20 More Athletes to Follow after the Northern Lights Qualifier

A big tournament like the Northern Lights Qualifier deserves a big athlete spotlight. Here it is. Of course, I’m looking forward to covering so many more athletes on these teams in the coming months. Our big traveling club tournament tour at Prep Dig will take us to many venues where we’ll see NLQ’s participants again. It’s all the more reason to highlight more standouts when the time comes. For now, here are 20 names to know after an exciting weekend in Omaha.     Class of 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="72774" first="Sophia" last="Charpentier"] - 6’0 MB/RS - Northern Lights 18-2 Charpentier is a versatile hitter who can thrive on the right pin or in the middle. Wherever her services are needed, she’ll succeed.   Rachel Jepsen - 6’4 MB - Club V 18 Ren Reed Congratulations are in order for Jepsen, a strong, physical middle blocker who <a href="https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2022/1/31/womens-volleyball-pitt-volleyball-adds-rachel-jepsen-to-2022-roster.aspx">just committed to Pittsburgh this week</a>. Pitt is fresh off a Final Four appearance in 2021, and now Jepsen is heading to GJNC 18s Nationals before moving up to the college level.   [player_tooltip player_id="166353" first="Cameron" last="Berger"] - 6’0 S - Vital 18-1 Gold Berger was one of the steadiest setters in the entire Omaha tournament field last week. She will continue to put up big performances for Vital this season before departing for Illinois State in the fall.   [caption id="attachment_105363" align="alignright" width="200"]<img class="wp-image-105363 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/08/Grace-Betke1-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /> Betke[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="61647" first="Grace" last="Betke"] - 5’5 DS/L - VC United 181 Elite This Texas Tech-bound libero had yet another big showing for VC United. Betke’s rock-solid serve receive and relentless defense will always be worth watching when her team’s in the gym.     Class of 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="145960" first="Kady" last="Hansen"] - 6’3 MB - UPVBC 17-Adidas Open Hansen left her mark on nearly every set that UPVBC played at the Northern Lights Qualifier. This Oklahoma middle blocker brings unmatched physicality to 17s competition. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> UPVBC 17-Adidas National has forced a third set with HJV 17 Elite! Some strong forces at the net for Ultimate Performance, including middle blockers [player_tooltip player_id="145960" first="Kady" last="Hansen"] (5). <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigOK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigOK</a> <a href="https://t.co/5vFWmIUchh">pic.x.com/5vFWmIUchh</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1487818105493598209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   [player_tooltip player_id="123467" first="Adelyn" last="Bybee"] - 6’1 RS - MAVS 816 17-1 Bybee hit with some impressive range throughout her stay in Omaha. She’s a natural opposite who can also attack in front of the setter if needed.   [player_tooltip player_id="87540" first="Lauren" last="Ingram"] - 6’1 OH - Dallas Skyline 17 Royal This is a player that can do just about anything you’d want from an outside hitter. Ingram’s ball control skills are very well developed, and she brings a high-flying game to the c   [player_tooltip player_id="153291" first="Hannah" last="Gonzalez"] - 6’3 MB/RS - Dallas Skyline 17 Royal I just had to include another Skyline player here, because Gonzalez was a massive source of hype and energy throughout the tournament. Her attacks in front of the setter were incredibly successful last weekend.   [player_tooltip player_id="59206" first="Caitlin" last="McCormack"] - 5’8 OH/DS - Premier Nebraska 17 Black McCormack is a foundational component of the 17 Black in a variety of ways. She anchors serve receive and can take some big swings on the left pin in clutch situations.   [caption id="attachment_178641" align="alignright" width="474"]<img class="wp-image-178641" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/02/IMG_6864-crop-3161x2076-1644127541-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="474" height="311" /> Aiono (90) puts up the block for MAVS KC.[/caption] Aisha Aiono - 6’2 MB - MAVS KC 17-1 Here’s yet another high-impact middle blocker on this feature. Aiono meshed really well with the up-tempo offense of MAVS, and this success yielded a Nationals bid at NLQ.   [player_tooltip player_id="120045" first="Skylar" last="Weaver"] - 5’9 DS/L - Dynasty Academy 18 Adidas Academy’s successful outing in Omaha was largely due to their stout ball control, and Weaver always has that phase of the game locked down. She may also get multiple years of 18s experience.     Class of 2024 Alex Bower - 5’10 S - Idaho Crush 17 Bower The Bower name has become synonymous with volleyball success in the state of Idaho. Alex is the next one to carry on that tradition, as she’s a skilled setter with an uncanny ability to score on the second contact.   [player_tooltip player_id="108666" first="Kaia" last="Caffee"] - 6’4 MB - Minnesota Select 17-1 Select 17-1 has a whole assortment of 2024s that we’ll be following for a long time. Caffee was always around to create a huge spark with her blocking and could attack in front of the setter with some heat.   [player_tooltip player_id="156879" first="Katelyn" last="Ambrose"] - 5’7 DS/L - OP2 16 EP Oklahoma Peak Performance’s third-place finish in 16 Thaw was fueled in part by Ambrose’s consistency along the end line. She always seems to deliver the ball right on target, even on hard-driven balls.   [player_tooltip player_id="124216" first="Claire" last="Morrissey"] - 6’0 OH - Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite Despite being a 2024, Morrissey looked right at home competing in 17 Open at NLQ. This six-rotation outside hitter matches up well with just about anyone at the net, and she also put some sharp passing skills on display for Rockwood.   [player_tooltip player_id="150067" first="Heidi" last="Devers"] - 5’4 DS/L - Dynasty 17 Black Among all the electrifying attackers that Dynasty 17 Black has, Devers is the libero who quietly does some spectacular work. She can come out of nowhere to keep plays alive and will always be a go-to anchor in first contact.   [player_tooltip player_id="122816" first="Kaelin" last="Pribyl"] - 6’0 OH - Premier Nebraska 16 Black Premier Nebraska demonstrated their tremendous depth last weekend with players from a lot of their teams having great showings. Pribyl was one of those standout athletes, and she showed some impressive quickness and range playing on the left pin.     Class of 2025 Natalie Wardlow - 6’4 MB - Nebraska ONE 15 Synergy This Nebraska ONE team is a microcosm of the state’s bright future, and they proved it by dominating at January Thaw in Omaha. Wardlow is a Lincoln-area athlete that you have to keep on your radar moving forward.   [caption id="attachment_168533" align="alignright" width="375"]<img class="wp-image-168533" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/12/4-Mesaiya-Bettis-e1638730838875-300x164.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="205" /> Bettis[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="117880" first="Mesaiya" last="Bettis"] - 6’0 OH/RS - Northern Lights 15-1 Watch out. Coach Andy’s team is having a lot of fun out on the court. Bettis’s high-flying kills helped lead Lights 15-1 to a runner-up finish in 15 Thaw.   [player_tooltip player_id="155052" first="Kiera" last="Link"] - 6’1 MB - Nebraska Elite 15 Matrix Link remains a force to be reckoned with at the net. Her blocking presence gave a huge boost to Nebraska Elite throughout the weekend, and her offense keeps progressing, too.