Cambridge Falls to North Central in First Round of Class D1 State Volleyball Tournament

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On Thursday, November 5, 2026, the first day of the Class D1 NSAA State Volleyball Tournament took place in Lincoln. Matches were played at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The #4 seed Cambridge Trojans played the #5 seed North Central Knights.

North Central took a narrow 5-4 lead to start. North Central extended the lead to 10-7. North Central extended the lead to 14-9 before Cambridge called a timeout.

The Trojans cut to the deficit as they trailed 17-15 later in the set. Cambridge then tied it up at 18-18, and North Central called a timeout.

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The match stayed tight, tied at 24-24, and Cambridge called a timeout.

Kate Salberg served an ace, then Joslyn Holtze tipped it to close out the opening set, 27-25, and Cambridge took the 1-0 lead.

In the second set, Cambridge took control. Grace Andrews toed the service line and totaled a couple of aces, and it was 5-2, forcing a timeout by the Knights. Later in the set, the score was tied at 9-9. The teams kept trading great attacks and solid defense. It was tied up again at 17-17.

Cambridge won the set 25-21 as they continued to apply heavy pressure at the net and make life hard for North Central. The Trojans had the 2-0 match lead.

North Central built a small lead in the third set, up 5-3. The Knights pulled away, taking a 12-9 lead. The Trojans tried to crawl back, but the Knights' offense was tough. Cambridge tied it up at 12 all about halfway through the set.

Cambridge kept pressing, and they went up 18-15 before North Central took a timeout.

North Central fought back and took a 20-19 lead late in the third set. The Knights secured the third set, 25-21. Cambridge still led the match, 2-1.

In the fourth set, North Central started quickly, leading 6-3 before the Trojans took a timeout. The block for North Central became too much to overcome late in the third set and early in the fourth set. North Central stayed aggressive on offense and went up 12-4.

Cambridge chipped away at the lead and cut it to 15-13. North Central took a timeout at that point.

North Central reclaimed an 18-14 lead. Cambridge had to take a timeout after falling behind 20-15. All the momentum was with North Central. Cambridge went on a 3-0 run to make the score 20-18, and North Central had to use their final timeout. North Central made a couple of attack errors out of the timeout, and we were tied at 20 all.

Cambridge took a 22-20 lead as they pressured the Knights at the service line. North Central tied it up at 23-23.

Cambridge led 25-24 but then was tied at 25. Then, it was sent to 27-26. North Central took the set 28-26, so we went to a fifth set.

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Early in the final set, Cambridge led 3-2. Cambridge went up 5-2, and North Central called a timeout.

North Central fought back and tied things up at 5-5. North Central took the lead at 8-6 and had all the momentum. A timeout was taken by Cambridge. The Trojans tied things back up at 8-8. The Trojans had to take another timeout after falling behind 13-10.

The Knights closed out the set, winning 15-10, and won the match, 3-2.

We caught up with Brooklyn Holtze prior to the match. Acme Printing Company brought you the interviews.

For Cambridge, Brooklyn Holtze had 21 kills, nine digs, two blocks, and 23 assists; Joslyn Holtze had 17 kills, five blocks, and 15 digs; Kyrie Houghtelling had 11 kills, eight digs, and two blocks; Peyton Soucie had nine kills, 30 assists, 23 digs, and three blocks; Elisabeth Kubik had seven kills, two blocks, and 16 digs; Kate Salberg had 29 digs; and Grace Andrews had three aces.

For North Central, Mya Lewis had 16 kills, 22 digs, and three blocks; Audrey Kuchera had 13 kills and 10 blocks; Jayden Norton had 11 kills, eight digs, and seven blocks; Paisley Hoffman had 10 kills and 26 digs; Ireland Buwll had four kills, seven assists, and five blocks; Sydney Hoffmann had 37 assists, 12 digs, and three blocks; Reece Frizzell had 10 digs; and Myley Hoffman had 33 digs.

Check out the match highlights brought to you by Prairie Girl Candle Company.

Cambridge ends their season with a 25-7 record.

In their first-ever state appearance, North Central picks up their first-ever state win and advances to the Class D1 semifinals, where they will face #1 Central Valley at 9:00 AM on the South Court at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Friday morning.