Key Matches at Nebraska’s 2024 Regular Season Conclusion (Pt. 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More marquee matches are looming.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We just perused the remaining regular season schedule for some key matchups to follow before district play. Our list keeps growing, so we're back for Part 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fill those calendars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">High Plains Community @ Bruning-Davenport/Shickley (Oct. 17)</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's start with a small-town showdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class D1 has a massive logjam of teams competing for wildcard positioning before the postseason. Bruning-Davenport/Shickley, one of our preseason title favorites, sits second on the list with a 19-3 record. The Eagles are led by physical veterans like [player_tooltip player_id='380823' first='Hayley' last='Sliva'] and [player_tooltip player_id='342619' first='Campbell' last='Bohling'], who have ample experience on the tournament stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High Plains Community will be underdogs during its Oct. 17 visit to BDS, but the Storm also has much to play for. This 18-5 squad is just outside D1's top ten and could jump considerably with a big win here. A trio of seniors leads the offense with [player_tooltip player_id='237537' first='Courtney' last='Carlstrom'], [player_tooltip player_id='462573' first='Emma' last='Brown'], and Rylee Ackerson all terminating well for High Plains.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Clarkson/Leigh @ Oakland-Craig (Oct. 22)</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Why not include an interclass duel? C1-C2 matchups have been delivering plenty of drama this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Oct. 22 contest lets us address two championship contenders from two classes. Clarkson/Leigh, last year's C2 runner-up, has maintained its winning form despite moving up to C1 for 2024's action. The Patriots still boast several seasoned stars who experienced that 2023 trip to the Devaney Center, so this prolonged success is no surprise. Senior attacker Baylee Settje paves the way with 3.2 kills per set. Another senior, [player_tooltip player_id='269955' first='Izzy' last='Hollatz'], is second on the team with 2.4 kills per set while also helping set the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oakland-Craig has its own championship aspirations in Class C1. The 24-4 Knights are fourth in the C1 hierarchy and are hoping to replicate 2021's title triumph. Fourth-year players like [player_tooltip player_id='173535' first='Adi' last='Rennerfeldt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='173516' first='Brandi' last='Helzer'] were around for that breakthrough and have a shot to walk off with another one this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Lincoln Lutheran @ Norris (Oct. 22)</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norris has a busy home stretch ahead. We discussed their upcoming meeting with Elkhorn North in Part 1, but we can't leave out this impending clash with Lincoln Lutheran, either.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Titans have wielded their all-star cast to a 28-1 record this year. We have to credit the steady presence of frontcourt gems like [player_tooltip player_id='189321' first='Lexi' last='Hasselbalch'] and [player_tooltip player_id='189322' first='Kendall' last='Cose']. Their efficient scoring has provided a perfect complement to the ever-present dominance of outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='155030' first='Anna' last='Jelinek'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln Lutheran will provide a stiff test. Class C2's frontrunner and three-time defending champ has kept up its familiar brand of high-flying offense. Pin hitters like [player_tooltip player_id='275943' first='Lily' last='Wohlgemuth'] and [player_tooltip player_id='152042' first='Ava' last='Jurevicius'] have anchored the effort and are connecting well with senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='342613' first='Jillian' last='Donovan'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1829328477344223448","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1829328477344223448 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Garden County @ Leyton (Oct. 22)</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class D2 has seen exceptional parity this year, so keep an eye on this faceoff.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This gives us a chance to revisit the incredible run for Leyton. The Warriors are still unbeaten with a 25-0 mark in regular-season competition. This places Leyton fourth in the wildcard standings, and a host of seasoned leaders have run the show. Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='728392' first='Shawnee' last='Gamble'] has 3.3 kills per set and [player_tooltip player_id='728397' first='Sydney' last='Fortune'] is terminating at a 0.338 clip.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garden County has a lot to gain from this contest, too. The Eagles have enjoyed a breakout season led by outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='464898' first='Ridglyn' last='Stanczyk'] and middle blocker Payton Fornander. An 18-3 mark has Garden County sitting seventh in the wildcard race with more positions on the table before sub-district action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Kearney Catholic @ Overton (Oct. 22)</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're eager to see this fascinating crossover contest featuring Class C1 and D2 contenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of these squads reached last year's state finals in their respective classes. Overton lost a lot from their 2023 championship squad, but that hasn't stopped the Eagles from climbing back to the top of the D2 board. Junior pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='275971' first='Daisy' last='Ryan'] has amassed 4.7 kills per set to rank among Nebraska's top 2026 attackers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kearney Catholic hopes to go one step further after 2023's runner-up effort. The Stars lean on [player_tooltip player_id='269911' first='Payton' last='Dzingle'] in the front row and have seen escalating contributions from [player_tooltip player_id='494948' first='Jenna' last='Bosshamer'] in the back row. The top tier of Class C1 is jammed with big-name schools, but Kearney Catholic is positioned firmly in sixth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->