The Home Stretch: Nebraska’s Marquee Week 7 Matchups

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're inching closer to the end of the regular season. It always goes by quickly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska's 2024 high school season is entering its seventh week, and there are still many pivotal matchups left before sub-district action. We're looking for teams to gain a little extra advantage in the wildcard standings before postseason play. Week 7 is the time to do it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are eyeing these midweek matchups as the October grind rolls on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Lincoln Southwest @ Columbus</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class A contenders are ready to clash in Columbus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Discoverers are enjoying a historic 2024 season, and Tuesday's matchup with Lincoln Southwest offers a chance to extend the team's forward momentum. Junior attacker [player_tooltip player_id='275936' first='Paighton' last='Erb'], who just gave her collegiate pledge to Lehigh, leads the way with 3.3 kills per set for the 17-6 Discoverers. [player_tooltip player_id='395104' first='Ayla' last='Janssen'], Grayson Gentile, and [player_tooltip player_id='237412' first='Taytum' last='Miller'] add to Columbus' expansive upperclassman presence in the frontcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Columbus currently sits eighth in the Class A wildcard race, putting it right in the window for a wildcard bid. Meanwhile, Lincoln Southwest has hovered around the top tier and occupies the No. 4 spot. We got an in-person look at [player_tooltip player_id='251144' first='Ellie' last='Eckman']'s up-tempo offense featuring seasoned hitters like [player_tooltip player_id='342615' first='Shelby' last='Harding'] and [player_tooltip player_id='189377' first='Taylor' last='Schuster']. It's a formidable trio to watch in this pivotal road contest for the Silver Hawks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":701210,"width":"376px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/IMG_3643-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-701210" style="width:376px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Solomon sets the Papio South offense at the 2024 Allison Weston Invitational.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Elkhorn North @ Papillion-La Vista South</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buckle up for this one. Nebraska's high school season blesses us with several Class A-Class B crossover classics, and this ought to be another one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elkhorn North has already established itself as a perennial championship contender as it competes in its fourth-ever season on the prep stage. This year's team gets an astonishing 6.4 kills per set from sophomore superstar [player_tooltip player_id='445956' first='Reagan' last='Wallraff'], who has made a seamless transition from the middle to the pin. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='155043' first='Shay' last='Heaney'] has maintained her elite form with 3.5 kills per set to aid one of the state's most terminal offenses. The Wolves are second in Class B's wildcard standings behind Norris.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bring on Class A's top dog. Papillion-La Vista South has been trading the No. 1 spot with Omaha Westside but recently took the position back with a win over the Warriors. The Titans center their onslaught around senior [player_tooltip player_id='155053' first='Charlee' last='Solomon'], who elevates the team as a setter-hitter hybrid. Sophomore middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='458153' first='Lyric' last='Judson'], who has competed with Wallraff on the club stage, leads the Titans with 3.2 kills per set. Another 2027 star, [player_tooltip player_id='503568' first='Makenna' last='Sanders'], has emerged as another go-to option on the left side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both programs plan on being in this year's tournament. Consider this an early pressure test.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Bennington @ Waverly</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The plot thickens in Class B. Let's talk about two more of last year's postseason participants.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waverly is hosting this Thursday's clash with the Badgers. The Vikings have roared to a 20-6 record behind a revolutionary wave of underclassmen. [player_tooltip player_id='458123' first='Hallie' last='Lauenstein'] and [player_tooltip player_id='458124' first='Gracie' last='Lauenstein'] anchor the outside hitter spot and sit 1-2 on Waverly's kill leaderboards. They're accompanied by sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='458165' first='McKinley' last='Moser'] and [player_tooltip player_id='521256' first='Emmalyn' last='Quinn'] in the ball control phase, giving Waverly an extraordinarily impactful group of 2027s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bennington lost several senior stars from last year's squad but has not wavered in their postseason pursuits. The Badgers are seventh in the wildcard hierarchy and have a lot to gain as we wrap up the regular season. Junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='253919' first='Hayden' last='Liebsack'] is a trendsetter in both kills and aces, leading Bennington in both categories. [player_tooltip player_id='240572' first='Keatyn' last='Liebsack'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349408' first='Morgan' last='Douan'] add about two kills per set apiece. We also have to mention [player_tooltip player_id='187703' first='Evynn' last='Olsen']'s wide-ranging impact as an elite defender and passer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the perfect square-up for two of Class B's strongest dynasties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Laurel-Concord-Coleridge @ Humphrey-Lindsay</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's one more for the small-town crowd.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we mentioned in an earlier feature, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge has a lot of late-season wildcard momentum. Wins against powerhouse programs like Pierce and Wynot have propelled the Bears to the No. 4 position in the Class C1 hierarchy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore setter [player_tooltip player_id='458132' first='Carlie' last='Kvols'] runs the L-C-C offense like a veteran after jumping into last year's action as a freshman. She is among the state's assist leaders and has spread the ball around to several worthy targets. Fellow sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='458127' first='Rena' last='Rasmussen'] has racked up 4.5 kills per set and is accompanied by Tali Erwin and Kaida Eriksen along the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll travel down to Class C2 to find Humphrey-Lindsay as the Bulldogs seek their second consecutive state tournament appearance. This squad is eighth in the C2 race, placing it in a good spot before sub-districts. Humphrey-Lindsay is led by [player_tooltip player_id='498981' first='Aydan' last='Hake'] and [player_tooltip player_id='173538' first='Claire' last='Korth'], both of whom chip in with 3.3 kills per set apiece. Freshman middle blocker Maddie Reichmuth has also been a revelation in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->