Building the All-Midwest Power League Team
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We’ve wrapped up the Midwest Power League. Three weekends of volleyball action are complete. What better way to tie everything together than with an all-Power League team? It’s time for a position-by-position breakdown of some of the top performers from…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve wrapped up the Midwest Power League. Three weekends of volleyball action are complete. What better way to tie everything together than with an all-Power League team?
It’s time for a position-by-position breakdown of some of the top performers from the entire Power League series. This encompasses all three weekends of the competition that took place in January, February, and just last weekend to kick off April. Throughout this period, the Midwest Power League showcased some players who regularly stood out among their peers from Nebraska and beyond. Those are the athletes we’re discussing here.
So, it’s time to go piece-by-piece and assemble the Power League dream team.
Outside Hitter
Oh, the choices here.
Kylie Weeks Kylie Weeks 5'7" | OH Elkhorn South | 2022 State #151 Nation NE and Madilyn Siebler Madilyn Siebler 6'0" | OH Omaha Westside | 2022 State NE were both six-rotation stars for Nebraska Juniors 18 Black. If you’re building your hypothetical dream team around great ball control and all-around skills, I highly suggest you start there.
You can find so many more worthy dream team components if you stay in the 18s age group. If we’re still talking about good ball control, Premier Nebraska 18 Gold boasts two great options in Skylar McCune Skylar McCune 5'9" | DS/L Gretna | 2022 State #53 Nation NE and Shaylee Myers Shaylee Myers 6'0" | OH Lincoln Southwest | 2022 State #199 Nation NE . Looking for a big, physical hammer on the outside? Consider VCNebraska 18 Elite’s Masa Scheierman Masa Scheierman 6'0" | OH York | 2022 State NE , or perhaps you look at Ava Heyne Ava Heyne 6'1" | OH Skutt Catholic | 2022 State NE from Nebraska Elite 18 Omega. I can’t wait to see all of the athletes make an impact at the next level.
Hop around the age ladder for some other great outside hitter candidates. You can’t go wrong with the Premier Nebraska 17 Gold duo of Stella Adeyemi Stella Adeyemi 5'9" | OH Papillion-LaVista South | 2023 State #95 Nation NE and Destiny Ndam-Simpson Destiny Ndam-Simpson 6'1" | OH Omaha Westside | 2023 State #37 Nation NE . It’s firepower galore. Several 16s outside hitters keep capturing our attention, too, including Tia Traudt Tia Traudt 6'0" | OH Grand Island | 2025 State NE from VCNebraska 16 Elite and Aowyn Schrader Aowyn Schrader 6'1" | OH Ankeny | 2024 State #147 Nation IA of Premier Nebraska 16 Gold.
Opposite
The right pin is often a wildcard when talking about top performers and dream team assemblances, but I think we have a few clear choices at this position.
Don’t look now, but Shayla Meyer Shayla Meyer 6'1" | OH Superior | 2022 State #185 Nation NE has been living at opposite lately for VCNebraska 18 Elite. Though she’s traditionally been a left side, her fast arm and effortless elevation will always be a good fit for either pin. Her critical role in 18 Elite triumphs at the final Power League cannot go unnoticed.
Ital Lopuyo Ital Lopuyo 6'7" | MB Omaha Central | 2022 State #134 Nation NE is another clear contender for any dream team selection. Her game has reached a new level this year with Nebraska Juniors, as she is getting on top of quick tempo balls and hitting with some serious pace. Lopuyo’s blocking will also anchor any defense along the net and puts her among the best right-side hitters we saw in the Power League.
You can also mention another two-headed monster for Premier Nebraska 17 Gold, as Grace Heaney Grace Heaney 6'2" | RS Elkhorn North | 2023 State #33 Nation NE and Alanna Bankston Alanna Bankston 6'1" | MB Millard West | 2023 State #68 Nation NE are two D1-bound opposites that routinely make huge plays for their team. Of course, one of the benefits of 17 Gold’s two-setter offense is that one of these two opposites can be in the frontcourt at all times. Scary.
Setter
These Power League setters can dish it.
Again, take your pick here. I briefly alluded to the up-tempo offense of Nebraska Juniors, and Madi Woodin Madi Woodin 5'6" | S Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE is the one who makes it happen from the setter spot. If you want a record-setting signal-caller on your side, Woodin is surely a prime choice.
Abby Schomers Abby Schomers 6'0" | S Skutt Catholic | 2022 State #94 Nation NE is another excellent dream team option in the 18s age group, and Lauren Carter Lauren Carter 5'11" | S Winterset | 2022 State #43 Nation IA from CIS 18 Blue has so much veteran experience. Another interesting wildcard at setter is Malayah Long Malayah Long 6'0" | S Lincoln Southwest | 2024 State #142 Nation NE , a 2024 athlete playing up for VCNebraska 17 Elite. Long has spent some time on the left side this year, too — which reminds me of Omaha Skutt left-side hitter Morgan Burke Morgan Burke 5'10" | S Skutt Catholic | 2023 State #132 Nation NE , who shines at setter for Nebraska Elite 17 Vici. Stay in the Nebraska Elite gym to find Molly Romano Molly Romano 5'10" | S Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln | 2024 State IA , who is yet another setter to steal the spotlight multiple times this year.
Whew, what a lineup.
Middle Blocker
It feels like this position group has seen a lot of breakout players among the Power League teams.
Mia Tvrdy Mia Tvrdy 6'0" | MB Papillion-La Vista | 2024 State #35 Nation NE is the obvious example here, as she keynoted our stock risers feature from the latest 2024 rankings update. We’ve also got Nora Wurtz Nora Wurtz 6'4" | MB DC West | 2024 State #109 Nation NE from Nebraska Elite 16 Lokahi among the state’s top 2024 prospects, and this multi-talented athlete can also split out to the pin and do far more than play middle blocker.
The Nebraska Juniors 18 Black middle duo is still ferocious. Katelynn Oxley Katelynn Oxley 6'3" | MB Lincoln Lutheran | 2022 State NE and Brenna Schmidt Brenna Schmidt 6'4" | MB Elmwood-Murdock | 2022 State NE are as physically imposing as they are dominant, and their ability to hit any attacking pattern makes them suitable options for an all-Power League squad.
We’ve got some 15s teams loaded with middle talent, too. Natalie Wardlow Natalie Wardlow 6'5" | MB Lincoln Southeast | 2025 State #17 Nation NE from Nebraska ONE 15 Synergy is having a spectacular year for her nationally qualified squad, and Elle Heckenlively Elle Heckenlively 5'10" | OH Gretna | 2025 State NE already has some big-stage experience for Premier Nebraska 15 Gold.
Defensive Specialist/Libero
Finally, let’s anchor your team with some elite defenders and passers.
Just another stellar Power League from Olivia Mauch Olivia Mauch 5'7" | DS/L Bennington | 2024 State #49 Nation NE . Premier Nebraska 17 Gold’s 2024 libero is growing into a big leadership role with her high-powered team, and she is one of Nebraska’s steadiest players in serve receive.
Add Keri Leimbach Keri Leimbach 5'4" | DS/L Lincoln Lutheran | 2025 State #40 Nation NE from Nebraska ONE 15 Synergy to that elite tier. Some scouts question how much a libero can really impact any given match, but there’s no denying that Leimbach contributes to everything that 15 Synergy does. She’s a vocal leader, plays relentless defense, and sets an unbelievably smooth second ball.
Many of your all-Power League libero candidates might be from the older age groups. There’s no shortage of options here, either. Harlei Cole Harlei Cole 5'6" | DS/L Papillion-La Vista South | 2022 State NE is putting a bow on a fabulous prep career with Nebraska Juniors. Katie Galligan Katie Galligan 5'6" | DS/L Elkhorn South | 2022 State #162 Nation NE anchors the backcourt for Nebraska Elite 18 Omega — and don’t forget that Sarah Galligan Sarah Galligan 5'8" | DS/L Elkhorn South | 2024 State NE is rising up the ranks with 16 Lokahi.
Truthfully, you could write a separate future on each of these positions. Props to the Midwest Power League for providing a great venue for the region’s top club teams.