Class A Positional Matchups We're Excited to See at State

First into the fray: Class A.   Class A wraps up its pre-tournament play before the rest of the state, giving us a little extra time to prognosticate on tournament matchups and players to watch. For those who are looking for a breakdown of district final results from Saturday, we'll have you covered there, too!   Nebraska's big-city dynasties have given us plenty of compelling positional duels to follow this fall. Elite athletes have squared off across the dial this year, and we can expect no different on the state's biggest stage. Our emphasis for these tournament previews is clear: matchups, matchups, matchups.   Which players and head-to-head clashes stand out most in the Class A field? We have a few quick thoughts.     Lincoln North Star Pin Hitters vs. Lincoln Southeast Pin Hitters   Expect a Star City slugfest.   Lincoln North Star and Lincoln Southeast have represented the state's capital well while enjoying their best volleyball seasons in recent memory. The returns have been particularly strong for North Star, which won its first HAC title and rolled through the district round.   The Navigators are loaded on the pins with [player_tooltip player_id='458167' first='Delainey' last='Volkmer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='807924' first='Elsie' last='Schmidt'] anchoring the left side. These [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] club teammates have combined for nearly six kills per set and give the 'Gators a terminal edge in out-of-system situations. The perimeter is further fortified by [player_tooltip player_id='464916' first='McKenna' last='Powell']'s adaptive presence as a setter-opposite hybrid.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/McKenna-Powell5.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-488693" style="width:396px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Powell</figcaption></figure>   Meanwhile, Lincoln Southeast is riding high with its first postseason berth since 2017. The Knights have shifted [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='573382' first='Haleigh' last='Bauer'] to the left side, and the move is paying off to the tune of 4.5 kills per set. Moreover, we'll get to see high-flying outside attacker [player_tooltip player_id='521271' first='Emery' last='Williams'] line up across the net with many of her [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Black teammates from the spring season.   Storylines abound.     Millard South Defensive Specialists vs. Elkhorn South Pin Hitters   Let's pit Elkhorn South's veteran pin hitters against the Millard South defenders tasked with slowing them down.   Millard South's breakout 2025 season would not have been possible without its transformative backcourt athletes. Senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='349472' first='Emeline' last='Myers'] is back to her head-spinning production with over six digs per set for the third consecutive year. She's not the only gem along the end line, though, as the Patriots get plenty of dig production from [player_tooltip player_id='834994' first='Liv' last='Koziol'], [player_tooltip player_id='521156' first='Nevaeh' last='Jacobson'], and several others.   This star-studded cast hopes to dig some heat from Elkhorn South's vast collection of pin terminators. [player_tooltip player_id='292243' first='Cosette' last='Bartling'], [player_tooltip player_id='349418' first='Chloe' last='Rauner'], and [player_tooltip player_id='443108' first='Reese' last='Eilenstine'] loomed large during last year's runner-up effort and are the leading trio again in 2025. Eilenstine's rise has been particularly stark, with a Storm-best 3.7 kills per set.   We're always here for pins and liberos exchanging haymakers.   Papillion-La Vista South Middle Blockers vs. Lincoln Southwest Middle Blockers   Time to meet in the middle.   We find Class A's defending champs in the 3-6 slot, and Papio South has perhaps the most dominant middle combo in the state. 2027 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='807803' first='Lyric' last='Judson'] has been a mainstay at the top of Nebraska's state-wide efficiency charts, bringing a colossal 0.429 average into the postseason. The Titans find unique ways to wield Judson at almost any gap along the net.   Judson's veteran counterpart is not far behind on the leaderboard. Senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='349416' first='Maddie' last='Larsen'] has thrived in this fall's offense and is second on Papio South's ledger with a 0.362 percentage. Of course, blocking will be another strength in the interior with the Titans sending eye-catching physicality to Lincoln.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/IMG_9045-edited.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-666241" style="width:386px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Judson</figcaption></figure>   This will clearly be a valuable proving ground for Lincoln Southwest's middle duo. Sophomore gem [player_tooltip player_id='774910' first='Emma' last='Rink'] has set the standard in this group with a team-leading blocking total and a 0.286 hitting percentage. Her high-level experience with [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] has translated to the Class A stage, but we also can't forget about the seasoned leadership at LSW, too. [player_tooltip player_id='518615' first='Sutton' last='Classen'] has fit seamlessly into the 2025 operation and provides all-around skills to complement Rink's dominance.     Omaha Marian Setters vs. Omaha Westside Setters   There's no better matchup to get the setters involved.   Marian and Westside have reached the state tournament despite both squads turning to new leadership at the setter spot this fall. Better yet, these two contenders have experimented with various systems to allow veterans and newcomers to shine while running the offense.   Senior standout [player_tooltip player_id='396745' first='Addison' last='Janke'] has been the primary signal-caller for Omaha Marian, boasting over 750 total assists in her final campaign. She's building off an exceptional club tenure with Club Legacy 17 Alpha and has plenty of club teammates to rally around.   Look for freshman setter [player_tooltip player_id='803699' first='Sami' last='Curnyn'] to make an impact in Lincoln, even if she's not in Marian's initial starting rotation. The up-and-coming 2029 logged significant playing time during the regular season and can dial up some service pressure from the bench if needed. The future is in good hands.   This dichotomy of youth and experience has materialized for the Warriors, too. Omaha Westside has turned to junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='458183' first='Kherington' last='Snider'], a proven athlete who has made her name at the Open level with Nebraska Elite. Snider leads the way with 518 assists and can adapt to any system the Warriors deploy.   Those various systems have brought another freshman, Sophia Meister, into the spotlight. Meister follows close behind Snider's assist count and has shown a masterful ability to distribute in three-hitter rotations. Her right-back defense is also mature beyond her years, bolstering a strong cast of Westside defenders. The youth movement is here in Class A's 4-versus-5 clash.

First into the fray: Class A.