Recruiting Premier Nebraska’s 16s after GJNC
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This is just a glimpse at how deep Nebraska’s 2024 class is. Folks around the Nebraska prep scene are likely aware that Premier Nebraska fielded four different 16s teams at GJNC earlier this month–Premier Nebraska 16 Gold, 16 Black, 16…
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Continue ReadingThis is just a glimpse at how deep Nebraska’s 2024 class is.
Folks around the Nebraska prep scene are likely aware that Premier Nebraska fielded four different 16s teams at GJNC earlier this month–Premier Nebraska 16 Gold, 16 Black, 16 Red, and 16 Silver. It’s a testament to how stacked this age group is in the Great Plains Region, and that’s just from one club.
So, amid our run of post-GJNC, here’s a quick overview of the talent that shined in Premier’s quartet of squads in Indianapolis.
Premier Nebraska 16 Gold
After an outstanding top-three finish in 16 Open at GJNC, it’s no secret that there are some standouts on 16 Gold’s side.
This team made headlines right away in Indianapolis with the triumphant return of Lauren Medeck Lauren Medeck 5'10" | OH Papillion-La Vista South | 2024 State #31 Nation NE , a do-it-all outside hitter who recovered from injury to make a lasting impression at the season’s final event. Her appearance on the 16 Open all-tournament team demonstrates Medeck’s toughness and determination to bounce back. What a story.
Medeck was joined on the all-tournament by Faith Frame Faith Frame 5'6" | DS/L Papillion-La Vista | 2024 State #167 Nation NE , a libero who has surged to the forefront of Nebraska’s 2024 class this year. Frame has emerged as an unquestioned defensive leader and also gets great backcourt assistance from Alivia Hausmann Alivia Hausmann 5'5" | DS/L Norris | 2024 State NE and 2025 prospect Sierra Pokharel Sierra Pokharel 5'4" | DS/L Millard West | 2025 State NE .
16 Gold’s other stars kept rolling at GJNC, too. Mia Tvrdy Mia Tvrdy 6'0" | MB Papillion-La Vista | 2024 State #35 Nation NE continued her tear as one of the state’s biggest breakout performers of 2022, while fellow middle blocker Morgan Bode Morgan Bode 6'1" | MB Papillion-La Vista South | 2024 State NE also had a big impact in Indy. The Iowa frontcourt duo of Aowyn Schrader and Tanith Roush came up big again in Indy, so the cross-state talent is still strong for Premier Nebraska. In short, this group won’t be considered an underdog anymore when club festivities kick off next year.
For my Nebraska folks:
Lauren Medeck Lauren Medeck 5'10" | OH Papillion-La Vista South | 2024 State #31 Nation NE is BACK 😤 @Premier16_G. #GJNC pic.twitter.com/zr8sdaCsYG
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) July 1, 2022
Premier Nebraska 16 Black
16 Black continues to get standout performances across the board. This was Premier Nebraska’s representative in the 16 USA division, and the team’s championship triumph at NLQ will always be one of my personal highlights of 2022.
Familiar storylines played out for 16 Black at GJNC. It’s a scrappy, fundamentally sound squad with a ton of multi-talented athletes. Kyla Dyrstad Kyla Dyrstad 5'6" | S Papillion-La Vista South | 2024 State NE is the perfect embodiment of this, as she helped take the reins at setter after also having plenty of reps at defensive specialist. The Papio South prep standout forms a nice two-setter tandem with Aaliyah Bradford Aaliyah Bradford 5'4" | S Lincoln Southwest | 2024 State NE of Lincoln East, and I’ll really enjoy following this pair in the fall.
And, as we’ve seen all year, 16 Black gets so much ball control production from its pin hitters. Shandy Faalii Shandy Faalii 5'7" | OH Lincoln East | 2024 State NE made more appearances in the frontcourt as a strong six-rotation left side. Her impact is not just limited to the back row. Likewise, Kaelin Pribyl Kaelin Pribyl 6'0" | OH Millard West | 2024 State NE and Eleanor Brislen Eleanor Brislen 5'11" | OH Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE took another step forward with Brislen showing off her prowess at opposite.
Of course, don’t lose sight of Haylee Wolf Haylee Wolf 5'7" | DS/L Elkhorn North | 2024 State NE ‘s massive leadership role at libero. She provides a steady presence no matter which 16 Black is deployed. That has also allowed middle blockers like Isabella Lamb Isabella Lamb 6'0" | RS Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE to thrive off of some positive first touches from the backcourt.
Premier Nebraska 16 Red
That ball control discussion isn’t going away. It looms large again with 16 Red.
GJNC was a big outing for Cecile Ahrens Cecile Ahrens 5'6" | S Millard West | 2024 State NE at setter. She showed off her ability to mix tempos and give her platoon of frontcourt hitters a chance to score. At a position that also includes Ainsley Vanosdall Ainsley Vanosdall 5'9" | S Platteview | 2024 State NE , the setter spot looks set for a while on this squad.
First contact is locked in for 16 Red, too. Like our discussion of 16 Black, there are a variety of players that can take on serve receive duties for 16 Red. Reese Boyd Reese Boyd 5'5" | DS/L Lincoln Southwest | 2024 State NE had a huge role in middle-back in Indianapolis and also brought some heat when attacking from the left pin. She isn’t the only high-impact six-rotation hitter, either, as Kenzie Kucks Kenzie Kucks 5'5" | DS/L Millard North | 2025 State NE has kept up her status as an impressive 2025 hitter to follow into the future.
A big pack of talented defensive specialists makes up the core of 16 Red’s roster. Sydney Guthard Sydney Guthard 5'3" | DS/L Norris | 2024 State NE got a chance to shine at libero in Indianapolis, a place where Skyler Ritterbush Skyler Ritterbush 5'7" | DS/L Millard West | 2024 State NE has also excelled this year. This group is also not complete without Grayson Piening Grayson Piening 5'8" | DS/L Norris | 2024 State NE , another Norris product who is certainly familiar with big stages.
Keep an eye on some of 16 Red’s other versatile attackers. Taylor Olsen Taylor Olsen 6'0" | MB Bennington | 2024 State NE has had a big year that includes highlight moments in the middle and on the right. The same can be said of Bella Avila-Ambrosi Bella Avila-Ambrosi 5'10" | MB Millard North | 2024 State NE , a valuable asset in the Premier gym.
Premier Nebraska 16 Silver
16 Silver is stacked with players who ought to keep improving this fall after a successful 2022 club campaign.
The middle blocker position carries a lot of recruiting intrigue on this team. Anna Strohmeier and Lexi Hans Lexi Hans 5'11" | OH Platteview | 2024 State NE punctuated a brilliant year with another productive outing at USAV Nationals. They both have the length and quickness to hold down the net for 16 Silver, and these are two players you want to feed on a good pass.
Speaking of passing, it was another strong weekend for libero Quinn Groves Quinn Groves 5'5" | DS/L Papillion-La Vista South | 2024 State NE and her impressive supporting cast of back row specialists. Groves and Erin Wunderlich Erin Wunderlich 5'8" | DS/L Millard West | 2024 NE have done a nice job delivering consistent touches to setters Anabel Seaman Anabel Seaman 5'6" | S Papillion-La Vista South | 2024 State NE and Rylee Anderson Rylee Anderson 5'8" | S Millard South | 2024 State NE , another pair that has really surged with 16 Silver lately.
The outside hitter position is also progressing nicely with Kayla Eggiman Kayla Eggiman 5'8" | OH Bellevue West | 2024 State NE and Sydney Horn Sydney Horn 5'8" | OH Papillion-La Vista South | 2024 State NE leading the way. Meanwhile, right-side hitters Makenza Holly Makenza Holly 5'9" | RS Millard North | 2024 State NE and Emma Fontana thrived at GJNC with 16 Silver’s two-setter system giving both attackers plenty of opportunities. From top to bottom, 16 Silver’s progress will be fun to follow as anxiously await 2023.