'll add another chapter with Omaha Marian's faceoff against Lincoln Pius X. Both teams are firmly situated in the top eight of their respective classes, generating optimism for the road ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Omaha Marian has clearly atoned for missing out on last year's Class A tournament. Club teammates [player_tooltip player_id='458162' first='Taylor' last='McLeay'] and [player_tooltip player_id='458163' first='Erin' last='Cramer'] have hovered around three kills per set throughout the fall. Another Premier Nebraska 16 Gold standout, [player_tooltip player_id='458362' first='Campbell' last='Capece'], locks down the libero spot. Team cohesion is at an all-time high.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A worthy Class B challenger emerges with Lincoln Pius X sitting eighth in the standings through the first week of October. [player_tooltip player_id='830000' first='Ava' last='Markowski']'s leadership on the left side has opened opportunities for [player_tooltip player_id='518588' first='McKenzie' last='Becker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='591585' first='Millie' last='Andreasen'] to embrace featured roles in the offense. Kami Wemhoff and [player_tooltip player_id='780405' first='Whitney' last='Mertens'] are handling first contacts at an elite level, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's strength-on-strength in this meeting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Lincoln Southwest vs. Fremont</span></strong> - Tue. Oct 14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's a lot at stake in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln Southwest and Fremont have been common postseason participants lately, making this a key contest in almost any season. The Silver Hawks, who sit No. 6 in the Class A wildcard standings, are hoping to rekindle some of their early momentum from this year's 10-0 start. Frontcourt stars like [player_tooltip player_id='349455' first='Alivia' last='Gustafson'], [player_tooltip player_id='774910' first='Emma' last='Rink'], and [player_tooltip player_id='349481' first='Eleanor' last='Griffin'] will be vital to that effort, and senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='251144' first='Ellie' last='Eckman'] will ensure the LSW offense retains its familiar balance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But the 15-8 Fremont Tigers have enjoyed some balance of their own. Sophomore pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='774700' first='Mya' last='Fiscus'] leads the charge, but [player_tooltip player_id='349419' first='Blair' last='Boehlke'] and Ava Bohaboj have also stepped up in big moments. It's also helpful to have [player_tooltip player_id='349420' first='McKinzie' last='Brandt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='774648' first='Camryn' last='Brandt'] anchoring the ball control phase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We can draw a lot of parallels between these two squads, but this Oct. 14 meeting will be the ultimate test.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Waverly vs. Bennington</span></strong> - Tue. Oct 21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class B's top tier is stacked, so matchups like these are a major proving ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":255179,"width":"359px","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/5/2022/12/14_Kate-Sebree-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-255179" style="width:359px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sebree</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waverly is building off a clean Saturday sweep of last weekend's Lincoln Northeast Invite. This trip included wins over elite Class A foes like Omaha Marian and Lincoln North Star, so the Vikings have enough firepower to compete with anyone. University of Minnesota commit [player_tooltip player_id='458165' first='McKinley' last='Moser'] has dished the Waverly attack to a 23-2 record, leaning on [player_tooltip player_id='458124' first='Gracie' last='Lauenstein'], [player_tooltip player_id='807946' first='Hallie' last='Lauenstein'], and [player_tooltip player_id='828157' first='Aubrie' last='Lierman'] along the way. The Vikings boasted a young lineup during last year's semifinal push, leading to a more experienced and refined onslaught in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meanwhile, Bennington rounds out Class B's Top 10 in the wildcard race. A few more spots could change the dynamic of postseason play, and this upcoming contest with Waverly will pull a lot of weight. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='253919' first='Hayden' last='Liebsack'] has flourished into one of Nebraska's top terminators with six kills per set in her swan song season. Fellow 2026s [player_tooltip player_id='396748' first='Hunter' last='MacLeod'], [player_tooltip player_id='187703' first='Evynn' last='Olsen'], and [player_tooltip player_id='222618' first='Kate' last='Sebree'] are playing their best volleyball in pursuit of another Badger tournament run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Gering vs. Scottsbluff</span></strong> - Thu. Oct 23</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the battle for the panhandle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most of Class B's geographical footprint is in the eastern half of the state, but we can't forget about the panhandle scene, either. Gering High School has been the best of the west this fall, boasting a 21-6 record and a No. 7 ranking in the current wildcard standings. The Bulldogs are anchored by the wicked junior attacking duo of [player_tooltip player_id='443104' first='Jacey' last='Cochran'] and [player_tooltip player_id='807959' first='Jaxie' last='John'], who have combined for nearly nine kills per set in 2025. [player_tooltip player_id='814054' first='Ivy' last='Bruckner'] has also been a breakout contributor among the 2027s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scottsbluff will be eager to upset the panhandle "order" in this season finale. Senior leadership is the storyline for the Bearcats, with [player_tooltip player_id='464907' first='Addy' last='Bowlin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='830036' first='Ava' last='Reed'] leading the scoring charts. We've also been treated to an extraordinary defensive outing from senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='800269' first='Alainah' last='Salas'], who is averaging a whopping 6.4 digs per set. That ball control could be key to a big late-season triumph.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->