Berk’s Big, Bad Bracket of State’s Top 16 Teams
Now that we are a handful of weeks into the season, we’re able to get a better feel for how all the teams in the state compare across the classes. In the past, we’ve had an all-class top 25 rankings.…
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Continue ReadingNow that we are a handful of weeks into the season, we’re able to get a better feel for how all the teams in the state compare across the classes.
In the past, we’ve had an all-class top 25 rankings. This year, however, we are changing it up a little.
We all know that the six classes in Nebraska are designed to keep schools of the same size is the same competitive circle. However, that doesn’t always mean competition is even without those circles, just the size of the school.
So, what if, at the end of the season there was one 16-team, single-elimination bracket for the top teams in the state regardless of class to truly determine who the best squad in the state is.
Now, I’m not advocating for this and it would never happen even if I were, but it sure would is fun to think about. So, if I were a one-man selection committee in charge of putting together that bracket, here is what it would look like as of today – Sept. 18.
#1 seed – Millard North vs. #16 seed – Alliance
Alliance makes the big dance as the last team selected and faces the monumental challenge of playing Millard North. The Mustangs’ depth overwhelms the Bulldogs, but Alliance’s Emersen Cyza on the outside and Jordan Hopp in the middle give Millard North just enough problems to make the top-ranked team in Class A sweat it out a little bit.
#8 seed – Omaha Duchesne vs. #9 seed – Wahoo
A rematch from this weekend’s 2-1 victory by Duchesne over the Warriors at the Seward Invitational. The two teams are very similarly matched, with Duchesne having the advantage in depth while Wahoo has the more dangerous weapons. Duchesne gets the nod here in a close one.
#5 seed – Lincoln Pius X vs. #12 seed – Gretna
Pius X can come at you from a variety of directions but seems to struggle just a little bit in its consistency. Gretna, meanwhile, isn’t going to overpower anyone with a dominant hitter or size, but they will ball control you to death when they are taking care of possessions. Pius X edged Gretna 2-1 in a match in Grand Island earlier this year, and gets the advantage again over the Dragons.
#4 seed – Skutt Catholic vs. #13 seed – Bishop Neumann
I still feel like we haven’t seen Skutt Catholic anywhere near where it can potentially be six-eight weeks from now, but one of the top teams in Class C-1 would still put up a whale of a fight against the Skyhawks. Only a couple teams in the state can really match-up with Skutt’s size and Neumann isn’t one of them, but the Cavaliers have perhaps the best player in the state in Kelsie Cada and setter Alyssa Rezac is one of the best court generals in Nebraska. It wouldn’t be enough against Skutt, but it sure would be fun to watch.
#3 seed – Elkhorn South vs. #14 seed – Stanton
Up until this weekend, Elkhorn South had been right there with Millard North in terms of being the most consistent team in the state. The Storm then dropped two matches where it had multiple match points and finished sixth at the LPS Invite. Stanton would struggle dealing with the Storm at the net, but the Mustangs are one of the top handful of teams in the state at passing and serve receive and no team plays with more energy. As long as Elkhorn South is on its game, it wins this match.
#6 seed – Papillion-LaVista South vs. #11 seed – Lincoln Lutheran
This would have all the makings of an instant-classic. Neither team comes at you with dominating size and both teams can play defensive like nobody’s business. Would the Titans have an answer for Lutheran’s Marriah Buss? Who wins the setter battle between Lutheran’s Hope Leimbach and Papio South’s Mara Legrand? Can Erin Williams frustrate the Titan hitters? Would Lutheran have an answer for Sophie and Jessica Hendrix? Ultimately, the Titans come out on top, but what a match it would be.
#7 seed – Millard West vs. #10 seed – St. Paul
A lot of really intriguing match-ups in the first round and this would have the potential to be one of the best. You don’t come across many teams as defensively strong and fundamentally sound as St. Paul and it also has that big-time player you need in Hayley Fox. Millard West would counter with incredible defense itself and would have the height advantage, and ultimately get the win.
#2 seed – Papillion-LaVista vs. #15 seed – Hastings
Without a doubt, Papillion-LaVista is the Norah Sis and Chloe Paschal show with setter Brooklyn Schram serving as the Master of Ceremonies. Meanwhile, Hastings is deep as well and has one of the most athletic outsides in the state in Cece Beahm. Which superstar goes off and which team is able to figure out how to contain the other’s outside hitters in the key, with the Monarchs having the advantage.
First four teams out:
Millard South
Omaha Marian
Grand Island Central Catholic
Archbishop Bergan