State Championship Preview: Class D-1

<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>#1 seed, Meridian, 29-2</strong></span></p> <p>If the Mustangs want to win their first-ever state volleyball championship, they will have to find a way to beat their nemesis Johnson-Brock. Both of Meridian’s losses this year were to Johnson-Brock and it was also the Eagles that downed Meridian in the 2016 state final. <strong>Rylee Pieper</strong>, a Peru State recruit, leads Meridian with 281 kills while <strong>Halle Pribyl</strong> had 256 and 71 ace serves. <strong>Erin Johnso</strong>n has 684 assists and 397 digs – both team highs.</p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>#2 seed, Johnson-Brock, 31-1</strong></span></p> <p>The Eagles come in as the two-time defending Class D-1 champions are are fully loaded for a three-peat attempt. Nebraska walk-on recruit <strong>Fallon Stutheit</strong> leads the way with 462 kills and 25 blocks while Midland recruit <strong>Kaitlynn Simon</strong> has 261 kills and 54 ace serves. Senior <strong>Brynn Westenburg </strong>is the team setter and has 883 assists Mattie Nichols leads the team in digs with 264.</p> <p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff;">#3 seed, BDS, 26-5</span></strong></p> <p>Three of the five losses this year for BDS have come against top-seeded Meridian. <strong>Carly Elzinc</strong> leads the Eagles with 267 kills and 66 blocks and <strong>Jadyn Kleinschmidt</strong> has a team-high 406 assists. <strong>Regan Alfs</strong> has 290 assists and 197 kills and libero <strong>Megan Grote</strong> has 375 digs.</p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>#4 seed, Blue Hill, 26-5</strong></span></p> <p>Blue Hill comes into state having won its past 15 matches and is back at state for the second consecutive year. <strong>Rylee Kohmetscher</strong> leads the Bobcats with 304 kills and <strong>Kacey Allen</strong> has 287. <strong>Jamie Bonifas</strong> has 764 assists and <strong>Brianna Danehey</strong> has 434 digs.</p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>#5 seed, Heartland, 20-9</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Taylor Quiring</strong> leads the Huskies with 388 kills and 218 digs while setter <strong>Rhianna Wilhelm</strong> has 713 assists and 101 kills. <strong>Kyra Dick</strong> has added 160 kills this year and <strong>Kalea Wetjen</strong> has 126.</p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>#6 seed, Clarkson-Leigh, 25-9</strong></span></p> <p>The Patriots are making their first-ever trip to state behind senior <strong>Sydney Folkers</strong>, who leads the team with 208 kills and 34 blocks. <strong>Kaegan Held</strong> has 694 assists and libero <strong>Halee Steffensmeier </strong>has 371 digs.</p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>#7 seed, Bertrad, 20-9</strong></span></p> <p>The Vikings are making their eighth trip to state behind a senior-led squad. <strong>Halle Dahlgren</strong> has 272 kills and 352 digs for Bertrand while <strong>Kaitlyn Ryan</strong> has 734 assists and <strong>Jada High</strong> has 442 digs. <strong>Lindsay Schultz</strong> has 197 kills and 41 ace serves for Bertrand.</p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>#8 seed, Elkhorn Valley, 17-11</strong></span></p> <p>The Falcons upset Elgin-Pope John to earn its first trip to state since 2008. <strong>Hannah Ollendick</strong> has 240 kills and <strong>Sierra Rystrom</strong> has 169 for Elkhorn Valley while <strong>Amber Miller</strong> has 405 assists and 334 digs.</p>