2023 Spotlight Series: Best of the Backcourt

<p>We’re starting our 2023 spotlight series with the group that often deserves more credit and recognition that it gets: defensive specialists.</p> <p>Strong passing and floor defense can propel almost any team into a serious contender. Of course, liberos and defensive specialists play a major role in that phase of the game. It’s time to give them some props.</p> <p>Here’s a tour of some of the backcourt talent that the Nebraska prep scene has to offer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Premier 16 Gold Duo</strong></p> <p>Premier 16 Gold is fortunate enough to have a pair of...well, <em>premier</em> backcourt players in the 2023 class. [player_tooltip player_id="59198" first="Makenzie" last="Dyrstad"] is a natural left-back defender who commands the libero position well. She’s got a lot of the technical elements that you look for. Possessing great body control and balance, Drystad is perfectly comfortable with playing low to the floor. Picking up hard-driven balls is fairly routine for her.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="109069" first="Jocelyn" last="Healy"], meanwhile, is an expert at patrolling middle back. Her zone six defense pairs brilliantly with Dyrstad, and Healy is equally comfortable taking care of difficult plays. With this stingy back row lineup, Premier’s 16s team will always be a threat.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Riches at Nebraska Elite</strong></p> <p>Backcourt talent is certainly not a problem at Nebraska Elite. Rather, that 2023 talent can be seen across multiple teams.</p> [caption id="attachment_118944" align="alignright" width="323"]<img class="wp-image-118944 " src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/Emmalee-Sheppard.jpg" alt="" width="323" height="215" /> Sheppard[/caption] <p>[player_tooltip player_id="83536" first="Emmalee" last="Sheppard"] from Fremont might be a good player to start with. She made a big impression on me when her high school team traveled to Lincoln North Star for a tournament last fall. Sheppard has carried that momentum into several solid showings this spring for Nebraska Elite. The way she alters her platform to generate a good pass has been incredibly valuable for her side of the net.</p> <p>Often standing alongside Sheppard is <strong>Gracelyn Robidoux</strong>, a libero who is used to making sprawling plays to keep a ball alive. Playing outside your body is a difficult skill, but Robidoux knows how to get it done.</p> <p>I’d also like to give a shoutout to a couple six-rotation players who hold their own in the back row for Nebraska Elite. [player_tooltip player_id="106439" first="Sara" last="Maciejewski"] plays some great floor defense in addition to be a go-to outside hitter. The same can be said of Ella Myler, who has carved out a nice role with 16-1 Top Gun.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Other Quick Hitters</strong></p> <p>Let’s run through some other notes and pointers on this class of defensive specialists:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Faith Van Eck </strong>has represented the Star City well with her work at libero for VCN 16 Elite. Her specialty is picking up crosscourt digs that help keep her team in system. Van Eck shares the backcourt with fellow Lincolnite <strong>Alli Mullin</strong>, who is a rising talent at Southwest High School.</li> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="106701" first="Bailey" last="Rogers"]</strong> is having a productive year for Nebraska Juniors this year. The libero from Minden has plenty of starting experience in both high school and club.</li> </ul>