Week 9 Preview: Final Regular Season Push
Here we go. The end of the regular season is near, and the postseason is now just days away. Of course, we still have a few more big regular-season matchups before we go full steam ahead into wildcard matchups. Teams…
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Continue ReadingHere we go. The end of the regular season is near, and the postseason is now just days away.
Of course, we still have a few more big regular-season matchups before we go full steam ahead into wildcard matchups. Teams have that last chance to add a statement win to their resume before the standings are finalized. Intangibly, too, these last matches allow squads to make final adjustments and reach their peak forms before the all-or-nothing chaos of bracket play ensues.
Let’s do it. We’ll have a lot of upcoming coverage on a big group of conference tournaments in the days to come. It’s crunch time, so keep an eye on these matches as we count down the days until the madness.
Battle for the Metro
Once again, the Metro Conference Tournament promises to provide some exciting volleyball action to cap off the regular season.
It’s one last chance for some Omaha-area schools to get a crack at Papillion-La Vista South, which is still unbeaten in mid-October. The Titans will undoubtedly face some hungry title contenders, though, so nothing is a foregone conclusion. Elkhorn South is the defending champion of this event and will always have a passionate group of traveling supporters to spur them on. Meanwhile, Millard West will surely look to back up its great position in the Class A hierarchy.
Whatever unfolds at the Metro Tournament this week, it’s safe to say that there’s probably a future state champion somewhere in this bracket.
Battle for the Heartland
Let’s take a quick look at another conference championship that’s quickly approaching: the Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament.
It’s hard not to like Lincoln Southwest in this one after the Silver Hawks took a resounding victory at the Westside Invitational last weekend. But Southwest can take no rival competitor for granted. A talented Lincoln Pius X will come into this event with a lot to prove, and Lincoln East is equally dangerous.
Quick Hitters
Here are some other matchups to follow on this pivotal week.
Kearney Catholic will square off with Overton on Tuesday in an intriguing C1 versus D1 battle. Both teams are clear title contenders in their respective classes, and this matchup should be a great test for both sides.
Omaha Duchesne is hosting a Thursday triangular with nearby foes Wahoo and Bennington. These three programs always loom large in the Nebraska prep scene, so these meetings should produce some solid competition.
Omaha Concordia has a fun triad going on this Tuesday. Bishop Neumann and Columbus Lakeview will visit with plans on improving their own standing in Class C1.
Grand Island Central Catholic is traveling east to visit Lincoln Christian on Tuesday night. It’s the battle of the Crusaders, which is reason enough to get excited.
That’s not the only big-time matchup happening in the Lincoln area this week. Norris is bringing in Beatrice and Lincoln Lutheran for some triangular action. Indeed, the top teams in Class B and C1 are about to square off.
Clarkson/Leigh is hosting a Tuesday contest that might just be a preview of the Class C2 championship in early November. The Patriots are welcoming in Oakland-Craig, which currently sits atop the C2 standings with a record of 24-6. The parity in C2 has been incredible, and this match should only further complicate things. We wouldn’t want it any other way, though.