LINCOLN – Half of the 48 teams who punched their ticket to state following last Saturday’s district volleyball competition will be in action throughout Wednesday.
From the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, the north and south courts will host the 2020 NSAA State Volleyball Championships from Wednesday, November 4 – Saturday, November 7. All tickets will be allotted to qualifying schools as tickets will not be available for purchase at the Pinnacle Bank Arena box office.
A limited number of tickets for Wednesday’s sessions were available Tuesday evening. Printed tickets will not be accepted as tickets must be redeemed on a mobile device.
Class B teams will open the morning at 9 a.m.; followed by Class C1 matches starting at 2 p.m. and Class A around 7 p.m.
Teams who win Wednesday in Class A, B and C1 will be off until Friday’s semifinal round.
A few northeast Nebraska programs will be represented on Thursday, November 5 at the PBA.
Opening Thursday morning at 9 a.m. will feature #7 Wynot (18-4) vs. #2 Chambers/Wheeler Central (31-1) on the south court.
Wynot, a member of the Lewis and Clark Conference won in four sets over Exeter-Milligan during the D2-8 District Final in Schuyler. Wynot placed third in their conference tourney and have won eight of their past nine matches including victories in straight sets over Walthill and Winside in the subdistrict round.
CWC’s only loss on the season was a three-set loss to Class C1 Wayne High on September 26 during the Wisner-Pilger September Classic. The Coyotes have only dropped three sets on the season (two to Wayne). The team has won 17 matches straight since that date including winning the Anselmo-Merna Tournament; Niobrara Valley Conference Tournament; D2-6 Subdistrict and swept Wauneta-Palisade in the D2-2 District final held in Minden.
In the afternoon for Class D1, #7 Hartington Cedar Catholic (17-13) will face #2 Bruning-Davenport/Shickley (28-3) at 2 p.m. on the south court.
Cedar Catholic is a member of the Mid State Conference and swept Elgin Public/Pope John during the D1-6 District final. The Trojans suffered a loss in straight sets to Hartington-Newcastle in the subdistrict round to earn a wildcard. HCC has won six of their past eight matches.
BDS had three regular season losses. One being a 36-7 team out of Kansas, another to Diller-Odell (#1 team in D2) and then recently Cross County (C2 subdistrict runner-up) during the CRC Tournament in York on October 20. The Eagles swept Heartland and won in four sets over Meridian during the subdistrict round before winning in four sets over High Plains Community in the D1-2 District Final in Hampton.
Classing out the evening will be Class C2 on Thursday. #1 Lutheran High Northeast (33-1) will take on #8 Centennial (22-11) at 7 p.m. on the north court while #7 GACC (16-10) will face #2 Overton (26-2) at 7 p.m. on the south court followed by #3 Norfolk Catholic (23-7) vs. #6 Superior (19-6).
The only LHNE loss came at the hands of a Class C1 state tournament qualifier being Columbus Lakeview in five sets on October 13 in Norfolk. The Eagles have won six straight including the Eagle Classic, C2-6 Subdistrict and swept Freeman in the District final round from Shelby-Rising City.
Centennial topped Thayer Central in five sets during the C2-5 District final in Hebron after sweeping both Shelby-Rising City and Cross County in their subdistrict round.
GACC is a member of the Mid State Conference and finished third in the conference tourney after sweeping Battle Creek on October 22. The Bluejays received a wildcard after falling to Howell-Dodge in four sets in the subdistrict round. GACC swept Freeman during the C2-8 District final in West Point.
Overton lost to Class D1 Pleasanton (30-0) twice and have won four straight which includes wins in straight sets over Southern Valley and Elm Creek in the subdistrict round and Gordon-Rushville in the C2-3 District final hosted by Ogallala.
Norfolk Catholic is another member of the Mid State Conference and won the conference tournament by defeating Wayne in four sets on October 22. The Knights loss their subdistrict round after falling in four sets to #1 Lutheran High Northeast but swept Crofton in the C2-2 District Final in Norfolk.
Superior lost to Thayer Central in their subdistrict final, but earned a wildcard and swept Palmyra in the C2-7 District final hosted by Diller-Odell.
Class C2, D1 and D2 winners will all be in action on Friday for the semifinal round.
Championship matches will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday from the main court at the Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Class C1, C2, D1 and D2 will take part in third place matches from Lincoln Southeast High School starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. Specific COVID-19 team protocols will be shared with these qualifying schools.