Class of 2018 Rankings: A Look at Top 10

<p>With the release of our updated Class of 2018 player rankings, we take a look at the top 10 players in the group.</p> <p><strong>#1 – Jaela Zimmerman, 6’2, OH, Malcolm (VCNebraska 18 Elite). Previous rank: #1</strong></p> <p>There really isn’t anything anyone can do to overtake Zimmerman as the top player in the Class of 2018. Zimmerman doesn’t get the national recognition she should when you consider that she’s really the best in-state prospect at the pins since Amber and Kadie Rolfzen. The Creighton recruit is obviously a force at the net, but her defensive abilities make her the most complete player in the class.</p> <p><strong>#2 – Kristin Lux, 6’2, OH, North Bend (Nebraska Juniors 18 Black). Previous rank: #5</strong></p> <p>The West Virginia recruit jumps from #5 to #2 after showing this fall she’s fully recovered from a serious arm injury. Lux led North Bend to its best season in two decades this fall as the Tigers reached the Class C-1 semifinals. Lux might have the highest jump-touch in the state and her ability to consistently attack at such a high point makes her almost impossible to block. Lux also is vastly underrated defensively and is a solid six-rotation player.</p> <p><strong>#3 – Taliyah Flores, 5’8, OH/Libero, Papillion-LaVista South (Premier 18 Gold). Previous rank: #2</strong></p> <p>In the perfect world, we would get to see Flores playing libero during her high school and club career, but she’s so athletic and powerful as an attacker she has to be used as an outside hitter at this level. If she were just a libero, she would be the best one in the state by a wide margin. Look for the North Dakota recruit to earn a good amount of Summit League accolades in college.</p> <p><strong>#4 – Sarah Wing, 6’1, MH, Omaha Marian (Nebraska Elite 18 MOAB). Previous rank: #3</strong></p> <p>Don’t let the fact that Wing isn’t a statistical beast take away from the fact that she can be one of the most dominating players in the state. After spending her freshman year at Blair, Wing was a driving force behind a pair of Omaha Marian state championships her final three years. It will be interesting to see how quickly Wing will make an impact at Iowa, considering the Hawkeyes graduate both starting middles. Wing is one of three incoming freshman middles.</p> <p><strong>#5 – Lily Heim, 6’0, Setter, Omaha Marian (Nebraska Juniors 18 Black). Previous rank: #4</strong></p> <p>Heim has just about everything you look for in a big-time setter, and when you play an important role in your high school team winning three Class A state titles in your four years, it’s a testament to your ability. Heim finished her career at Marian with 2,682 assists, but her blocking ability was huge as well. It will be interesting how she is used at SMU, where the Mustangs return two setters, including the junior-to-be starter.</p> <p><strong>#6 – Maddie Weidenfeld, 6’2, MH, Omaha Marian (Nebraska Elite 18 MOAB). Previous rank: #7</strong></p> <p>With all due respect to the fine folks at the University of New Hampshire, every time I watch Weidenfeld play I can’t help but think the Wildcats are absolute thieves for stealing the Omaha Marian standout. A tall, physical presence at the net, Weidenfeld has the athleticism to make an immediate impact in college. Coaches constantly rave about her work ethic.</p> <p><strong>#7 – Melanie Brecka, 6’0, MH, Lincoln Southeast (Nebraska ONE 181). Previous rank: #9</strong></p> <p>Brecka is probably the most intriguing prospect in the Class of 2018 because of her versatility and athleticism. A dominating middle at Lincoln Southeast, she and Sarah Wing are the best middles at the state in running the slide and Brecka is almost unstoppable on it. At Missouri-Kansas City it will be interesting to see how she is used. The Roos return a vast amount of middles and UMKC coach Christi Posey has hinted that Brecka might be a full-rotation outside in college.</p> <p><strong>#8 – Sabrina Starks, 6’3, MH, Platteview (Club Legacy 181). Previous rank: #6</strong></p> <p>There are still a lot of questions about Starks, but one thing is for certain, she has one of the highest ceilings of anyone in the state. The Pittsburgh recruit has jaw-dropping athleticism and potential. The big question is how she will do against elite level competition at Pittsburgh – which just won the ACC title this fall. Playing at Platteview and for Club Legacy, she’s not playing with or against big-time competition, which hinders her development to an extent.</p> <p><strong>#9 – Rylee Marshall, 6’1, OH/MH/RS, Fort Calhoun (Nebraska Elite 18 MOAB). Previous rank: #12</strong></p> <p>Marshall, an Omaha recruit, doesn’t get much publicity at Fort Calhoun, where many times she was left as the lone blocker at the net to cover pin to pin. At the club level, though, is where you really get to see Marshall’s full potential has a hard-hitting, physical force at the net who has the ability to play in the middle or at the pins. Given the really good, young middles Omaha has, don’t be surprised if the Mavericks use her at the pins, where she can make an impact sooner.</p> <p><strong>#10 – Taylor Skiles, 5’11, OH, Ralston. Previous rank: #13</strong></p> <p>Skiles, a four-year starter at Ralston, showed she is one of the best full-rotation players in the state while leading the Rams to their first state tournament in nearly 15 years this fall. Skiles posted 394 kills and 458 digs as a senior and played her best matches when the stakes were the highest – like her 23 kills, 22 dig performances in Ralston’s win over Waverly in the Class B round of 16. Skiles, who had committed to Emporia State during her junior year, has opted to discontinue playing volleyball.</p>