Class C2 volleyball outlook: Thayer Central, Centura 0.083 apart

Centura has lost once all season, and that came to a Class B team. Centura is 29-1, but Thayer Central leads Class C2 on NSAA wildcard points. Thayer Central is 25-3 with a 45.750 average, and Centura is 0.083 behind at 45.667. The coaches have them the other way around: Centura is No. 1 in the Hurrdat Sports coaches poll and Thayer Central is No. 2.

Records and points are from NSAA wildcard standings through Tuesday, Oct. 20 (page updated Oct. 22). Poll ranks are from the Hurrdat Sports coaches poll of Oct. 19, so its records run a match or two behind. NSAA has not posted brackets yet.

How Class C2 gets to state

C2's 55 teams are grouped into four geographic regions, which become 10 sub-districts (NSAA manual, p. 16). The 10 sub-district winners and the six non-winners with the best averages make the 16-team district final bracket on Saturday, Oct. 31. The eight district final winners go to state (manual, p. 22). NSAA hasn't posted the C2 sub-district assignments yet.

The top three

Thayer Central (25-3, 45.750) lost all three of its matches to Class C1 teams: Lincoln Christian on Sept. 26 and Milford twice in October. It handed D1's Central Valley its only loss, 2-0 on Oct. 10, and it beat Johnson County Central 2-0 on Oct. 3.

Centura (29-1, 45.667) lost only to Class B's Adams Central, 2-0 on Sept. 26.

Laurel-Concord-Coleridge (27-3, 45.633) is No. 3 in points and the poll, so the top three are separated by 0.117 points. Its wins include C1 No. 3 Pierce (3-2 on Sept. 29) and Bergan Catholic (2-0 on Sept. 26). Its losses were to Battle Creek, D2 points leader St. Mary's and Central City.

The chase

Johnson County Central (23-4, 45.185) and Guardian Angels Central Catholic (21-6, 45.000) are Nos. 4 and 5 in points. Johnson County Central split with Elmwood-Murdock in a week: it lost 3-0 at the ECNC tournament on Oct. 15 and won 3-1 on Oct. 19.

Bergan Catholic (24-8, 44.906) beat Guardian Angels 2-1 on Sept. 5. It's No. 6 in points and No. 5 in the poll. Shelby-Rising City (26-3, 44.655) and Elmwood-Murdock (21-8, 44.586) come next, and Freeman and Stanton are tied for No. 9 at exactly 44.000.

Stanton made the biggest jump in the poll, from No. 10 to No. 8. Johnson-Brock (21-6, 43.889, No. 11 in points) is receiving votes. So is Superior (19-11, 43.100, No. 15).

The district final bubble

With six at-large spots, averages in the 43s matter. Yutan (18-6, 43.875), Omaha Brownell Talbot (23-7, 43.600), Maywood-Hayes Center (20-7, 43.407) and Superior sit just behind the leaders.

State

The Class C2 first round is the last session on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 5 and 7 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The final is Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Devaney Sports Center. The full schedule and qualifying rules are in our state volleyball guide.

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