Midseason Report: Standings, Standouts, and the Road Ahead
We’ve reached the midway point of the 2021 regular season. It’s time to take a step back, reflect on what we’ve seen so far, and look ahead to what’s next. There’s a lot we can cover here. So much high-level…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve reached the midway point of the 2021 regular season. It’s time to take a step back, reflect on what we’ve seen so far, and look ahead to what’s next.
There’s a lot we can cover here. So much high-level volleyball has been played across Nebraska in the past several weeks, and that’s likely a precursor to a lot of exciting matches to close out the fall slate. The state championships are sure to be wild!
Here’s a look at the past, present, and future of the 2021 season as we hit the halfway mark.
Standings and Stock Report
Fans will naturally be keeping a close eye on the wildcard leaderboard as we inch closer to the postseason. Let’s break down where we stand so far.
In Class A, Papillion-La Vista South has emerged as the unquestioned head of the pack. Last year’s runner-up sits at an astounding 23-0 and has excelled against some of the state’s top teams. They’re fresh off another tournament victory at the Allison Weston Invitational and have plans to continue their undefeated stretch into the second half of the season.
This flawless feat is almost unmatched across Nebraska. Grand Island Central Catholic and Syracuse still hold unblemished records in Class C1. Both teams are crammed amongst a logjam of one-loss teams in their class, including Kearney Catholic, Lincoln Lutheran, and Columbus Lakeview. C1 is going to produce some absolute thrillers in the weeks and months to come.
Norris has a comfortable lead in the Class B race. Omaha Skutt and Waverly are in the next tier. Alliance has put together a solid 13-4 campaign, and Elkhorn North is coming off a big week. There’s still a lot yet to be determined here.
Class D1 and D2 are incredibly tight. Mead still leads the way in D1 with Howells-Dodge and Nebraska Christian on the precipice of first place in the wildcard standings. D2 has a pair of dominant one-loss teams in Maywood-Hayes Center and Falls City Sacred Heart. Humphrey St. Francis is also in the mix.
Here are a few more major competitors that I’ll be watching as we head into the final sprint. These teams have a great shot to boost their stock before postseason play:
- Clarkson/Leigh (Class C2)
- Elmwood-Murdock (Class D1)
- Stuart (Class D2)
- Chase County (Class C1)
- Fremont (Class A)
What’s Next?
I want to put a big list of key matches on your radar as we make the second-half push. The outcomes of these contests will carry a lot of weight when we enter the postseason.
- September 28: Elmwood-Murdock vs. Syracuse
- September 28: Wahoo vs. Malcolm
- September 30: Lincoln Southwest vs. Millard West
- October 5: Clarkson/Leigh vs. Lutheran High Northeast
- October 5: Lincoln Pius X vs. Fremont
- October 5: Kearney Catholic vs. North Platte
- October 5: Waverly vs. Wahoo
- October 7: Millard West vs. Gretna
- October 12: Columbus Lakeview vs. Lutheran High Northeast
- October 14: Omaha Westside vs. Waverly
- October 19: Clarkson/Leigh vs. Oakland-Craig
- October 19: Johnson-Brock vs. Falls City Sacred Heart
- October 19: Norris vs. Lincoln Lutheran
We’ll have plenty of expanded coverage on these matches and more. Time to kick things into overdrive for the conclusion of the 2021 season!