Each week volleyball coaches from each class across the state submit their rankings and our Tony Chapman compiles them. Here is the fourth in-season poll for 2023 season, presented by Pinnacle Bank. Records listed are through games played on Saturday, September 16.
Class A
- Papillion-LaVista South (18-0), 1
- Lincoln Southwest (11-1), 2
- Lincoln East (12-5), 3
- Millard West (12-4), 4
- Grand Island (13-6), NR
- Omaha Westside (5-4), 5
- Papillion-LaVista (9-8), 8
- Gretna (13-8), 6
- Bellevue West (11-4), 10
- Lincoln Pius X (3-3), 7
Receiving votes: Millard North (7-8), 9; Lincoln North Star (8-8), NR; Millard South (8-8).
Comments: Nine of the 10 teams from last week stay ranked, but still plenty of shuffling and a big entrance from Grand Island who is the new No. 5. The Islanders had a 4-2 weekend at the LPS Invite with the losses to Papio South and Lincoln Southwest. They earned wins over ranked foes Gretna, Papiol and Bellevue West.
Top games: Tuesday, Lincoln Pius X at Lincoln North Star, Millard West at Papillion-LaVista South; Wednesday, Papillion-LaVista South at Omaha Westside; Thursday, Fremont at Grand Island.
Class B
- Omaha Skutt (10-6), 1
- Elkhorn North (15-2), 3
- Bennington (16-1), 2
- Norris (16-2), 4
- Gretna East (16-3), 5
- Waverly (8-5), 6
- Omaha Duchesne (7-2), 7
- Gering (7-1), 10
- Seward (11-4), 8
- Crete (9-4), RV
Receiving votes: Beatrice (8-6), RV.
Comments: As was last week, the top-seven remain the same with Elkhorn North switching spots with Bennington when the Badgers lost to Bellevue West. Gering jumps to No. 8, despite their only loss to unranked Scottsbluff. Seward drops a spot and Crete enters off of two wins, with Northwest dropping out, even though the Vikings have the head-to-head win. Beatrice stays close and also has a win over Crete.
Top games: Monday, Grand Island at Crete; Thursday, Omaha Skutt at Crete, Gretna East at Bennington.
Class C-1
- Minden (17-0), 1
- Gothenburg (16-0), 2
- GICC (12-0), 5
- DC West (12-1), 3
- Kearney Catholic (10-2), 4
- Malcolm (10-2), 8
- Adams Central (10-2), 7
- Platteview (10-5), 6
- Pierce (13-1), NR
- Syracuse (11-3), NR
Receiving Votes: Wahoo (8-4), 9; St. Paul (12-3), 10.
Comments: A little shuffling, but Minden and Gothenburg remain 1-2 after going unbeaten at the Harvest Festival in Gothenburg and they will meet on Thursday. GICC jumps after winning the Ord Invite and sweeping Class D-1, No. 1 Amherst. Malcolm leaps with a sweep over Class B contender Beatrice.
Top games: Tuesday, St. Paul at Adams Central; Thursday, Gothenburg at Minden.
Class C-2
- Lincoln Lutheran (14-0), 1
- Clarkson/Leigh (14-0), 2
- Oakland-Craig (14-2), 3
- Fremont Bergan (13-2), 4
- Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family (12-2), 7
- Freeman (12-2), RV
- Yutan (14-2), 5
- Elmwood-Murdock (11-3), 6
- Thayer Central (7-0), 8
- Bayard (9-0), 9
Receiving votes: Bishop Neumann (9-6), NR; Cross County (11-2), NR; Hastings St. Cecilia (8-6), 10.
Comments: The top-four remain the same and despite losing to Clarkson/Leigh and Oakland-Craig, HLHF jumps two spots after winning the Cross County Invite in a busy week. Newcomer Freeman won the MUDECAS title last week. Yutan dropped for a loss to Raymond Central.
Top games: Tuesday, Lincoln Lutheran at Archbishop Bergan (with Bishop Neumann); Thursday, Johnson-Brock at Freeman, Archbishop Bergan at Yutan, Sutton at Hastings St. Cecilia.
Class D-1
- Amherst (12-1), 1
- Southwest (11-1), 2
- O’Neill St. Mary’s (10-0), 4
- Elgin Public/Pope John (12-1), 7
- Bruning-Davenport/Shickley (6-3), 3
- Diller-Odell (6-3), 5
- Nebraska Christian (10-4), 6
- Sumner-Eddyville-Miller (9-3), 8
- Axtell (12-2), 9
- Paxton (10-2), 10
Receiving votes: Exeter-Milligan/Friend (8-3), RV; Guardian Angels Central Catholic (9-2), RV; Johnson-Brock (11-3), RV.
Comments: St. Mary’s is still unbeaten and continues their rise up the rankings after BDS and Diller-Odell faltered in the MUDECAS tournament. Nebraska Christian drops a spot after a loss to unranked Burwell but will get to face EPPJ this week. SEM beat Paxton in the NPCC Invite.
Top games: Tuesday, Sutton at EMF; Thursday, Meridian at BDS, Nebraska Christian at EPPJ (with Riverside).
Class D-2
- Overton (12-0), 1
- Cambridge (10-3), 2
- Meridian (9-1), 3
- Wynot (7-1), 4
- Stuart (11-1), 5
- Shelton (9-4), 6
- Central Valley (9-2), 10
- Sandhills/Thedford (9-2), RV
- Howells-Dodge (7-5), 8
- Wallace (11-2), RV
Receiving votes: Bertrand (9-5), 7; Leyton (9-3), 9.
Comments: The top-six remain the same. Central Valley made a move with a win over Nebraska Christian, but still falls just behind Shelton due to the Bulldogs earlier head-to-head win. Sandhills/Thedford and Wallace replace Bertrand and Leyton.
Top games: Thursday, Cross County at Central Valley.
