2024 Rankings: Under-the-Radar Defensive Specialists

<p>It’s the final feature in the wake of the new 2024 rankings. Let’s get into it!</p> <p>We’ve covered a lot of ground with this new set of rankings for the 2024 class. There have been stock risers, new additions, and rising outside hitters. Now, it’s time to wrap things up with a look at the defensive specialists.</p> <p>This state has no shortage of impact players at this position from the 2024s. We saw an astounding number of players come in as freshmen and immediately take on big backcourt roles last year. An equally impressive group of athletes made themselves known during the spring club season, too.</p> <p>So, let’s spotlight a few rising defensive specialists to follow this fall.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="124953" first="Teagan" last="Little"] - 5’8 DS/L - Lincoln Southwest</strong></p> <p>Lincoln Southwest has a lot of young talent from this class that will be vying for spots in the starting lineup. Little used this year’s stint with VCN to not only show off her defensive prowess, but she also did a bit of hitting in the front row. Her rock-solid ball control skills would be a great addition to any backcourt.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="105010" first="GraCee" last="Goings"] - 5’5 DS/L - Wauneta-Palisade</strong></p> <p>Goings is another player with the determination to make an impact in the front row as well as the backcourt. She took a healthy number of swings in her debut season and demonstrated her willingness to do whatever it takes to win. As a defensive specialist, she is reliable and meshes well with the team’s other passers. Goings wants to be the next big all-around player at Wauneta-Palisade.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104980" first="Lauren" last="Taylor"] - 5’5 DS/L - Grand Island Central Catholic</strong></p> <p>A perennial volleyball powerhouse like GICC surely needs strong back-row talent to stay successful. Taylor might be the next in line. She’s part of a standout 2024 class for the Crusaders and made an immediate contribution in the starting lineup last year. This defensive specialist did some stellar work in the libero jersey for Nebraska Juniors this year, so her career is already off to a fast start.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="109597" first="Paisley" last="Douglas"] - 5’5 DS/L - Omaha Skutt Catholic</strong></p> <p>We now move to a Nebraska Elite product who has already stood out in both high school and club settings. Douglas simply has a knack for patrolling the court as the libero. Her contacts are so consistent. She also has the speed and instincts to cover spaces that seemed to be open. Omaha Skutt will surely make good use of Douglas’s wide-ranging skills and help her become a top-notch defender in Nebraska.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="124779" first="Tatum" last="Backemeyer"] - 5’1 DS/L - Elmwood-Murdock</strong></p> <p>Here’s another Nebraska Juniors player who has gotten plenty of quality reps in the libero jersey lately. Backemeyer’s club team thrived off of her positive touches right to the setter’s head. She makes left-back defense look particularly easy as she’s always in the right spot to pick up opposing attacks. Elmwood-Murdock will be excited to have Backemeyer hold down the backcourt for years to come.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="109598" first="Katie" last="Hughes"] - 5’4 DS/L - Burwell</strong></p> <p>44 digs in a match?! Indeed, this Burwell libero’s final match of the 2020 high school season was a 44-dig performance that, unfortunately, ended in defeat. Hughes might have a little extra motivation to come out this fall and prove that her outstanding freshman season was no fluke.</p>