When Emma Kwapnioski donned her Nebraska high school volleyball official’s shirt in 2021, she wasn’t thinking about her mom. Or her grandfather. Or her great-grandfather.

Nervousness blocked any thoughts of family legacy.

“I read through the case book and rules book three times (before the match),” she recalled.

That first match of her officiating career? A freshman reserve game at Lincoln East High School.

Emma’s anxiety heading into that first match illustrated an inherited commitment to the game — dedication that extends back more than 50 years, across four generations. It’s a feat one Nebraska School Activities Association leader called “remarkable.”

During that time, the job has grown more intense. Players are more athletic, upping the pace of play. Parents are more willing to be

See Full Page