Taya Beller, Humphrey/LHF
Year: Senior.
College: Wayne State (volleyball).
Volleyball: Led the Bulldogs to the Class D-1 state championship match and finished with some big numbers: 500 digs, 422 kills, 125 blocks and 47 ace serves. She had 28 and 27 kills, respectively, in her team's first two state tourney matches and was named to the D-1 all-state first team.
Basketball: Earned all-state second-team honors after leading the state-bound Bulldogs in points (14.0 ppg) and rebounds (9.3). She had eight double-doubles.
Track and field: Won the Class D triple jump at state with a leap of 37-1¼; also was a state qualifier in the 200.
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Kelsie Cada, Bishop Neumann
Year: Senior.
College: Wayne State (volleyball).
Volleyball: Earned third-team Super-State and Class C-1 first-team honors after finishing with 437 kills (4.7 per set) and 453 digs (4.9 per set) for the Cavaliers, who reached the state semifinals; had a big state meet, totaling 58 kills and 75 digs over three matches.
Basketball: Was critical down the stretch in helping Neumann to a Class C-1 state championship; averaged 12.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 54% from the field en route to earning C-1 all-state first-team honors; had 21 points in a first-round overtime win against North Bend Central at state.
Track and field: Qualified for state in the 800 and anchored the Cavaliers' 3,200- and 1,600-meter relay teams. The 3,200 squad finished third.
Meredith Clark, Syracuse
Year: Senior.
College: South Dakota (track and field).
Volleyball: Earned second-team all-state honors in Class C-1 after helping the 26-4 Rockets to their first state tournament berth since 2013; ranked first on the team in kills (310), first in blocks (52) and added 152 digs.
Basketball: Four-year starter averaged 13 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for the Rockets, who finished 17-9 and nearly knocked off Mitchell in the Class C-1 district round; earned all-state honorable-mention and all-conference first-team honors.
Track and field: Took third in the Class B discus with a throw of 135-1 and third in the shot put with a throw of 41-8 in helping the Rockets to back-to-back state championships; won the Class B shot put title as a junior.
Jaden Ferguson, Lincoln Southwest
Year: Senior.
College: Northwest Missouri State (volleyball).
Volleyball: Received all-state honorable-mention and all-city honors after leading the Silver Hawks in kills (356); also was second on the team in digs (309) and service aces (40); four-year starter.
Basketball: Played a leading role in helping the Silver Hawks reach the Class A state final; was named to the Super-State second team and Class A all-state first team after averaging 14.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, and scored a season-high 31 against Lincoln East in HAC tourney.
Track and field: In her only season competing in shot put, Ferguson finished sixth at the state meet with a throw of 39-3½.
Rylee Gray, Elkhorn South
Year: Sophomore.
College: Nebraska (volleyball commit).
Volleyball: Earned Super-State second-team and Class B first-team all-state honors after recording 345 kills (3.2 per set) and 123 blocks (1.3 per set) for the Storm, which finished as state runner-up in Class B. Had six matches of six blocks or more.
Basketball: Averaged nearly a double-double (10.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game) against a Class A-heavy schedule; helped the Storm reach the Class B state semifinals for a second straight season; earned Class B all-state second-team honors.
Track and field: Finished tied for 16th in the Class A high jump at the state meet with a leap of 5-0; set a school record in the event at districts with a 5-3.
Jayme Horan, Millard South
Year: Junior.
College: Creighton (basketball commit).
Softball: Solidified herself as one of the top hitters in the state, batting .529 with 15 homers and 12 doubles from the No. 3 spot in the lineup. Her defense at first base was strong, too, and Horan was named a Super-State first-teamer.
Basketball: Received Super-State first-team honors and was named Class A all-state honorary captain after averaging 20 points and eight rebounds for the Patriots, who were No. 1 for a good part of the season. Horan's ability to stretch the court and her scoring versatility made her a matchup problem for opponents.
Haley Kempf, Archbishop Bergan
Year: Senior.
College: Northwest Missouri State.
Volleyball: Received second-team all-state honors after compiling 271 kills, 221 digs, 42 blocks and 29 aces for the Class D-1 state champion Knights.
Basketball: Played a leading role in the Knights capping a sweep of state volleyball and basketball titles; earned Class D-1 all-state honors after averaging 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 50% from the field; became fourth player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points.
Track and field: Took seventh at state in the long jump (Class C) with a leap of 16-4½. Jumped 16-8½ at the district meet.
Morgan Maly, Crete
Year: Junior.
College: Creighton (basketball commit).
Softball: Helped lead Crete to a second straight Class B state appearance; was named to Super-State second team and Class B all-state first team at catcher after hitting .450 with 45 hits, eight homers and 38 RBIs.
Basketball: Was nearly unstoppable, averaging 20 points and eight rebounds per game while eclipsing 1,200 career points; named to the Super-State and Class B all-state first teams after helping lead the Cardinals to a state runner-up finish; averaged 20 points in three state tourney games.
Track and field: Medaled at state in the discus, finishing seventh with a throw of 126-10. She also placed 10th in the shot put.
Camryn Opfer, Seward
Year: Senior.
College: Concordia (volleyball).
Volleyball: Earned Class B all-state second-team honors after racking up 527 kills (5.7 per set). She also led the Bluejays in digs (345) and added 35 blocks. She had 35 kills in a four-set win against Columbus Lakeview.
Basketball: After playing in more of a post role as junior, Opfer expanded her skill set and played with more range as a senior. She earned Class B all-state first-team honors after averaging 11.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She also hit a three-pointer late in the Class B district final to lift Seward into state.
Soccer: The Bluejays' starting goalkeeper made 96 saves, allowing only 14 goals over 13 games (1.3 per game); she earned all-state honorable-mention honors after making five shutouts; also played minutes at forward, recording five goals.
Chaise Pfanstiel, Millard West
Year: Senior.
College: Northwest Missouri State (basketball).
Basketball: Among the top 15 players in Class A; averaged 14 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.8 steals per game on her way to earning all-state honorable-mention honors; averaged 18.3 points per game over her final four games.Â
Soccer: Scored 21 goals during the season and played her best soccer at Morrison Stadium, finishing with five goals in three games in helping the Wildcats win the Class A state championship; earned Super-State first-team and Class A all-state honors.
Sydni Schernikau, Waverly
Year: Senior.
College: Concordia (softball).
Softball: Vikings' leadoff hitter hit .356 with 36 hits, 41 runs scored and four triples. She also swiped 33 bases in 34 attempts in helping Waverly reach 22 wins.
Basketball: Earned second-team Class B all-state honors after running point for the Vikings, who reached the state semifinals; averaged 12.0 points per game and was relentless on the defensive side of the court.
Track and field: Was one of Class B's top sprinters, finishing fifth in the 100 (:12.57) and fourth in the 200 (:25.87); also was part of the Vikings' second-place finish in the 1,600 relay and third-place finish in the 400 relay.
Allison Weidner, Humphrey SF
Year: Sophomore.
College: Undecided (receiving Division I interest/offers in basketball).
Volleyball: Received all-state honorable-mention honors after finishing second on the team in kills (177), second in blocks (31) and third in digs (296).
Basketball: Was named the Class D-2 all-state honorary captain after averaging 19.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game; she's one of the best point guards in the state, regardless of class.
Track and field: Won Class D golds in the 400 (:59.02) and 800 (2:20.41) races for the second straight season; also anchored the Flyers' 3,200 relay team, which took gold, as well.
Katherine White, Exeter-Milligan
Year: Senior.
College: Missouri Western (volleyball).
Volleyball: Was named the Class D-2 all-state honorary captain after piling 454 kills (5.3 per set) for the statebound Timberwolves; was second on the team in digs (250), first in ace serves (63) and second in blocks (39).
Basketball: Was the Timberwolves' second-best player, averaging 9.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.8 steals per game while overcoming a midseason injury; earned Class D-2 all-state honorable-mention honors.
Track and field: Showed her versatility in the sport, placing fourth in the Class D long jump (16-10¾) and third in the 100 hurdles (:15.86); also ran the 100 and 400 during the season.
Megan Woods, Grand Island CC
Year: Senior.
College: Omaha (volleyball).
Volleyball: Had nearly 500 kills in her final season — and added 407 digs — while hitting at a .306 clip in leading the Crusaders back to the state tournament; earned Super-State third-team honors; finished atop the school's all-time charts in kills with 1,618.
Basketball: Received Class C-1 all-state second-team honors after averaging 16.9 points and 10.8 rebounds for one of the top teams in the class; Woods was a double-double machine for the Crusaders and finished first in school history in career rebounds and second in scoring.
Tennis: Teamed up with senior Jenna Lowry to win a Class B state championship at No. 2 doubles. The duo entered state as the No. 3 seed and finished 26-2.