Previewing Every 2025 NSAA State Championship Final Matchup

Time to decide our six newest champions.   Friday's semifinal round brings unparalleled excitement to Pinnacle Bank Arena. We camped out throughout the day to find out which teams would represent their respective classes in Saturday's championship matches at the Devaney Center. 12 teams have emerged, and we're ready to give our instant reactions to the showdowns ahead.   It all comes down to this.     Class D2   #1 Wynot vs. #3 Cambridge   There are no easy paths to the championship match--even for the No. 1 seed.   Class D2 frontrunner Wynot faced stiff semifinal resistance from Dundy County-Stratton. The Blue Devils leaned on veteran attacker [player_tooltip player_id='809715' first='Kenna' last='Oligmueller'] to continue the same blazing clip she put up in Thursday's quarterfinals. Oligmueller responded with a team-leading 16 kills and an equally impressive 17 digs.   Haley Wieseler, Mya Pinkelman, and [player_tooltip player_id='833323' first='Jordan' last='Foxhoven'] logged eight kills apiece as Wynot survived a four-set test against the Tigers.   Cambridge replicated this feat in the second wave with a 3-1 win over second-seeded Sumner-Eddyville-Miller. Both programs entered this showdown with phenomenal tournament track records, so we weren't surprised to see the teams exchange deuce set victories to kick it off.   The Trojans took command after Set 2, anchored by two triple-double performers. [player_tooltip player_id='839960' first='Brooklyn' last='Holtze'] and [player_tooltip player_id='464912' first='Mallory' last='Springer'] exchanged setter-hitter roles as they rotated around the dial, producing mind-numbing numbers in almost every category. Holtze ended with 29 kills and was particularly clutch during Cambridge's 5-0 run to seal the match.   Versatility will clearly be a plus for Cambridge in its championship contest with Wynot. The Blue Devils, meanwhile, have the frontcourt length to generate touches on Cambridge's stacked class of hitters. Expect a slugfest.     Class D1   #1 Amherst vs. #2 Overton   Top-seeded Amherst had an unenviable matchup with defending state runner-up Exeter-Milligan/Friend in the semifinal round. Things looked even dire after EMF raced to a Set 1 victory in Friday's contest.   Still, the Broncos relied on their familiar brand of balance and physicality to rally back. [player_tooltip player_id='818376' first='Sadie' last='Van Ranken'], [player_tooltip player_id='498982' first='Libby' last='Mitchell'], and Addy Simmons all tallied double-digit digs in Amherst's semifinal effort. Perhaps the breakout star of the day was Brooke Bosshamer, who was credited with 11 blocks and was free to roam around against EMF's attackers.   The Broncos clawed to a 3-1 victory, punctuating a perfect showing for No. 1 seeds in Friday's first wave.   If you were looking for the match of the year, we might have had it in the second Class D1 semifinal.   The south court hosted a D1 battle between the last two Class D2 champions. Shelton took last year's crown, and Overton took the mantle in 2023. It's a setup for an epic gauntlet, and we had to figure we were going five.   Overton and Shelton exchanged set victories in the first two frames. The drama escalated after intermission, with every set thereafter being decided by a pair.   Eventually, the Eagles prevailed with a thrilling 21-19 victory after staving off multiple Shelton match points. [player_tooltip player_id='275971' first='Daisy' last='Ryan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='813620' first='Gracen' last='Hughes'] combined for 48 of Overton's 70 kills, while veteran libero Chloe Svavari compiled a whopping 42 digs. This core of upperclassmen will be essential in toppling Amherst, which boasts its own cast of seasoned leaders.   We led this week discussing seniors wanting to go out on top, and that theme will define the D1 championship.   <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/1986877597960028453 </div></figure>     Class C2   #4 Freeman vs. #6 Laurel-Concord-Coleridge   Freeman battled late into Thursday night to take down defending C2 runner-up Thayer Central, but the Falcons showed no signs of fatigue in Friday's bout with Yutan.   The Falcons have boasted one of the most balanced scoring offenses in Class C2 this year, and it showed up again on the biggest stage. Freeman had five players with at least nine kills in a straight-set win over Yutan. It's a testament to [player_tooltip player_id='575063' first='Aniston' last='Bartunek']'s ability to spread the ball around and grant split-block situations to her hitters.   [player_tooltip player_id='774699' first='Adison' last='Otto'] took command at the net with 12 kills on a 0.524 clip. Brecken Albers Dorn and Brenna Harms continued their stellar week with ten terminations apiece.   The tail end of Friday's C2 slate featured another underdog clash between No. 6 Laurel-Concord-Coleridge and No. 7 Oakland-Craig. This one was all about the Bears.   L-C-C endured a relentless scoring onslaught from Oakland-Craig's [player_tooltip player_id='830464' first='Briar' last='Ray'] to reach Saturday's championship. The Bears relied on the terminal, high-flying tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='809847' first='Rena' last='Rasmussen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='844841' first='Tyler' last='Recob'] to counter on the pins. Seasoned setter [player_tooltip player_id='458132' first='Carlie' last='Kvols'] had a knack for finding the hot hand in any rotation, even if that hitter was in the back row.   Thus, we get a Class C2 matchup rife with balanced distribution. Good luck predicting who will lead the charge on Saturday.     Class C1   #8 Holdrege vs. #2 Milford   Sometimes, you have to throw seeds out the window at the state tournament. Holdrege provided a stark reminder of this in the Class C1 bracket.   The Duster pulled off one of Wednesday's biggest quarterfinal stunners with an emphatic victory over top-seeded Ogallala. We had seen 8-versus-1 takedowns before, but Holdrege's command in this match was extraordinary and persistent.   Similar storylines played out on Friday as the C1 dark horse claimed another 2-0 lead over Omaha Concordia. However, the Mustangs delivered the first big dose of adversity to Holdrege by winning the next two sets to force a fifth.   Volleyball is a strange game. Even after squandering a big lead, Holdrege recouped for a dominant Set 5 win. Sophomore middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='774622' first='Gracie' last='Johnson'] patrolled the net with 14 kills on a 0.448 hitting clip. Of course, Holdrege could always look to senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='807896' first='Carson' last='Sundquist'] to take care of out-of-system sets--like her game-sealing swing on match point.   <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/1986915048980422952 </div></figure>   Milford embraced a similar underdog role in last year's tournament as the No. 7 seed. However, the Eagles wouldn't sneak up on anyone this time as the second-seeded squad in the class.   Being a frontrunner didn't stop the Eagles from soaring to a 3-0 win over Malcolm in the semifinals. The triumph didn't come easily, as Milford had to escape with narrow margins in multiple stanzas.   [player_tooltip player_id='276208' first='Kylie' last='Jakub'] was masterful at the setter spot with 26 assists, 13 digs, and a trio of aces. Sophomore superstar [player_tooltip player_id='555495' first='Shayla' last='Rautenberg'] remained Jakub's favorite target, but the Eagles also got ten kills out of fast-rising pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='774696' first='Braelynn' last='Muller'].   We'll see plenty of clutch moments from the "big guns" in Saturday's title match: Rautenberg, Muller, Sundquist, Johnson, and others. We'll likely add more names to that list in that title match, and that might make all the difference in the Devaney Center.   <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/1986934155628716278?s=20 </div></figure>     Class B   #1 Norris vs. #2 Elkhorn North   The Titans finally ended years of championship heartbreak with their 2024 Class B title, but Norris was not content with stopping there.   These defending champs have looked the part again this fall, dropping only one regular-season match and running away with the No. 1 seed. A Wednesday win over Gering set up a classic semifinal bout with Waverly, and it was just as thrilling as you'd expect.   [player_tooltip player_id='807841' first='Alli' last='Bornschlegl'] and [player_tooltip player_id='809396' first='Kaelynn' last='Lottman'] anchored the left side and delivered one clutch swing after another. Lottman's transition from defensive specialist has been particularly fascinating, but this development is nothing new for Norris.   Junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='458117' first='Malorie' last='Boesiger'] guided a big Norris surge after the Titans dropped Set 2. This renewed focus yielded a four-set win and another mark in a long streak of title match appearances.   Then, we had the nightcap. Elkhorn North and Omaha Skutt Catholic met in a rematch of Class B's 2022 title bout. The results were as epic as you'd expect.   This late brawl went deep into the evening and traded waves of momentum. Skutt Catholic took the first set, but Elkhorn North responded. Then, the Skutt Catholic counter. And, of course, the Elkhorn North rebuttal.   We were destined for a fifth-set--and a record-shattering performance to boot. Elkhorn North outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='445956' first='Reagan' last='Wallraff'] shattered the Class B tournament record for kills in a single match as the Wolves battled through the tiebreaker. The Creighton commit finished with 42, and it was just enough to get the 3-2. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='275901' first='Hayden' last='Booth'] knew when to find Wallraff in transition or first-ball scenarios. [player_tooltip player_id='572006' first='Reese' last='Wallraff'] helped the cause with a match-high 28 digs.   One big storyline looms. Elkhorn North was the only team to take down Norris in the regular season. We also have club teammates on opposite sides of the net. It's every reason to tune in.   <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/1987017837672595512 </div></figure>   Class A   #1 Lincoln North Star vs. #3 Papillion-La Vista South   It's never over until it's over.   For a while, it looked like we'd be talking about a major Omaha Westside upset. The Warriors jumped out to a 2-0 lead on top-seeded Lincoln North Star and had multiple match points in Set 3. But never doubt the Navigators' resolve.   Junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='458167' first='Delainey' last='Volkmer'] was a crucial emotional leader during LNS's comeback bid. She finished with a team-leading 18 kills, followed closely by [player_tooltip player_id='521266' first='Lauren' last='McKernan']'s 15 kills from the middle. [player_tooltip player_id='458146' first='Alex' last='Kroll'] did yeoman's work at the setter spot and racked up 27 digs in the right-back area.   The Navigators took command after a thrilling third set, riding that wave en route to a 15-13 win in the deciding frame. Lincoln North Star's comeback secured its first-ever trip to the Class A title match.   <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/1986980744133005753?s=20 </div></figure>   For every championship newcomer, there's an ever-present dynasty. That's Papillion-La Vista South.   The Titans have dominated the 2020s and brought a lineup capable of rekindling last year's championship magic. That magic materialized in the opening set of Friday's semifinals, when Papio South fought from a 23-20 deficit to win Set 1 over Millard South.   The Titans rolled thereafter. [player_tooltip player_id='807803' first='Lyric' last='Judson'] tabbed 13 kills from the middle to go along with five blocks. Right-side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='458159' first='Kam' last='Bails'] was also active in the defensive phase and remained a vital part of the serve-receive pattern. [player_tooltip player_id='809398' first='Kami' last='Dyrstad'] and Dani Vallinch patrolled the backcourt with enormous success.   Will that defense be the key to Class A's title bout? We know these two teams can score, but which side holds the line in the "trenches?"

Time to decide our six newest champions.