2022 Club Season Spotlight: Premier 18 Black
The long club season gives us the liberty to jump around the map and spotlight as many teams as possible. We’re going to keep doing that today with Premier Nebraska 18 Black. My desire to spotlight this team was spurred…
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Continue ReadingThe long club season gives us the liberty to jump around the map and spotlight as many teams as possible. We’re going to keep doing that today with Premier Nebraska 18 Black.
My desire to spotlight this team was spurred forward by the opportunity to see them live at the Premier Showcase last weekend. 18 Black is also looking to punch an early ticket to Nationals at this weekend’s MLK Tournament in Kansas City.
With that in mind, let’s get you primed with some players to watch from Premier 18 Black.
Multi-Skill Athletes
In the team’s first live action of the season last weekend, 18 Black demonstrated the versatility that permeates their roster.
Laci Abendroth Laci Abendroth 6'1" | MB Millard South | 2022 State NE is a good example here. She is widely known for her ability to shut down opposing attackers in the middle, but she showed in the 2022 opener that she can take some solid swings at opposite, too.
Another player who fits in this category is Marisa Lootens Marisa Lootens 5'10" | OH Millard North | 2022 State NE . The Wisconsin-Parkside commit can do just about everything; she’s your classic six-rotation setter-opposite who is equally proficient in attacking and dishing the ball. Jayna Hope Jayna Hope 5'6" | S Bellevue West | 2022 State NE is a player on this team who carried a similar role with Bellevue West last fall. Both of these players will provide invaluable leadership this year.
While we’re on the topic of all-around skills, Kobie Patten Kobie Patten 5'8" | OH Omaha Duchesne | 2022 State NE is a good name to mention. She displayed some serious heat at the Premier Showcase and also showed she can put in work in the backcourt. Patten’s pipe swings were some of the best in the gym that day, and that skill is always refreshing to see at the club level. When you factor in the presence of Taylor Bunjer Taylor Bunjer 5'10" | OH Elkhorn | 2022 State NE on the left side, this is clearly a team that can score at the pins.
Block and Defense
Let’s finish with some players who will contribute to 18 Black’s blocking and defense — two trademark components of Nebraska prep volleyball.
Malia Struve and Ava Greene will hold down the middle blocker spot for this team. They’re both deceptively big at the net and give this team great energy whenever they score. Premier has been fortunate to have these steady contributors in the frontcourt, and I expect some highlight moments out of the middle from 18 Black.
Time for the backcourt. Kate Galvin Kate Galvin 5'7" | DS/L Millard North | 2022 State NE remains a natural leader in the libero jersey. She reads the game incredibly well and has superior body control that allows her to place the ball right on target. Look for Galvin to anchor 18 Black’s serve receive.
Presley Liberty Presley Liberty 5'6" | DS/L Bellevue West | 2022 State NE is a defensive specialist that has given us plenty of memorable plays over her prep career. This season with 18 Black presents another opportunity to add to the reel. From the front row to the back, this team has the balance to make plenty of noise.
It all starts this weekend.