Class D1 volleyball: Amherst, Central Valley share one sub-district

The best sub-district in Nebraska volleyball might be D1-9. NSAA put Amherst, Central Valley and Ansley-Litchfield in the same five-team sub-district. Those are Class D1's No. 1, No. 2 and No. 7 teams on wildcard points, and Amherst hosts on Oct. 26-27. Only one of them can win it. The other two would need at-large spots to reach the district final.

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 D1 gets to state

D1 has 12 sub-districts, played Oct. 26-27. The 12 winners and four at-large teams with the best averages make a 16-team district final bracket on Saturday, Oct. 31. The higher seed hosts, and the eight winners go to state (NSAA manual, pp. 16, 22). NSAA has posted the D1 sub-districts. Sites: D1-1 at Falls City Sacred Heart Roh Activity Center, D1-2 at Tri County, D1-3 at EMF Public Schools in Friend, D1-5 at Clarkson, D1-7 at Rock County High School and D1-8 at Cedar Rapids (host Riverside) (NSAA district assignments, checked Oct. 22).

The top of D1

Amherst (23-4, 46.296) is No. 1 in points and the Hurrdat Sports coaches poll. All four of its losses came to Class C1 teams: Lincoln Lutheran, Ord, Pierce and Kearney Catholic. It's 2-0 against Ansley-Litchfield.

Central Valley (28-1, 45.827) is No. 2 in both. Its only loss was to Class C2 points leader Thayer Central, 2-0 on Oct. 10. It beat Riverside twice and Ansley-Litchfield once. Central Valley and Amherst haven't played each other this season, according to NSAA's results.

Bloomfield (26-0, 44.808) is the only unbeaten team on NSAA's six points pages. It's No. 3 in points and No. 4 in the poll. One of its wins came over D2 points leader St. Mary's, 2-0 on Aug. 27. Bloomfield hosts D1-6.

North Central (24-4, 44.786) and Riverside (25-4, 44.759) are Nos. 4 and 5. Riverside is No. 3 in the poll, and North Central is in D1-7. Riverside's losses include Central Valley twice and Tri County 2-1 on Sept. 12.

Who else to watch

Tri County (19-8, 44.556) is No. 6 and headlines D1-2. Ansley-Litchfield (21-7, 44.321) moved from No. 8 to No. 6 in the poll. Wauneta-Palisade (23-4, 44.259) and Cambridge (21-6, 44.000) share D1-11, which Wauneta-Palisade hosts. Red Cloud (23-5, 44.107) hosts D1-10, which also includes Arapahoe (19-5, 43.833).

Cambridge is new to the poll at No. 9. Dundy County Stratton (20-7, 43.593) dropped from No. 9 to receiving votes. Osceola (21-5, 43.885) hosts D1-4 and is receiving votes, along with Arapahoe and Loomis.

State

The Class D1 first round is Thursday, Nov. 5, at 1 and 3 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The D1 final opens championship Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Devaney Sports Center. The full schedule and qualifying rules are in our state volleyball guide.

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