June Rankings for Class A
The 2019 high school season is going to creep up on you like old age. It’s right around the corner, so be prepared. Trust me kids, one day you’re ready to get the heck out of high school and then…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 2019 high school season is going to creep up on you like old age. It’s right around the corner, so be prepared. Trust me kids, one day you’re ready to get the heck out of high school and then you wake up the next day with AARP stuff in the mail.
July is when the high school team camps really kick into overdrive, and that’s when we will start to see if reality matches expectations for some teams. It’s far too early to try and pin down the top 10 teams in each class, so here is a look at the top five in each class. We will have updated team rankings in early July, early August and then the actual preseason rankings just before the start of the season.
For now, let’s take a look at my projected top five teams in Class A.
***Note that I’m trying to make educated guesses on the classes teams will be in as well. Especially in the lower classes, there is a decent chance that teams may wind up competing in a different class than what I have them ranked in.***
#1 – Papillion-LaVista
What’s old is new again for the Monarchs are they welcome back former assistant coach John Svehla as head coach and he has a loaded roster to work with. South Dakota setter recruit Brooklyn Schram is back for her senior season and Papillion-LaVista features, arguably, the two best full-rotation outside hitters in Class A in Creighton recruit Norah Sis (551 kills/ 337 digs in 2018) and Washburn recruit Chloe Paschal (455 kills/ 401 digs last season). Samantha Riggs returns at libero after more than 600 digs as a freshman last season. In the middle and right side, Papillion-LaVista returns three talented players in 6’0 Logan Jeffus, the 5’10 athletic and standout leaper Erica Broin and 5’10 Morgan Hickey. The returning core for Papillion-LaVista is the strongest in the state – along with Skutt Catholic.
#2 – Elkhorn South
Another program with a new head coach this year as the Storm are now under the direction of Chelsea Potter and Elkhorn South – after finishing second in Class B last year – rises to Class A status this season. There are some huge losses for the Storm, but there are a lot of weapons back. Nebraska recruit Rylee Gray returns in the middle and the Storms biggest concern will likely be who becomes the second middle. Nebraska-Kearney recruit Ibi Green returns after a breakout season on the right side for the Storm last year. It will be interesting to watch if Green stays on that pin or switches to the outside, where she could team with returning outside Kylie Weeks to form a powerful 1-2 punch. Defensively, Elkhorn South will be fine despite the graduation of all-state libero Jordan McCormick, as those duties likely now switch to standout sophomore-to-be Estella Zatechka and Lauren Dvorak also returns in the back row. The really fun thing to watch will be how the Storm utilize Skutt Catholic transfer Brilee Wieseler. I could easily see her becoming a full-rotation RS or even setter/RS.
#3 – Millard North
Millard North has played in the last three Class A state championship matches – winning in 2016 and 2018 – but the Mustangs have a lot of question marks heading into 2019 that prevent me from being able to put them in the top two at this point. There is a strong core back, led by setter Izzy Lukens and versatile attacker and Omaha recruit McKenna Ruch and I fully expect Eve Fountain to have a standout senior season as a full-rotation outside hitter. Molly Plahn is back and will be a force in the middle for the Mustangs and Lauren Maciejewski will help the team at one of the pins. But, Millard North will need a couple more weapons to step up offensively from last year’s junior varsity ranks and there is no clear-cut libero or back-row specialists waiting in the wings, so that is an area of concern right now as well for the Mustangs.
#4 – Millard West
Yes, there is a massive hole left by the graduation of Iowa State libero recruit Jaiden Centeno that the Wildcats must figure out how to fill, but ultimately I think this will be one of the most athletic and up-tempo teams Millard West has had in a long time. Look for Ella Hazen to really come into her own this season after getting a little taste as a varsity setter as a freshman last year. Elise Gilroy (172 kills) and Cameron Young (100 kills) are each back on the outside for the Wildcats while Sadie Millard is one of the most athletic middles in Class A and if effective despite being just 5’9. Gabi Nordaker, a 5’10 senior-to-be, is poised for a real breakout season either in the middle or on the right side. If – and it’s huge if – Millard West can get stability and consistency in the back row from newcomers, this will be a tough team to beat.
#5 – Elkhorn
I think we are going to see a very deep Class A this year, and there were several teams I considered for the fifth spot right now, but I’m giving it to Elkhorn (who I’m assuming is moving up to Class A this year) because of the insane depth the Antlers will have. Replacing setter Megan Raszler will be a difficult chore, but whoever wins that job will have a ton of options at the net. Emma Crouch, Abby Wolfe, Addie Thomas, Ray Joens and Syd Raszler each had 159 or more kills last season and I’m bullish on Becca Vala as a standout libero, a role she may take over this season. This is a young and very talented group that has come up together over the past two years, improving from 15-16 in 2017 to 21-16 a year ago. Look for that win total to take another big leap forward this fall.