<p>Our preliminary tour of VCNebraska’s 2022 teams continues. This time, VCN 18 Black is in the spotlight.</p>
<p>VCN has had no problem fielding a pair of competitive 18s teams over the years. I might be biased as a Lincoln native, but I’m always excited to see how VCN can put Star City-area talent on display every club season. With a good influx of athletes from smaller schools going to VCN, too, it’s demonstrative of the fact that good Nebraska volleyball is not solely concentrated in Omaha.</p>
<p>So, let’s give you a quick look at what 18 Black brings to the court for 2022.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Playing Up</strong></p>
<p>This 18s team doesn’t just have veterans from the Class of 2022. There are a handful of players on this roster that will be playing a year up and have the talent to make that jump.</p>
[caption id="attachment_101489" align="alignright" width="225"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-101489" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/Elecea-Saathoff-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Saathoff[/caption]
<p>[player_tooltip player_id="152108" first="Elecea" last="Saathoff"] is a notable 2023 who is joining this group. The talented former Diller-Odell setter is now finding a foothold at Lincoln Lutheran. She will continue to have more highlight moments throughout her career with VCN.</p>
<p>Saathoff is joined by fellow 2023 Lauren Hohl, who can make an impact in all six rotations. The same can be said of Alli Mullin, a Class of 2023 athlete who has consistently impressed as a backcourt player for Lincoln Southwest. Along the net, too, Beatrice’s Emily Allen is a middle blocker who can help lock things down defensively. Collectively, this core group of juniors should have a seamless year of 18s competition.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>More Dominance at the Net</strong></p>
<p>Now, let’s get into this team’s 2022s. There’s a lot of good ones. If there’s one theme that can encompass this group of players, it’s that they’re bound to have a big presence in the front row.</p>
<p><strong>Chloe Sandell</strong> is a name to know here. She’s a physical hitter who can realistically play in any of the three spots up front. Cross County is known for delivering volleyball talent, and Sandell is surely another one to follow.</p>
<p>[player_tooltip player_id="58805" first="Courtney" last="Holsteen"] is returning for another year with VCN. This dominant opposite from Lincoln Southwest is not the only Lincoln Public Schools player in this group, as North Star’s <strong>Gabby Notter</strong> and Southeast’s <strong>Hannah Fleming</strong> will also be standouts for 18 Black. I’m hopeful that each of these Lincolnites will generate some buzz in their final club campaigns.</p>
<p>We should also give a shoutout to a few of the 2022s who will be commuting into VCN from some of Nebraska’s strong small-town programs. <strong>Kate Griess</strong> had an amazing showing at the setter spot in the 2021 state tournament for Class C2 runner-up Sutton. She is accompanied by [player_tooltip player_id="110202" first="Analise" last="Luke"] and [player_tooltip player_id="58821" first="Kiley" last="Elkins"], who will each make the trek from smaller locations to play for 18 Black and make some noise on the big stage.</p>
<p>With this team’s collection of talent, their chance at that big stage glory may be coming.</p>
