CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS When it came down to it, the chase for the top spot in the Class of 2020 was a three-horse race during the high school season, and neither of the…
Access all of Prep Dig
Subscribe for access to all premium articles and rankings.
Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inCLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS
When it came down to it, the chase for the top spot in the Class of 2020 was a three-horse race during the high school season, and neither of the top three contenders disappointed.
In fact, all three of them were playing on the final day of the season and had absolutely dominating performances in the state tournament. Ultimately, though, one player stood out from the rest to take the #1 ranking in the updated Class of 2020 rankings.
Kalynn Meyer’s sophomore season not only included a commitment to the Huskers, but it finished with her leading Superior to its first-ever state volleyball title – defeating two previously undefeated teams along the way. The 6’3 multi-sport athlete can play anywhere along the net, but as an outside hitter she had a double-double in all three state tournament matches this fall. Her 32 kill, four block, 11 dig performance got Superior past Centura in the first round and then Meyer had 18 kills, three blocks and 14 digs in a win over previously undefeated Nebraska Christian in the semifinals.
Then, playing in the first of what is likely to be many, many matches at Devaney Center, Meyer had 27 kills, two blocks and 12 digs in the championship over undefeated Hartington Cedar Catholic. It’s almost scary how good Meyer has become so quickly despite not yet having gone through a single season of major club volleyball. That changes this year as she’s playing on the VCNebraska 17 Elite team, so the thought of what she will do on the high school court next fall is mind-blowing.
Millard North’s 6’2 sophomore Mckenna Ruch comes in at #2 and has a lot of similarities to Meyer in terms of her versatility at the net. She helped lead the Mustangs to the Class A state title as a freshman and got her team back to the state finals against this fall before falling to Omaha Marian.
In the state tournament, Ruch had progressively better matches all the way through, concluding in a 15 kill performance – on just 24 swings – in the championship match against Omaha Marian, which had five Division I players at the net putting up blocks. Ruch has drawn interest from major and mid-major Division I programs and will likely have several offers to choose from as she progresses through this club season with Premier 16 Gold.
All Lincoln Lutheran outside hitter Marriah Buss did during the state tournament was lead her team to a third-place finish with a total of 79 kills in the three matches combined – including 34 in a semifinal loss to Grand Island Central Catholic. The 6’1 sophomore led the state in kills with 684 kills – 7.3 per set – which is more than 100 over what Class of 2018 #1 prospect and Creighton recruit Jaela Zimmerman or Superior’s Meyer had during the season.
Buss, playing for Nebraska ONE 171 Titanium, has drawn a lot of interest from Power Five conference and Mid-Major Division I programs. If she can show more consistency in the back row and a larger array of shots at the net during this club season, she could have a lot of large schools courting her.
Skutt Catholic’s Megan Skovsende of Premier 16 Gold. comes in at #4 and, despite being third on the team in kills with more than 300, it’s really the 5’11 sophomore’s defensive prowess that puts her in the top five. Sidney outside hitter Mattie Johnson, a 6’0 South Dakota recruit, is probably the best player in the state you haven’t seen play. She’s big time, though, and South Dakota has been getting some really good ones out of Nebraska the last couple years (Elizabeth Loschen, Madison Jurgens). Johnson plays club volleyball for Northeastern VBC out of Sterling, Colorado.
Eve Fountain, who started tearing up Class A the second half of the season for Millard North, comes in at #6 while Atley Carey of Lincoln East is at #7 and Mayah Delgado-Walker of Omaha Duchesne is at #8. All three play for the Nebraska Elite 161 team, so expect a trail of college coaches following that team around and major tournaments.
Papillion-LaVista’s Brooklyn Schram comes in at #9 and is our top-ranked setter of the Class of 2019. She plays for Premier 16 Gold. Rounding out the top 10 is North Bend 6’2 middle Lauren Emanuel. She does not play major club volleyball, but her height, athleticism and arm swing has many a college coach interested.
Please type in your name below to claim or create your Prep Dig player profile.
