The Nebraska High School VB State tournament opens today in Lincoln with the same schedule as last year.
1st-round matches in Classes A, B, and C-1 are today with C-2, D-1, and D-2 tomorrow – all at Pinnacle Bank Arena, which hosts all the semifinals on Friday. The finals on Sat are all at the Devaney Center.
Scottsbluff is the only Panhandle team to make it to state and they might not be there long. The Bearcats are the 8th seed in Class B and open with #1 Norris this morning at 8:00 MT.
4 of last year’s state champions return – Papillion-La Vista South in Class A, Class B’s Omaha Skutt, Grand Island Central Catholic in C-1 and Lincoln Lutheran in C-2.
Papillon-La Vista South is going for its 3rd straight title and 4th in 5 years, but they open with Papio – the only team to beat them this year.
Omaha Skutt has been to the Class B finals the last 9 years and are going for their 9th straight title this year as the #3 seed. Lincoln Lutheran saw its 74-match winning streak end 3 weeks ago and is looking for its 3rd straight title.
Gretna East made it state in its first season of varsity play by ending Grand Island Northwest’s state-leading streak of 22 consecutive tourney trips in the B-5 district final.