Week 3 Saturday Tournament Recap

Yesterday, teams from around the state traveled to take part in a variety of round-robin tournaments. Every one of the tournaments discussed below ended with the same result: an undefeated champion was crowned. After sifting through plenty of live streams, I was able to get a good look at what made Saturday’s champions so dominant. Here’s a glimpse at some of the top performers from the weekend slate!   Norris Invite The Norris Invite was an eight-team round-robin tournament split into two pools, with teams only playing within these designated pools. So, we’ve got two champions to discuss here. In Pool A, it was the host team taking the title in dominant fashion. The Titans picked up sweeps over Columbus, Crete, and Platteview to take the trophy in their group. Norris, as is usually the case, had just too much offense for their opponents to handle. Maisie BoesigerMaisieBoesiger5'5" | SNorris | 2022StateNE has such great command over her offense, as she consistently dished out quality sets to talented hitters like Sydney JelinekSydneyJelinek5'10" | OHNorris | 2022StateNE, Ella WatersEllaWaters6'2" | OHNorris | 2022StateNE, and Kalli Kroeker. Saturday’s tournament was a special occasion for Norris, too, as they hung senior banners for Kroeker, Brianna StaiBriannaStai5'11" | MHNorris | 2021StateNE, Molly Ramsey, and Reagan ForryReaganForry5'5" | DSNorris | 2021NE. In the Norris High School South Gym, meanwhile, it was Waverly who came out on top in Pool B with sweeps over Blair, Ralston, and Seward. Like Norris, the power of the Waverly offense is well documented, with Husker commits Bekka AllickBekkaAllick6'3" | MHWaverly High School | 2022StateNE and Whitney LauensteinWhitneyLauenstein6'1" | OHWaverly | 2021StateNE crushing it all day. Overall, it was a nice way for the Vikings to bounce back from their loss to Elkhorn in the championship match of the Beatrice Invitational last week. And, in case you’re disappointed that the champions of these pools didn’t play each other this weekend, don’t be. Waverly returns to Firth to face off against Norris on Tuesday night.   Millard North Invite What more can I say about Elkhorn South? Elkhorn South in action on their home floor Thursday The Storm swept through a tough gauntlet consisting of Millard North, Millard South, Millard West, and Elkhorn North to become the undisputed champions of the Millard North Invite. Anything I could say about this team, who now sits at 13-0 on the year, would likely be repeating something I’ve said already. It’s just a roster of players that can do anything: pass, hit, play defense, or serve. So many versatile options. Now, I must mention that I enjoyed watching the other teams at this invite develop and show some great things. Millard West picked up where they left off at the Heartland Crossroads Tournament, where they also finished runner-up to the Storm. Senior setter Bridget Smith reached 1,000 assists in her career with the Wildcats program on Saturday. She’s got plenty of great players she can set, too. Millard South showed once again that their team runs through the pins. I’m always impressed by the play of outside hitters like Paisley GibsonPaisleyGibson5'9" | OHMillard South | 2022NE and Emily HagedornEmilyHagedorn5'11" | OHMillard South | 2022StateNE, and I love the way that junior setter Makayla FlemingMakaylaFleming5'8" | SMillard South | 2022StateNE can distribute the ball. The host team, Millard North, also has a lot on which it can build. For one, Alanna BankstonAlannaBankston5'11" | MHMillard North | 2023StateNE is a star. This dynamic sophomore was lethal on the left side. She could pass with great accuracy, too, even though she has spent much of her time in the middle during club season. With Kate GalvinKateGalvin5'7" | LMillard North | 2022StateNE also anchoring the backcourt, this Mustang team looks to be on an upward trajectory. Speaking of upward trajectory, how about the brand new school? Elkhorn North is in a unique position as an upstart program with a young roster. If there’s a leader for this program into the future, it’s sophomore opposite Grace HeaneyGraceHeaney6'1" | RSElkhorn North | 2023StateNE. This lefty is legit. I’m excited to see where the Wolves can go!   Bellevue East Invite The Bellevue East Invite belonged to Bellevue West. The Thunderbirds emerged unscathed after facing Fremont, Lincoln High, and a double-header against Omaha Westside. Obviously, the Bellevue West can attribute much of its success to the top-ranked player in the 2023 class, Destiny Ndam-SimpsonDestinyNdam-Simpson6'1" | OHBellevue West | 2023StateNE. So athletic and smart, there’s a reason why she’s number one. There’s talent at every other position for the Thunderbirds, too, with junior opposite Kealy KiviniemiKealyKiviniemi5'11" | RSBellevue West | 2022StateNE and sophomore defensive specialist Makenzie DyrstadMakenzieDyrstad5'7" | LBellevue West | 2023StateNE performing well in early-season play. This invitational, like the one at Millard North, was largely a display of why it’s so hard to figure out how Class A is going to pan out at the end of the year.   Meanwhile, in Kansas City... Here’s a quick shoutout to the Skutt Skyhawks, who traveled down to Kansas City on Saturday and swept past St. Thomas Aquinas (KS) and St. Theresa’s Academy (MO). In about a month, it will be Skutt’s turn to host a multi-state invitational. You won’t want to miss that.