Top Uncommitted Liberos in Nebraska

<p>Liberos don’t get a whole lot of love in the recruiting world, so here is a little appreciate for some of the best ball handlers in the state as take a look at the 10 top defenders in Nebraska who remain uncommitted.</p> <p><strong>Class of 2018</strong></p> <p><strong>Elle Lammers, Omaha Duchesne, ranked #15 overall. </strong></p> <p>Lammers was the foundation of the Duchesne defense for the past three years, helping lead he school to new heights on the volleyball court. Lammers finished her career with the Cardinals with 1,351 digs and averaged 4.4 per set over that time – including 6.1 this year in helping lead Duchesne to the Class B state finals. Lammers, however, is also a standout in the classroom and she won’t be playing in college as she looks for a high-level academic school to study at.</p> <p><strong>Katie Siefkes, Lincoln Southwest, ranked #34 overall. </strong></p> <p>Siefkes had to wait until her junior year for the Lincoln Southwest libero jersey behind Taylor Els, who is now at Northern Colorado. Siefkes has more than maintained that Division I caliber defense since the graduation of Els to the tune of 1,463 career digs – including 31 in her final match against Millard North in the first round of the state tournament - and 1,619 serve receptions.</p> <p><strong>Riley Newton, Elkhorn South (VCNebraska 18 Elite), ranked #35 overall.</strong></p> <p>Newton has been a rock in the Elkhorn South backrow since her freshman year and played in nearly 400 sets over her career with the Storm. During that time, she amassed 1,314 digs, 1,778 serve receptions and 144 ace serves.</p> <p><strong>Ali Smith, Ord, ranked #54 overall.</strong></p> <p>Finding a college home can be difficult as a libero/DS, let alone one that’s located in the middle of the state and doesn’t play major club volleyball. Such is the case with Smith, but her tenacity in the backrow makes her perfect for just about any program. She finished her career with 1,545 digs, 1,422 serve receptions and 122 aces. Currently, she’s a point guard for an undefeated Ord basketball team and averaging 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals a game. Just a great athlete.</p> <p><strong>Class of 2019</strong></p> <p><strong>Erin Williams, Lincoln Lutheran (Nebraska ONE 171 Titanium), ranked #26 overall.</strong></p> <p>Williams has been one of the best liberos among major-club players for a while now and has Division I capabilities if she should decide to go that route. She could also find herself potentially being an All-American at a smaller-level school. Her volleyball IQ is great and she’s tenacious in the back row. After spending her first two seasons at Lincoln North Star, Williams finished her junior season at Lincoln Lutheran with career totals of 1,323 digs, 1,340 serve receptions and 120 ace serves with her senior year left to go.</p> <p><strong>Sophia Moes, Omaha Marian (Nebraska Elite 171), ranked #27 overall.</strong></p> <p>Being a libero at Omaha Marian is a pretty big deal and Moes was just that during a lot of her sophomore year, occasionally sharing the duties that season with Louisville recruit Maggie Mullen. Mullen kept the libero jersey this season for the Crusaders with Moes playing DS, but through two years at varsity time with Marian, Moes has 442 digs and 543 serve receptions. It can be dicey trying to determine Marian’s lineup prior to the season, but Moes should be in line for the libero jersey in the fall and at the very least has earned a place among the elite defenders in the state.</p> <p><strong>Emma Gabel, Lincoln Pius X (VCNebraska 17 Elite), ranked #48 overall.</strong></p> <p>If I’m being honest, Gabel is probably ranked too low at #48 and I would say she very easily could make a push to be among the top two liberos in the state in the 2019 class in the coming months. Gabel kind of came out of nowhere last year during the club season at VCNebraska and then had a standout junior season as a DS at Lincoln Pius X last fall with more than 400 digs and serve receptions while Nebraska-Kearney recruit Lindsay Nottleman handled libero chores. She’s bigger than most liberos at 5’7 and her uncommitted status could change quickly.</p> <p><strong>Leah Palensky, Papillion-LaVista South (Nebraska Juniors 171 Black), ranked #55 overall.</strong></p> <p>It seems as though every time Palensky starts putting together a really good stretch, an injury keeps her from sustaining that momentum. Despite that, in her three years with the Titans she has 1,030 career digs, 949 serve receptions and 117 ace serves. If she can stay healthy and put together a strong club season it should pay dividends for her.</p> <p><strong>Class of 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>Lucy O’Brien, Omaha Marian (Nebraska Elite 161 Vici), ranked #15 overall.</strong></p> <p>Frankly, it’s going out on a ledge somewhat to say the best libero in the class of 2020 is a player that hasn’t seen any varsity time in high school, as is the case with O’Brien. And, I would never venture to guess what Marian’s backrow will look like in the coming year, but what I do know is that O’Brien has shown all the things she needs to show during the club seasons to indicate that she is one of the next wave of great defenders in Nebraska.</p> <p><strong>Kenedy Schaecher, Gretna (Premier 16 Gold), ranked #29 overall.</strong></p> <p>Schaecher has also proven herself during the past couple club seasons, but she put her abilities on full display for the state to see this past fall as the starting libero for Gretna, another program with a knack for turning out top-shelf defenders. Schaecher will get plenty of looks this club season as part of the Premier 16 Gold team after putting up 286 digs and 247 serve receptions for the Dragons in the fall.</p>