Club Preview: Nebraska Elite 16s

<p>There are teams with depth and then there are teams like the Nebraska Elite 161 squad. One of the biggest challenges facing the squad this year will be how to maximize all the talent on its roster.</p> <p>One player on the team who isn’t going to be getting any time on the court is setter <strong>Kaitlin Neely</strong> of Millard North. The sophomore suffered an injury that will likely keep her out the entire club season.</p> <p>That injury opens the door for 5’10 Battle Creek sophomore <strong>Tria McLean</strong> to see quite a bit of action at setter, where her athleticism and hands make her a very intriguing prospect. Also setting will be Elkhorn South’s <strong>Emily Bay</strong>.</p> <p>Defensively, Nebraska Elite 161 has one of the top sophomore defenders in the state in <strong>Lucy O’Brien</strong> of Omaha Marian and Omaha Duchesne defensive specialist <strong>Mary Pat Taylor</strong>.</p> <p>At outside hitter, Elite 161 has Millard North sophomore <strong>Eve Fountain</strong>, who had a break-out season in leading the Mustangs back to the Class A state final this year. The team also has Omaha Marian’s <strong>Kathryn KIlzer</strong> and Lincoln East’s <strong>Atley Care</strong>y could see action on the outside or in the middle.</p> <p>In the middle, however, Elite 161 has a lot of talent already in place with Millard North’s <strong>Molly Plahn</strong> and the Omaha Duchesne duo of <strong>Caroline Ortman</strong> and <strong>Emily Kaup</strong>. On the right side is Omaha Duchesne’s <strong>Mayah Delgado</strong>.</p> <p>Members of the Nebraska Elite 162 team are <strong>Lauren Anderson, Allison Brown, Emma Heglin, Maddie Muracek, Meghan Pellett, Jamie Bac, Kiersten Capelle, Tatum Livingston, Lucy Murrell</strong> and <strong>Anna Stavneak</strong>.</p>