2023 NSAA State Championship Recap: Day 2

Thursday ushered in our second wave of quarterfinal matches. Class C2, D1, and D2 took the stage at Pinnacle Bank Arena to fill in the right side of the all-class bracket. And, like Wednesday's opener, there was plenty of drama on Day 2.

So, that warrants another full recap.

Class C2

Our final wave of quarterfinals took place in Class C2. It was a late-night group full of statement wins.

The first big proclamation came from the top two seeds: Lincoln Lutheran and Clarkson/Leigh are not messing around.

Two-time defending champion Lincoln Lutheran had its 70-plus-match win streak snapped late in the regular season, but that does little to blur the team's clear distinction as the C2 favorite. In case you didn't have enough evidence of that yet, Lincoln Lutheran's smooth 3-0 quarterfinal win over Summerland might help.

It's hard to choose the bigger Warrior strength: the ability to kill the ball, or the knack for preventing opponents from getting kills of their own. Junior libero Keri Leimbach Keri Leimbach 5'4" | DS/L Lincoln Lutheran | 2025 State #45 Nation NE can fly around and make the flashy defensive saves, but her incredible instincts also make difficult plays look fairly routine. She remains the core of Lincoln Lutheran's impenetrable defense.

Jillian Donovan Jillian Donovan 5'11" | S Lincoln Lutheran | 2025 State NE 's emergence at setter has been another game-changer. The junior works the middle even when off the net, allowing underclassmen Bella Sjuts Bella Sjuts 5'10" | S Lincoln Lutheran | 2026 State NE and McKenzie Sidlo McKenzie Sidlo 5'10" | RS/S Lincoln Lutheran | 2027 State NE to heat up. Sophie and Lily Wohlgemuth Lily Wohlgemuth 5'8" | RS Lincoln Lutheran | 2026 State NE are back on the pins.

Summerland impressed onlookers with their scrappy defensive play. Senior libero Preslie Robertson enjoyed a season of over 500 digs to her credit. The offense was led by outside hitter Adyson Mlnarik, another senior. Mlnarik's 400 kills this season are rendered even more impressive by her part-time setter duties in the Bobcat lineup.

While Lincoln Lutheran clinched another spot in the semifinal, second-seeded Clarkson/Leigh was organizing its own three-set win against Crofton. The Patriots are on a multi-year run of tournament appearances behind what has become a seasoned 2023 lineup. Senior middle blocker Chloe Hanel Chloe Hanel 5'11" | MB Clarkson/Leigh | 2024 State NE 's seemingly permanent status atop the Nebraska kill leaderboards has played a big part in that sustained success. She is joined in the frontcourt by Brynn Settje Brynn Settje 5'9" | OH Clarkson/Leigh | 2025 State NE , Gracelyn Eisenmann Gracelyn Eisenmann 5'9" | OH Clarkson/Leigh | 2024 State NE , and setter-hitter Izzy Hollatz Izzy Hollatz 5'9" | S Clarkson/Leigh | 2025 State NE . Clarkson/Leigh's roster only has three underclassmen, so most of these athletes know about these high-pressure environments.

With that in mind, the Patriots took care to sustain its quality play throughout the quarterfinal match with Crofton. The seventh-seeded Warriors mounted plenty of scoring runs behind Caitlin Guenther and Lexi Wiebelhaus Lexi Wiebelhaus 5'8" | OH Crofton | 2025 State NE , but the Patriots always found an answer. After a one-match sample size, Clarkson/Leigh still looks like a frontrunner.

More tournament royalty was present for our final wave of the quarterfinal round. 2021 C2 champion Oakland-Craig repped the three seed and faced Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family on the South Court. The 4-5 match pitted Yutan against Elmwood-Murdock.

Oakland-Craig is in the midst of its greatest multi-year stretch in school history, and a #3 seed in this year's tournament is just another chapter. Junior setter Adi Rennerfeldt Adi Rennerfeldt 5'7" | S Oakland-Craig | 2025 State NE has been a stat-stuffing star since she stepped on the scene in 2021 and won a state championship. Outside hitter Brandi Helzer Brandi Helzer 5'10" | OH Oakland-Craig | 2025 State NE joins Rennerfeldt in the transformative 2025 class. But new faces are also making their mark, including sophomore attacker Briar Ray Briar Ray 5'9" | OH Oakland-Craig | 2026 State NE .

This core group looked unstoppable in the first two sets against HLHF. The Bulldogs were able to keep touch early, but the depth of Oakland-Craig was too much to handle as these sets progressed.

Set 3 seemed to be the breakthrough moment for HLHF. Senior setter Abilyn Schneider allowed her left-side hitters to get in a groove, and that's where HLHF feels most comfortable. Outside attackers Claire Korth Claire Korth 5'9" | OH Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family | 2025 State NE and Ali Brandl Ali Brandl 5'6" | OH Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family | 2024 State NE have accounted for a large share of HLHF's kills this season.

The set eventually went deuce as pin hitters kept exchanging kills. Helzer eventually tallied a kill and two blocks to clinch a 26-24 decision and a straight-set win for the Knights.

Yutan and Elmwood-Murdock followed a different path on the North Court.

Set 1 belonged to the fifth-seeded Knights. Elmwood-Murdock used a heavy dose of middle blocker Annie Backemeyer Annie Backemeyer 5'9" | MB Elmwood-Murdock | 2026 State NE , whose quick arm caused immediate problems for Yutan. And, like any helpful family connection, senior libero Tatum Backemeyer Tatum Backemeyer 5'4" | DS/L Elmwood-Murdock | 2024 State NE 's unflappable passing helped grant Annie many of these front-row opportunities.

Yutan responded with a 26-24 triumph in Set 2. The Chieftans are anchored by two six-rotation outside hitters who have at least a year left with the program. Junior Gabi Tederman and junior Mylee Tichota are lethal crosscourt terminators who can exploit any block that doesn't close successfully. Experienced setter McKenna Jones locates that ball well to ensure this duo can use its wide range.

This became the "pendulum" match in Class C2 as Elmwood-Murdock reclaimed the lead with a Set 3 win. The Knights never yielded in Set 4 as Brooke Goudie and Jordan Vogler Jordan Vogler 5'7" | OH Elmwood-Murdock | 2024 State NE heated up offensively. A date with Lincoln Lutheran was locked in.

Class D1

The middle portion of Thursday's quarterfinals belonged to Class D1. This unpredictable bracket was expected to deliver some early drama.

That drama immediately manifested on the South Court, where second-seeded Bartley Southwest faced #7 Elgin Public/Pope John.

Southwest entered this matchup with the experience advantage on this stage. The Roughriders appeared in last year's tournament with many of the same pieces as the 2023 team. Bryn Lampe Bryn Lampe 5'7" | S Southwest | 2024 State NE was back to set an offense that featured the "triple-threat of Nelms". The eldest Nelms, Atleigh, showcased her skill on the pin in Thursday's meeting. Sophomore twins Kyra and Anikka anchored the middle.

But EPPJ always had enough balance to stick around in this heavyweight fight. This was the first postseason trip since 2016 for the Wolfpack, but you wouldn't know it from the on-court product. Senior lefty Ashlynne Charf was a six-rotation mainstay. Baylee Busteed Baylee Busteed 5'4" | S Elgin/Pope John | 2024 State NE has generated headlines with her stat-stuffing performances at setter, and Kate Furstenau Kate Furstenau 5'5" | DS/L Elgin Public/Pope John | 2025 State NE has done the same in defensive categories as the libero. Chloe Henn Chloe Henn 6'0" | MB Elgin Public/Pope John | 2025 State NE was sure to get her attempts in the middle whenever EPPJ got a good pass.

A 25-23 Wolfpack victory in Set 1 put everyone on notice. The deuce trend continued as the Wolfpack erased an early deficit to reach set point at 24-23. EPPJ finished it off with a 26-24 decision to go up 2-0.

Set 3 is where chaos reigned. EPPJ seized complete control of Set 3 and appeared poised for the sweep. The lead ballooned to as many as ten. The Wolfpack held a 23-17 and needed one sideout to bring up match point.

Miraculously, this is where Southwest made its move. The Roughriders controlled serve while never allowing EPPJ to score again. A third consecutive set was decided by a pair, but this one finally belonged to the Roughriders.

Another Southwest triumph arose from the newly acquired momentum from Set 4. Suddenly, we were going to five.

The fifth set is a true clean slate. Conventional wisdom about momentum doesn't always materialize. This match was proof, as EPPJ reset its focus after a disappointing series of near-misses. The Wolfpack came up clutch when it mattered most and denied the reverse sweep attempt. A #7 seed was back in the Class D1 semifinals for yet another year.

While one of Class D1's top seeds was grappling with the possibility of an upset, the other did its best to avoid the turmoil. #1 Guardian Angels Central Catholic took care of business on the North Court with a 3-0 sweep of Burwell.

GACC has also the pieces necessary to be a tournament champion. Kills are well-distributed between Jocelynn Skoda Jocelynn Skoda 5'10" | MB Guardian Angels Central Catholic | 2024 State NE , Kelsy Steffen Kelsy Steffen 5'7" | OH Guardian Angels Central Catholic | 2024 State NE , and Julianne Ridder, among others. Isabel Hass Isabel Hass 5'4" | DS/L Guardian Angels Central Catholic | 2024 State NE has absorbed digs in the backcourt to lead the state in the category. Jayden Ehrisman is a senior setter who isn't daunted by the bright lights.

Burwell flashed moments of brilliance, particularly in a close third. Middle blocker Kennedy Kilmek brings a rare combination of length and fluidity along the net. She pairs well with Shayley Hunt and Regan Smith, who lead the charge from the pins. Despite the loss, the Longhorns have established a precedent for future success after their first postseason appearance since 1998.

The fickle nature of Class D1 carried right into Wave 2, which featured two more tight contests. #4 Bruning-Davenport/Shickley met #5 Amherst while third-ranked St. Mary's dueled with Sumner-Eddyville-Miller. All four of these squads were 2022 tournament participants.

That, in itself, was a precursor to great volleyball. The North Court even ended with a 30-28 opening set, which was won by Amherst. The Broncos wielded their stellar senior duo of Hannah Herrick Hannah Herrick 5'8" | MB Amherst | 2024 State NE and Saryn Prickett Saryn Prickett 5'10" | OH Amherst | 2024 State NE into the deuce win. Prickett is particularly fascinating given her ability to swap between hitting and setting at any time, and it's not necessarily dictated by frontcourt or backcourt. Grace John carries a similar role as the team's other setter-hitter, often giving Amherst a "true 6-2" look.

Back-and-forth trends continued as BDS responded to win Set 2. Junior setter Hayley Sliva Hayley Sliva 5'11" | RS BDS | 2025 State NE was as smooth as she was strong at the net. Her favorite choice in the front row was senior middle blocker Cloey Carlson Cloey Carlson 6'0" | MB Bruning-Davenport/Shickley | 2024 State NE , who helps form the Eagles' emotional core. Carlson's energy influences others, including relentless backcourt defenders like Peyton Domeier.

After Set 2, Amherst found its most successful stretch of the match. The Broncos rolled in Set 3 and looked even more dominant in the following frame. A 3-1 win lifted Amherst to a repeat bid in the state semifinals.

While that storyline was unfolding, we had another wild match befitting of the chaotic South Court. #6 Sumner-Eddyville-Miller, a popular sleeper pick heading into the week, offered a bit of validation with a Set 1 win over St. Mary's.

The Mustangs are all about the middles. Senior star Mikah O’Neill Mikah O’Neill 5'11" | MB Sumner-Eddyville-Miller | 2024 State NE has far surpassed five kills per set this season as a rare six-rotation middle blocker. O'Neill will also split to the outside and take important sideout swings on the left.

A similar niche is occupied by Taryn Arbuthnot Taryn Arbuthnot 5'6" | MB Sumner-Eddyville-Miller | 2026 State NE on the other side of the dial. The high-flying sophomore is growing more comfortable as a go-to alongside O'Neill. Both S-E-M setters, Jaycelyn Hoos Jaycelyn Hoos 5'6" | S Sumner-Eddyville-Miller | 2026 State NE and Katelynn Reiter Katelynn Reiter 5'6" | S Sumner-Eddyville-Miller | 2025 NE , do an admirable job handling all the different routes that their hitters can employ.

St. Mary's, like BDS, had an answer in the second--and it's centered around the middle here, too. Seniors Mya Hedstrom Mya Hedstrom 5'10" | OH St. Mary's | 2024 State NE and Lorissa Reiman give the Cardinals a 1-2 punch that looks eerily similar to S-E-M's philosophy. Both hit on the left frequently while blocking in the middle. It's a multi-dimensional look that made this 3-6 contest so compelling.

These Class D1 quarterfinals diverged after Set 2, however. Unlike the match unfolding on the North Court, S-E-M and St. Mary's kept exchanging blows en route to a fifth set. The Cardinals jumped out to a 2-1 lead behind more offensive firepower. Senior setter Alissa Brabec Alissa Brabec 5'4" | S St. Mary's | 2024 State NE had a steady hand in that regard.

S-E-M's bounce-back win in Set 4 warranted a fifteen-point tiebreaker. This one was owned by the underdog. Both of the South Court's lower seeds in Class D1 were victorious as S-E-M moved on.

Class D2

The Thursday morning time slots were occupied by Class D2. #1 Cambridge and #2 Overton were immediately thrust into the spotlight as D2's tournament "co-favorites." This pair met in the sub-district finals, and a Cambridge victory allowed the Trojans to swipe the top seed.

But Overton seemed undisturbed by the recent setback. The defending runner-up rolled to victory in Thursday's meeting with #7 Central Valley. Overton used an onslaught of attackers that have kept the program in Lincoln for the past few years. Senior middle blocker JoLee Ryan JoLee Ryan 5'9" | OH Overton | 2024 State NE paced the offense, which is no surprise for one of Nebraska's most efficient attackers. Having another superstar senior in Natalie Wood Natalie Wood 5'10" | MB Overton | 2024 State NE on the other side of the dial gives Overton an unrelenting presence in the frontcourt.

Ashlyn Florell Ashlyn Florell 5'5" | S Overton | 2024 State NE set a flawless match and connected well with pin hitters Daisy Ryan Daisy Ryan 5'9" | OH Overton | 2026 State NE and Gracyn Luther Gracyn Luther 5'5" | RS Overton | 2024 State NE . When Central Valley forged a response, it was usually through its upperclassman leaders like Callie Wadas and Alexis Johnson. A berth in the state tournament is an accomplishment that could lead to further breakthroughs in the coming years.

What about #1? Cambridge met a tough #8 draw, facing Shelton in the North Court quarterfinal. Shelton made an extraordinary run to last season's quarterfinals and brought back much of the same talent from that triumph. Sophomore outside hitter Jalyn Branson Jalyn Branson 5'9" | OH Shelton | 2026 State NE was the leading Bulldog scorer yet again. The combination of Branson and sophomore middle blocker Erin Gegg Erin Gegg 5'11" | MB Shelton | 2026 State NE made up a huge chunk of the Shelton offense in 2023.

Cambridge gets most of its firepower from upperclassmen. Senior outside hitter Jalen Kent Jalen Kent 5'9" | OH Cambridge | 2024 State NE has made her multi-year mark on the Trojans alongside junior middle blocker Erin Johnson Erin Johnson 6'1" | MB Cambridge | 2025 State NE . Johnson gives the offense some wicked options on combination plays, giving opposing blockers plenty to think about.

The Trojans looked the part in Set 1 en route to a 25-18 victory. Aside from their ability to score, Cambridge was able to contain Branson and Gegg.

Set 2 was a different story, however, as Branson started to heat up. Freshman libero Gracie Willis made some quality touches in transition, anchoring a 25-21 win to tie the match.

Despite the challenging back-and-forth battle, the top seed began to rediscover its frontrunner form. A dominant Set 3 win gave way to a comeback win in Set 4 with Johnson tallying gaudy kill totals. The Trojans secured a semifinal spot with a 3-1 win.

Wave 2 was up next. #4 Wallace met #5 Wynot on the North Court, while the 3-versus-6 match featured Meridian and Stuart in the battle of the horse mascots: Mustangs and Broncos.

The North Court contest quickly turned into a showcase of Wynot's firepower. Overpowering physicality has become the mantra for Kayla Pinelman and Allison Wieseler Allison Wieseler 5'11" | MB Wynot | 2024 State NE , two attackers who frequently hit over the Wallace block in Thursday's match. Junior setter Sophia Geisen Sophia Geisen 5'7" | S Wynot | 2025 State NE has a knack for keeping these two in rhythm while also providing opportunities for players like Kenna Oligmueller Kenna Oligmueller 5'8" | MB Wynot | 2026 State NE , who is having a strong sophomore campaign.

Wallace has one clear focal point in outside hitter Kendyl Flaming Kendyl Flaming 5'9" | OH Wallace | 2024 State NE . The senior entered this year's tournament with over 350 kills while placing second on the team in digs. Her gaudy ace total is helpful, too. Wallace's future looks bright on the pin with freshman Reagan Finley churning out impressive numbers in her debut season.

But Wynot was able to flex its ball control and balance en route to a sweep. The Blue Devils gained serious defensive output from libero Myrah Sudbeck Myrah Sudbeck 5'5" | DS/L Wynot | 2024 State NE , another senior who meshes well with her experienced teammates.

Speaking of experience, we saw plenty of seasoned tournament veterans in the South Court contest between Meridian and Stuart.

The sixth-seeded Broncos pounced in Set 1 to put us on early upset alert. Stuart leveraged its pair of left-side hitters: senior Lacey Paxton Lacey Paxton 5'7" | OH Stuart | 2024 State NE and junior Reagan Stracke Reagan Stracke 5'7" | OH Stuart | 2025 State NE . Both factored heavily in Stuart's tournament appearance last year, and Thursday felt like a reprise of those memories. Likewise, Addisyn Ketteler Addisyn Ketteler 5'6" | S Stuart | 2025 State NE returned to set the offense in the back row while shouldering a conditional attacking role, too.

However, we knew Meridian would have a response. This is another program that trekked to Lincoln last year and brought a similar look in 2023. Senior pin hitter Jaala Stewart Jaala Stewart 5'9" | OH Meridian | 2024 State NE eclipsed 400 kills in her final prep season. The next-closest scorer for Meridian was Jaylee Sobotka Jaylee Sobotka 5'9" | RS Meridian | 2025 State NE , whose skillset makes her the ideal choice for the opposite position.

Stewart and Sobotka surged in the next two sets to put Meridian in front. Veteran setter Kaira Niederklein varied tempos effectively to keep the Broncos off balance.

A back-and-forth Set 4 went to Meridian to secure a 3-1 Mustang win. Middle blocker McKenzie Hofstetter McKenzie Hofstetter 5'6" | MB Meridian | 2025 State NE put away the clincher to highlight Meridian's ever-widening set distribution.