Thank You, Seniors: Star 2026s Walking off as State Champions

Let's deliver another ode to the seniors.   When we previewed the upcoming state tournament at the start of this week, we highlighted a handful of fourth-year players looking to go out on top on Nebraska's biggest prep stage. The dust has now settled on the 2025 season, giving us a list of tremendous athletes enjoying storybook endings to their high school careers.     Papillion-La Vista South   The Papio South dynasty knows all about high-impact seniors.   This year's group of seniors went 3-for-4 on state championships in their careers and helped the Titans win their fifth Class A crown in the last seven years. Not bad.   Fittingly, we were treated to some of Papio South's best senior performances of the year at the state tournament. This distinction certainly applies to defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='396737' first='Danielle' last='Vallinch'], who racked up 19 digs in only three sets during a semifinal win over Millard South. Vallinch worked in tandem with [player_tooltip player_id='809398' first='Kami' last='Dyrstad'], the Rutgers-bound libero who wrapped up her multi-year command of the contrasting jersey. This squad's seasoned backcourt leadership was unmatched, as we also watched [player_tooltip player_id='582853' first='Taryn' last='Lewis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='771607' first='London' last='Wilen'] carve out influential roles along the end line.   More 2026 stardom could be seen with Papio South's second contacts. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='275937' first='Ella' last='Eymann'] maintained her mastery as a backcourt setter while also being one of the state's best right-back defenders. Her ascent with Premier Nebraska was special, but Eymann was just as transformative with the Titans.   Finally, we had [player_tooltip player_id='349416' first='Maddie' last='Larsen'] in the middle. The hard-hitting athlete perpetuates our discussion of hard-charging players in the Premier Nebraska gym. An outstanding club season set up Larsen's big breakout in the Papio South frontcourt, and we won't soon forget her on-court energy and competitiveness.   <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/1986990922379501815?s=20 </div></figure>   Norris   This duo embodies the versatility and skill that have made Norris what it is.   [player_tooltip player_id='486916' first='Haylee' last='Macke'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349456' first='Carlie' last='Talbott'] were the lone seniors on Norris's ledger, and they both left an indelible mark on the team's repeat run. We only need to point to Saturday's championship match, where both provided an immediate spark while on the floor.   Long serving runs were paramount to Norris' win over Elkhorn North, and Macke provided one of those strings with a service ace and quality touches in the back row. Speaking of backcourt defense, Talbott was one of three Titans with double-digit digs in the high-scoring showdown with the Wolves. Of course, Talbott was also one of Norris' leading opposites this year and hit nearly 0.300 in the front row.   <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/1986974967481651613?s=20 </div></figure>   Milford   These seniors have permanent places in the record books as part of Milford's first-ever championship team.   We'd be remiss not to start with [player_tooltip player_id='276208' first='Kylie' last='Jakub'], the senior setter who dished the Eagle offense with extraordinary success. She logged a double-double in the C1 championship match with 42 assists and 14 digs in the starting role. Jakub's positive momentum escalated last season as Milford made the tournament as a decided underdog. Now, as a championship frontrunner, Jakub and her crew delivered.   Jakub could look toward several fellow seniors in the front row, too. [player_tooltip player_id='396785' first='Sydney' last='Burkey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='837888' first='Sarah' last='Reynolds'] locked down Milford's pin positions and finished with triple-digit kill totals in 2025. Burkey also thrived as a wing blocker and tied the team high with four blocks against Holdrege.   The Eagles also leveraged their bench depth with [player_tooltip player_id='809522' first='Aubrey' last='Burton'] and Haley Brhel getting involved in various situational roles throughout 2025.   This entire quintet has ushered in a new era for Milford volleyball.   <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/1986922934632423674?s=20 </div></figure>   Freeman   Like Norris, this is another instance of quality over quantity.   Freeman captured its first state title since 2014 despite having only two seniors to rally around. On the other hand, these 2026s were tremendous.   [player_tooltip player_id='184283' first='Alicia' last='Johansen'] led the way as Fressman's leading scorer this fall. The multi-talented attacker has seemingly played every frontcourt position throughout her prep career. She flourished this fall with 3.5 kills per set and had a Falcon-high 19 in the title triumph over L-C-C. Johansen's value did not wane when she rotated to the back row, where she had 3 aces and 14 digs against the Bears. She has truly done it all.   While we're in the backcourt, we can bring up Freeman's other 2026 gem. [player_tooltip player_id='800259' first='Addison' last='Kastanek'] donned Freeman's contrasting jersey and soared beyond 300 digs in her final high school campaign. Libero prowess is nothing new in the Falcon lineup, but Kastanek's exemplary passing and floor defense brought Freeman over the top.   <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/1986888218185277672?s=20 </div></figure>   Amherst   This is a solo operation.   State championship teams with this much youth don't come around often, but Amherst was not concerned with timetables this fall. [player_tooltip player_id='518625' first='Mackenzie' last='Cochran'] was the lone operator among Bronco 2026s, and she made sure to carry the banner well.   The veteran captain anchored Amherst's two-headed monster at the setter spot, logging 25 assists in the five-set title bout against Overton. Moreover, Cochran boasted a team-high ace total in a Bronco lineup full of aggressive servers. She set the standard, and her younger teammates followed.   <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/1986534256256929800?s=20 </div></figure>   Wynot   Another first-time champion enters the discussion.   This historic triumph would not have been possible without the seniors. All-everything attacker [player_tooltip player_id='809715' first='Kenna' last='Oligmueller'] carried the spotlight well with 4.4 kills per set in her final season as a Blue Devil. That torrid scoring clip culminated in 25 kills in Saturday's title match against Cambridge. Par for the course.   [player_tooltip player_id='833323' first='Jordan' last='Foxhoven'] also elevated her game on the pin, but that wasn't her only major contribution in the Wynot rotation. The six-rotation senior also absorbed a whopping 31 digs in her last prep outing, leading to an epic title clash with numerous marathon rallies.   However, Wynot's leading defender on the year was [player_tooltip player_id='800412' first='Jaylin' last='Geisen'], another senior who demonstrated Blue Devil grit in the libero jersey. Aside from putting up nearly five digs per set this year, Geisen's pinpoint passing set up offensive success for her veteran cast.   The list of senior stat leaders expands. Haley Wieseler led Wynot in blocks this year--as a setter. It's a shocking statistic, but Wieseler backed it up with 42 assists and eight blocks against Cambridge. Few in the state did it better this season.   Addison Sharpe added to the veteran onslaught with her 0.298 hitting clip this year. Youth may have been a theme for many of this year's champions, but Wynot was ready to defy the trend.   <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/1986454898511069349?s=20 </div></figure>

Let's deliver another ode to the seniors.