Marian Survives Upset Bids from Millard South, Heelan at Bellevue Invite
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Top-ranked Omaha Marian had to survive not just one, but two, upset bids during pool play at the Bellevue Invitational Friday.
After defeating Bellevue East 25-7, 25-11 in its first match, Marian found itself pushed to the limit to reach the championship bracket in the 16-team tournament. Millard South, ranked #6, took a 25-21 victory in the first set from the Crusaders before Marian was able to come back and win the match 21-25, 25-18, 25-23.
Marian again dropped the opening set in its match with Sioux City Heelan, but survived by coming back for a 21-25, 25-16, 25-16 victory.
Millard South was the only team seeded in the bottom eight to reach the eight-team championship bracket. The Patriots were seeded ninth and they defeated #8-seed Heelan in pool play to reach the championship bracket.
Here are the championship bracket matches scheduled for today (Saturday):
9 a.m. – Omaha Marian vs. Millard North
9 a.m. – Western Christian vs. Millard South
10:15 a.m. – Papillion-LaVista vs. Omaha Skutt
10:15 a.m. – Lincoln Southeast vs. Papillion-LaVista South
12:45 p.m. – Semifinal #1 – Marian/Millard North winner vs. Papillion-LaVista/Skutt winner.
12:45 p.m. – Semifinal #2 – Western/Millard South winner vs. Southeast/PLV South winner
3:15 p.m. – Championship match
Also on Friday, the Beatrice Invitational saw some upsets.
Ogallala – ranked #15 in the Nebraska Top 25, upended #14 Lincoln Pius X 25-16, 17-25, 26-24 in a pool-play match.
In another pool-play match, #25 Elkhorn defeated #21 Aurora 25-23, 21-25, 25-20. Those results set up the following championship bracket quarterfinal matches today (Saturday);
8:45 a.m. – Ogallala vs. Aurora at Southeast Community College
8:45 a.m. – Elkhorn vs. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln at Southeast Community College
9 a.m. – Grand Island Northwest vs. Beatrice at Beatrice High School
9 a.m. – Lincoln Pius X vs. Waverly at Beatrice High School.