Club Preview: Nebraska Juniors 17 Black, 17 Red

Berk Brown

December 27, 2017 @ 06:52 PM

When you start talking about 17s teams in club volleyball, you’re talking about some seriously high-level play. The Nebraska Juniors 17 Black team, under the direction of Gretna coach Mike Brandon, looks to have the pieces to compete well at that level. At the setter position, Juniors 17 Black has a pair of all-staters in Papillion-LaVista South junior Mara LeGrand and Lincoln Christian sophomore Barrett Power. Defensively, Juniors 17 Black looks to be in good shape with Papillion-LaVista South libero Leah Palensky and Omaha Marian’s Bailey Hanus. Power can also play top-level defense in the back row if needed. On the outside the Juniors 17 Black squad has another pair of all-staters in Elkhorn South’s Logan Connealy and Gretna’s Kamryn Schuler. Also at the net for Juniors 17 Black will be Wayne State recruit Taya Beller of Humphrey-Lindsay Holy Family, Palm Beach Atlantic recruit Anna Gregerson of Papillion-LaVista South, blocking machine Morgan Christiansen of Lincoln Pius X and Emma Hern of Omaha Marian. The Nebraska Juniors 17 Red team has quite a bit of talent on it as well. The team, coached by Cola Svec, is comprised of the following players. Lauren Borer of Norris, Cecily Liphardt of Lincoln Southeast, Grace Gokie of Lincoln Pius X, Avery Mackling of Gretna, Brea Makovicka of Lincoln Southwest, Lindsey Allgire of Papillion-LaVista South, Maya Brandon of Gretna, Emily Maul of Lincoln Pius X, Nyah Chambers of Norris, Kaiya Russell of Gretna, Katherine White of Exeter-Milligan and Addie Smith of Aurora. Smith, who is committed to Radford University, is likely out until May with an injury.