2022 Club Season Spotlight: VCNebraska 18 Black
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Our preliminary tour of VCNebraska’s 2022 teams continues. This time, VCN 18 Black is in the spotlight. VCN has had no problem fielding a pair of competitive 18s teams over the years. I might be biased as a Lincoln native,…
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Continue ReadingOur preliminary tour of VCNebraska’s 2022 teams continues. This time, VCN 18 Black is in the spotlight.
VCN has had no problem fielding a pair of competitive 18s teams over the years. I might be biased as a Lincoln native, but I’m always excited to see how VCN can put Star City-area talent on display every club season. With a good influx of athletes from smaller schools going to VCN, too, it’s demonstrative of the fact that good Nebraska volleyball is not solely concentrated in Omaha.
So, let’s give you a quick look at what 18 Black brings to the court for 2022.
Playing Up
This 18s team doesn’t just have veterans from the Class of 2022. There are a handful of players on this roster that will be playing a year up and have the talent to make that jump.
Elecea Saathoff Elecea Saathoff 5'9" | S Lincoln Lutheran | 2023 State NE is a notable 2023 who is joining this group. The talented former Diller-Odell setter is now finding a foothold at Lincoln Lutheran. She will continue to have more highlight moments throughout her career with VCN.
Saathoff is joined by fellow 2023 Lauren Hohl, who can make an impact in all six rotations. The same can be said of Alli Mullin, a Class of 2023 athlete who has consistently impressed as a backcourt player for Lincoln Southwest. Along the net, too, Beatrice’s Emily Allen is a middle blocker who can help lock things down defensively. Collectively, this core group of juniors should have a seamless year of 18s competition.
More Dominance at the Net
Now, let’s get into this team’s 2022s. There’s a lot of good ones. If there’s one theme that can encompass this group of players, it’s that they’re bound to have a big presence in the front row.
Chloe Sandell is a name to know here. She’s a physical hitter who can realistically play in any of the three spots up front. Cross County is known for delivering volleyball talent, and Sandell is surely another one to follow.
Courtney Holsteen Courtney Holsteen 6'0" | RS Lincoln Southwest | 2022 State NE is returning for another year with VCN. This dominant opposite from Lincoln Southwest is not the only Lincoln Public Schools player in this group, as North Star’s Gabby Notter and Southeast’s Hannah Fleming will also be standouts for 18 Black. I’m hopeful that each of these Lincolnites will generate some buzz in their final club campaigns.
We should also give a shoutout to a few of the 2022s who will be commuting into VCN from some of Nebraska’s strong small-town programs. Kate Griess had an amazing showing at the setter spot in the 2021 state tournament for Class C2 runner-up Sutton. She is accompanied by Analise Luke Analise Luke 5'9" | OH Kearney | 2022 NE and Kiley Elkins Kiley Elkins 5'7" | OH Raymond Central | 2022 State NE , who will each make the trek from smaller locations to play for 18 Black and make some noise on the big stage.
With this team’s collection of talent, their chance at that big stage glory may be coming.