CLASS A
Omaha Marian (41-1) vs. Papillion-La Vista South (36-4)
1:30 p.m., NU Coliseum
The Crusaders have been ranked No. 1 all season and the Titans have been No. 2 most of the way. The teams have played three times this season, and Marian has won all three. The Crusaders' only loss came Sept. 19 against Elkhorn in the final of the Lincoln Public Schools Classic. In addition to its three losses against Marian, Papio South lost to Bellevue East in the first week of the season. The Crusaders have four players with at least 200 kills this season, led by Nebraska recruit Lauren Sieckmann. The Titans start three freshmen -- twin sisters Kadie and Amber Rolfzen (NU recruits) and setter Kelly Hunter. Kadie Rolfzen has been slowed at state by a staph infection to her knee that had her hospitalized earlier in the week. Marian is seeking its fourth title and first since 1999 while Papio South, state runner-up a year ago, is aiming for its first crown.
CLASS B
Grand Island NW (33-5) vs. Omaha Gross (30-8)
7 p.m., NU Coliseum
The Vikings will play in the championship match for the third straight year, having lost to Lincoln Pius X in 2007 and 2008. Grand Island Northwest is riding a 15-match win streak since losing to Ogallala. At state, the Vikings swept Gretna in the first round and outlasted Seward in four sets in Friday night's semifinal. Gross also had its problems with Pius in the past, getting knocked out of the tournament each of the past three years by the Thunderbolts. The Cougars swept Omaha Duchesne in the first round before eliminating Pius in straight sets in the late semifinal Friday. The two teams did not meet during the regular season.
CLASS C-1
Grand Island CC (35-0) vs. Columbus Scotus (23-5)
9:30 a.m., NU Coliseum
It was expected that old rivals Grand Island Central Catholic and Columbus Scotus would meet in the final, and the two teams have not disappointed. Top-ranked Central Catholic is 35-0 and the only unbeaten team left in the state while the second-ranked Shamrocks are 23-5. The teams have played three times, and the Crusaders have won all three -- including a five-set victory in the district final. The two powerful programs have combined for 21 state titles (13 for Scotus, 8 for GICC). Crusaders coach Sharon Zavala and Shamrocks coach John Petersen have both won more than 700 matches and are among the top five in the state in career victories. The Shamrocks swept Central Catholic in the C-1 final last year.
CLASS C-2
Sandy Creek (25-6) vs. David City Aquinas (26-8)
5 p.m., NU Coliseum
The Cougars outlasted Sutton in a semifinal Friday, the fifth time the two teams have played this season. Sandy Creek split the previous four matches against the top-seeded Fillies before earning a five-set win. The Cougars haven't been to the state tournament since 1997, when the school won its last title. The Monarchs had an easier time in their semifinal match, sweeping past North Platte St. Pat's. Aquinas is riding a 15-match win streak and is seeking its first championship.
CLASS D-1
Howells (27-6) vs. Exeter-Milligan (26-5)
9 p.m., NU Coliseum
This will be the first match between the two schools this season. The fifth-seeded Bobcats have won their two previous tourney matches the hard way, dropping the first two sets before rallying for the victories. Howells is making its 13th trip to state and has won two state titles (1980, 1995). The Bobcats have won 10 matches in a row, though the opposition has won at least one set in each of the last seven. The second-seeded Timberwolves have been to state four times -- most recently in 2005 -- and are seeking their first title. They reached the tourney as a wild card after losing to Meridian in the district final, a loss they avenged in Friday's semifinals.
CLASS D-2
Clay Center (31-2) vs. Greeley-Wolbach (32-1)
11:30 a.m., NU Coliseum
The third-seeded Wildcats swept Mullen in the first round and needed four sets to dispatch second-seeded Chambers in Friday's semifinal. Clay Center won its first 19 matches this season before suffering its first loss against Lawrence-Nelson. It has won 12 of 13 since to net a spot in the finals for the first time since 1998 -- the year the school won its only title. Greeley-Wolbach suffered its only loss this season to Chambers. The Titans have gone on to win 23 matches in a row, including state tournament wins over Paxton and top-seeded Wallace. Both teams reached state last year, with Greeley-Wolbach losing in the first round and Clay Center losing in the semifinals.
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