Prep volleyball ratings, 10/18

1. Lincoln Southwest;25-3;1

2. Papillion-LV South;24-5;2

6. Lincoln Pius X;19-11;6

7. Papillion-La Vista;22-9;7

Contenders: Grand Island, Elkhorn South, Millard North.

Comments: Lincoln Southwest keeps its hold on the No. 1 spot this week after winning the Omaha Westside Invitational, despite picking up a loss along the way to Lincoln East. The Spartans are the only team to move up this week after a good performance at Westside. Time for the conference tournaments in Class A.

Key matches: All week—HAC Tournament and Metro Conference Tournament.

Contenders: Scottsbluff, Omaha Duchesne, Omaha Mercy.

Comments: Elkhorn North went 3-2 at the Westside Invite in a field made up mostly of Class A programs. Seward’s Central Conference Tournament win gives it a big boost this week. The Bluejays have been strong of late, winning 11 of their last 13 matches.

Key matches: Tuesday—Lincoln Lutheran vs. Norris, Elkhorn at Omaha Duchesne, York at GI Northwest, Omaha Skutt at Aurora. Thursday—Bennington at Omaha Duchesne, Elkhorn at Waverly.

1. North Bend Central;25-1;1

2. Grand Island CC;24-2;2

8. Kearney Catholic;22-7;9

9. Columbus Lakeview;19-7;8

Contenders: St. Paul, Ogallala, Bishop Neumann, Yutan, Aurora.

Comments: North Bend Central’s unbeaten season came to an end this weekend in the East Husker Conference Tournament. But their head-to-head win over Grand Island CC keeps them on top for now. Kearney Catholic moves up a spot after a bounce-back week. The top holds for another week.

Key matches: Tuesday—Columbus Lakeview at Bishop Neumann, Gothenburg at Amherst, Kearney Catholic at Overton, Palmyra at Yutan, Howells-Dodge at North Bend Central. Thursday—North Bend Central at Columbus Lakeview, Adams Central at Grand Island CC.

1. Lincoln Lutheran;32-0;1

2. Archbishop Bergan;27-4;2

4. Clarkson-Leigh;22-6;10

Contenders: Humphrey/LHF, Palmyra, Fullerton, Bayard.

Comments: Lincoln Lutheran is the final undefeated team in the state. After an up-and-down season for Clarkson-Leigh, they had their biggest triumph of the year on Saturday winning the East Husker Conference Tournament. The Patriots knocked off North Bend Central and Oakland-Craig.

Key matches: Tuesday—Clarkson-Leigh at Oakland-Craig.

1. Norfolk Catholic;24-2;1

3. Maywood-Hayes Center;21-1;3

9. Nebraska Christian;24-7;6

Contenders: Elmwood-Murdock, Alma, Elgin/PJ, Pleasanton.

Comments: The shuffle in Class D-1 comes in the middle of the pack. Hartington Cedar Catholic and S-E-M have both had great second…