Intriguing Sub-District Matchups: Class D1 and D2
One more installment of the sub-district preview series remains! We’re taking a look at Class D1 and D2. Class D schools have always generated some postseason parity and excitement. Generally, you can just throw the regular-season wildcard points out the…
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Continue ReadingOne more installment of the sub-district preview series remains! We’re taking a look at Class D1 and D2.
Class D schools have always generated some postseason parity and excitement. Generally, you can just throw the regular-season wildcard points out the window when district matches begin. We’ve seen some big moments and surprising results over the years, and I wouldn’t expect anything different in 2021.
So, here are just a few districts to keep an eye on in these two classes as we kick off postseason play.
D1-2
Unsurprisingly, the D1-2 bracket is going to bring together some of Class D1’s finest volleyball talent in one building.
Mead is the top seed here after a very impressive 25-3 campaign. They’ll face Cedar Bluffs in the opening round, while Archbishop Bergan and Elmwood-Murdock are set to face off on the other side. This is a formidable group full of squads capable of hoisting a championship trophy.
D1-5
Nebraska Christian sits atop this sub-bracket and will await the winner of East Butler and Twin River. The one-seeded Eagles were tabbed as a preseason favorite to emerge as championship contenders, and they’ve surely proven themselves to this point.
The other half of the bracket has Cross County facing Aquinas Catholic. Any team that emerges to represent the group will likely have great state tournament success.
D1-6
Here’s another group with teams that you should definitely keep an eye on.
Howells-Dodge headlines this pod, and they’ll face either Summerland or Neligh-Oakdale in the semifinal round. On the other half, Elgin Public/Pope John and Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family will battle after the two teams were nearly inseparable in the D1 wildcard race. That’s an exciting slate.
D1-9
The next possible barnburner sub-district is being hosted by Shelton. The 27-2 Bulldogs will face either Axtell or Elm Creek. Meanwhile, Kenesaw and Alma are set to battle on the other side, and neither team is really accustomed to losing. Something’s got to give.
D1-11
We’ll wrap up the D1 districts with D1-11, which will be held at Overton. The Eagles have been in this position before and will not overlook either Sandhills Valley or Maxwell. Sumner-Eddyville-Miller has claimed the two seed in this bracket and faces a talented North Platte St. Patrick’s team that is eager for a breakthrough.
D2-1
These are teams you surely recognize by now.
Falls City Sacred Heart is the tip of the spear in D2-1, and they’ll face Lewiston in the opener. Rounding out this bracket is the talent-rich duel between Diller-Odell and Sterling. It would not be misguided to believe that this year’s D2 champion could come from this group.
D2-5
This bracket has a good list of challengers that could make some noise en route to the D2 title.
Stuart is the top seed and will face either Santee or CWC. A couple of winning teams will square off in the 2-3 matchup as Wynot takes on St. Mary’s. These are squads that have put themselves in a solid wildcard position all year and look to capitalize on that success.
D2-8
The journey through D2-8 will take place in Maywood with Maywood-Hayes Center leading the charge as the top seed. A matchup between Medicine Valley and Brady will precede their semifinal bout.
Bertrand is in a solid spot to surge as the two seed and will take on Loomis in the semis. While the host school has seldom lost this season, there are some worthy competitors looking to shake things up.
D2-11
The battles of D2-11 will go down in Oshkosh as Garden County has claimed the top seed. The Eagles can look forward to facing either Creek Valley or Potter-Dix.
South Platte had a great 2021 campaign and will try to carry that momentum into a match with Leyton. Again, it’s fair to expect that things may not go as expected in this district–or perhaps in any district.