The Top 5 From the Class of 2020
Even though we focus a lot of our attention on the junior and senior class players in the state of Nebraska, the sophomore class players have really started to make names for themselves in the Great Plains Region. During the high school season, and now halfway through the club season, we’ve seen some incredible stand out performances from different players in the class of 2020. Here is a little more information about the top 5 players from the class of 2020 in the state of Nebraska.
#1- Kalynn Meyer (Superior-VCNebraska 17 Elite)
If you didn’t get to see Kalynn Meyer’s performance at the state volleyball tournament back in November, then you really missed out. The sophomore Husker commit put on a tear in the state tournament and helped her Superior high school volleyball team win their first state title in school history. She played a vital role in helping Superior knock out the top 3 teams in the state enroute to winning the state title. In the state championship match, Meyer and her teammates faced a 2-1 deficit after the 3rd set. She was relentless with her attack out of the front and back row, and was the X factor in Superior’s thrilling 5th set win. Kalynn Meyer made the 2017 MaxPreps Sophomore All American team after a standout sophomore campaign.
After the state tournament, Meyer picked up right where she left off on the volleyball court for club. She’s a member of a very talented VCNebraska 17 Elite squad. At the Heartland Cup Power League this last weekend, Meyer and her 17 Elite teammates were able to win the 18 Open title. The win helped prove that Meyer’s team is one of the best teams in the state. Regardless of whether this VCN squad plays at USA or AAU Nationals this summer (or both), we can expect Kalynn Meyer to lead the charge with her power and placement.
#2- McKenna Ruch (Millard North-Premier 16 Gold)
McKenna Ruch might be one of the most versatile attackers in the state of Nebraska. The sophomore from Millard North can hit anywhere along the net. She’s more than capable of hitting from the outside, middle or right side. Ruch was a starter as a freshman for Millard North’s 2016 state championship team, then remained in the starting lineup for the Mustang’s 2017 state runner up team. She has more than 600 career kills after just her sophomore season. Along with being on one of the top high school teams in the state of Nebraska, Ruch is on one of the top club teams in the state as well.
McKenna Ruch is apart of the Premier 16 Gold squad that is currently the top ranked 16s team in the Great Plains Region. Like many other teams, Ruch’s club team has been playing up in the majority of their tournaments. This exposure to top level older teams will help Ruch and her teammates continue their success as the club season goes on. Playing against older Open level talent will help out tremendously for Ruch and her teammates as they prepare for nationals this summer. Ruch’s Premier 16 Gold squad earned an Open bid to the USA Girls Junior National Championships in Minneapolis last summer. Ruch and her teammates want to qualify for Open nationals again, and we can expect her to play a huge role in helping her team get that Open bid.
#3- Marriah Buss (Lincoln Lutheran-Nebraska ONE 17 Titanium)
Marriah Buss might have the heaviest arm in the state of Nebraska. The sophomore from Lincoln Lutheran is definitely one of the hardest attackers to stop and I’m sure most players would rather have her on their side of the net than be on the opposing team. Whether Buss is in the front row or back row she will do everything in her will to get the ball to hit the floor. Buss recorded over 1,000 career kills after just her sophomore season and helped her Lincoln Lutheran volleyball team make it back to the state tournament for the first time in five years. Her Warrior high school volleyball team finished 3rd at state in class C1, which was impressive considering C1 was the strongest class in terms of talent in Nebraska. After a stellar sophomore season, Buss was named to the 2017 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Volleyball team.
Once the high school season came to an end, Buss was ready to contribute on the court with her club team. Buss plays for Nebraska ONE 17 Titanium, a thriving club team based out of Lincoln. Buss helped Titanium win the Northern Lights Thaw tournament back in January, finish in the top 5 in the Open division at the President’s Day Classic in Omaha last month, then helped them win the Performance Nike 18 Gold challenge this last weekend. Buss’s club team won the Show Me National Qualifier in Kansas City the last 2 seasons and had a 3rd place finish in the 16 National division at nationals last summer in Minneapolis. She and teammate Fallon Stutheit were named to the All-Tournament Team after a successful run in Minneapolis.
Buss and her teammates are ready for Open level competition at nationals and are playing in the 17 Open division at the AAU national championships in Orlando this summer. She and her teammates could potentially earn an Open bid to the USA national championships in Detroit as well if they place high enough at the Colorado Crossroads Qualifier in a couple weekends. Regardless of how her Titanium squad finishes, expect Buss to continue to terminate at a high level for the remainder of the club season.
#4- Megan Skovsende (Skutt Catholic-Premier 17 Gold)
It’s no surprise that Megan Skovsende is ranked in the top 5 in the class of 2020 in Nebraska. The sophomore from Skutt Catholic deserves her top 5 ranking after helping Skutt win 2 of their 3 consecutive state titles. Skovsende recorded over 600 career kills after just her sophomore high school season. Skovsende is strong at the net, but can make big plays happen in the back row as well. She was relentless in the state championship match back in November and put down 14 kills in Skutt’s 4 set win over Omaha Duchesne in the final. Skovsende recorded double digit kills in every match at state and hit never hit below .250 in the tournament.
It’s also no surprise that Premier has Megan Skovsende playing up an age division on their 17 Gold squad. Skovsende’s 17 Gold squad has been the top team in the Great Plains Region for the last 5 years. Back in 2015, Skovsende and her teammates won the 14 National division title at the USA Junior National Championships in New Orleans. Not only does Skovsende have two state titles, but she has a national title to her resume as well. Last season she and her teammates were able to get their Open bid to nationals after qualifying at the Show Me National Qualifier in Kansas City. Skovsende and her Premier 17 Gold squad would love to make it back to Open nationals again, and you can guarantee she would play an important role in making that happen.
#5- Mattie Johnson (Sidney-Northeastern VBC-Colorado)
The final player in the top 5 in the class of 2020 is Mattie Johnson. Maddie Johnson has an absolute cannon for an arm. Regardless of the type of set she gets, she swings away at everything. Johnson is another extremely versatile attacker and can hit at all zones across the net. She can serve you off the court when she’s behind the line, block any attack and make you pay if you give her a free ball or an overpass by slamming the ball straight down. It’s easy to say Johnson might be one of the hardest hitters the state of Nebraska has to offer. Johnson is committed to the University of South Dakota and definitely has a lot that she can offer to the Coyote program once she gets there in the fall of 2020.
Johnson plays club for the Northeastern Volleyball Club based out of Sterling, Colorado. Since Sidney is on the complete other side of the state from most of the top Nebraska club programs, Johnson plays club for a team out of Colorado. Even though Sidney didn’t make it to the state tournament in 2017, Mattie Johnson still made the most out of her high school season. Johnson helped Sidney make it to state her freshman year, but they fell one win short of making it back to the state tournament during her sophomore season. Johnson does volleyball, basketball and track at Sidney, making her a great all-around athlete. She recorded over 500 career kills and 500 career digs after her sophomore season for Sidney and will continue to be a weapon for Sidney and for her club team in Colorado.