Panhandle volleyball teams vie for state tournament bids
Eight panhandle volleyball teams in five classes are playing for a trip to next week’s NSAA State Volleyball Championships on Saturday. Sidney and Scottsbluff in Class B, Ogallala in Class C-1, Bayard in Class C-2, and South Platte in D-1. Garden County, Hay Springs, and Leyton all competing in D-2.
Sidney (27-6) is attempting to make the state tournament in Class B for the fourteenth time in school history when they host Omaha Duchesne Academy (13-20) in the B-5 District Final on Saturday. The Lady Raiders, who won the B-8 subdistrict in straight sets over Scottsbluff, is the number 5 seed. Duchesne Academy, who lost to Omaha Skutt Catholic in straight sets in the B-2 subdistrict title game, is the number 12 seed. First serve at the Cabela’s Athletic Facility is slated for 11:00 a.m. MDT. You can listen to the game live on 1340 AM and 95.7 FM, Cheyenne County Country
Meanwhile Scottsbluff (23-14) travels to Seward (27-7) for the B-6 District Final. The Bearcats are seeded number 11 while the Bluejays, who won the B-6 subdistrict in straight sets over York, are the number 6 seed. Game time is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CDT at Seward High School.
Ogallala (25-10) is shooting for their 31st trip to state when they meet Kearney Catholic (24-8) in the C1-7 District Final in Kearney. The Indians won the C1-12 subdistrict in straight sets over Chase County and are seeded number 10 while the Stars, who lost in four sets to Gothenburg in the C1-11 subdistrict, are the number 7 seed. The match at Kearney Catholic High School is set for 1:00 p.m. CDT.
The C2-12 Subdistrict champion Bayard (30-1) is trying to make it back to state for the first time in 30 years. The Tigers earned the number 5 seed and will face the number 12 seed Freeman (21-8) in the C2-5 District Final. The Falcons won the C2-1 subdistrict in straight sets over Johnson County Central. The teams will play a 3:00 p.m. CDT game at Cozad High School.
South Platte’s (16-16) attempt to qualify for the state tournament for the second time in school history will have to go through top-seeded Norfolk Catholic (27-4) on Saturday. The Blue Knights beat Morrill in four sets to capture the D1-12 subdistrict title while the Knights of Norfolk Catholic lost to Cedar Catholic in the finals of the D1-4 subdistrict. The teams will meet at 4:00 p.m. CDT in Kearney at Kearney Catholic High School.
Three panhandle team in Class D-2 are hoping to make it to Lincoln next week. D2-11 sub district champ Leyton (20-12) draws the number 15 seed and will take on the D2-8 subdistrict champion, second seeded Overton (27-4) in the D2-2 District Final. The match is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT at Sutherland High School. You can listen to the game live on 1340 AM and 95.7 FM, Cheyenne County Country.
Garden County (19-12), who won the D2-10 subdistrict, is seeded number 14 in Class D-2. The Eagles will take on third seeded Humphrey St. Francis (24-4) in the D2-3 District Final. First serve at Holdrege High School is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT.
D2-12 subdistrict champion Hay Springs (25-5) is the number 11 seed in class D-2. The Hawks will meet 6th-seeded Falls City Sacred Heart (24-8) in the D2-6 District Final in Litchfield. The game is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CDT at Litchfield High School.
The NSAA State Volleyball Championships run from Wednesday, November 2nd through Saturday, November 5th in Lincoln.