Building the All-Midwest Power League Team

We've wrapped up the Midwest Power League. Three weekends of volleyball action are complete. What better way to tie everything together than with an all-Power League team? It's time for a position-by-position breakdown of some of the top performers from the entire Power League series. This encompasses all three weekends of the competition that took place in January, February, and just last weekend to kick off April. Throughout this period, the Midwest Power League showcased some players who regularly stood out among their peers from Nebraska and beyond. Those are the athletes we're discussing here. So, it's time to go piece-by-piece and assemble the Power League dream team.   Outside Hitter Oh, the choices here. [player_tooltip player_id="58786" first="Kylie" last="Weeks"] and [player_tooltip player_id="58799" first="Madilyn" last="Siebler"] were both six-rotation stars for Nebraska Juniors 18 Black. If you're building your hypothetical dream team around great ball control and all-around skills, I highly suggest you start there. You can find so many more worthy dream team components if you stay in the 18s age group. If we're still talking about good ball control, Premier Nebraska 18 Gold boasts two great options in [player_tooltip player_id="58783" first="Skylar" last="McCune"] and [player_tooltip player_id="58782" first="Shaylee" last="Myers"]. Looking for a big, physical hammer on the outside? Consider VCNebraska 18 Elite's [player_tooltip player_id="58791" first="Masa" last="Scheierman"], or perhaps you look at [player_tooltip player_id="37532" first="Ava" last="Heyne"] from Nebraska Elite 18 Omega. I can't wait to see all of the athletes make an impact at the next level. [caption id="attachment_189258" align="alignright" width="411"]<img class="wp-image-189258" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/04/IMG_8407-crop-3813x2504-1649043189-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="411" height="270" /> Schrader attacks for 16 Gold.[/caption] Hop around the age ladder for some other great outside hitter candidates. You can't go wrong with the Premier Nebraska 17 Gold duo of [player_tooltip player_id="59192" first="Stella" last="Adeyemi"] and [player_tooltip player_id="59208" first="Destiny" last="Ndam-Simpson"]. It's firepower galore. Several 16s outside hitters keep capturing our attention, too, including [player_tooltip player_id="155042" first="Tia" last="Traudt"] from VCNebraska 16 Elite and [player_tooltip player_id="168153" first="Aowyn" last="Schrader"] of Premier Nebraska 16 Gold.   Opposite The right pin is often a wildcard when talking about top performers and dream team assemblances, but I think we have a few clear choices at this position. Don't look now, but [player_tooltip player_id="58771" first="Shayla" last="Meyer"] has been living at opposite lately for VCNebraska 18 Elite. Though she's traditionally been a left side, her fast arm and effortless elevation will always be a good fit for either pin. Her critical role in 18 Elite triumphs at the final Power League cannot go unnoticed. [player_tooltip player_id="58816" first="Ital" last="Lopuyo"] is another clear contender for any dream team selection. Her game has reached a new level this year with Nebraska Juniors, as she is getting on top of quick tempo balls and hitting with some serious pace. Lopuyo's blocking will also anchor any defense along the net and puts her among the best right-side hitters we saw in the Power League. You can also mention another two-headed monster for Premier Nebraska 17 Gold, as [player_tooltip player_id="59201" first="Grace" last="Heaney"] and [player_tooltip player_id="103095" first="Alanna" last="Bankston"] are two D1-bound opposites that routinely make huge plays for their team. Of course, one of the benefits of 17 Gold's two-setter offense is that one of these two opposites can be in the frontcourt at all times. Scary.   Setter These Power League setters can dish it. [caption id="attachment_189261" align="alignright" width="417"]<img class="wp-image-189261" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/04/IMG_8422-crop-3428x2251-1649043396-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="417" height="274" /> Woodin sets for 18 Black.[/caption] Again, take your pick here. I briefly alluded to the up-tempo offense of Nebraska Juniors, and [player_tooltip player_id="58781" first="Madi" last="Woodin"] is the one who makes it happen from the setter spot. If you want a record-setting signal-caller on your side, Woodin is surely a prime choice. [player_tooltip player_id="37531" first="Abby" last="Schomers"] is another excellent dream team option in the 18s age group, and [player_tooltip player_id="79232" first="Lauren" last="Carter"] from CIS 18 Blue has so much veteran experience. Another interesting wildcard at setter is [player_tooltip player_id="104989" first="Malayah" last="Long"], a 2024 athlete playing up for VCNebraska 17 Elite. Long has spent some time on the left side this year, too -- which reminds me of Omaha Skutt left-side hitter [player_tooltip player_id="59194" first="Morgan" last="Burke"], who shines at setter for Nebraska Elite 17 Vici. Stay in the Nebraska Elite gym to find [player_tooltip player_id="168154" first="Molly" last="Romano"], who is yet another setter to steal the spotlight multiple times this year. Whew, what a lineup.   Middle Blocker It feels like this position group has seen a lot of breakout players among the Power League teams. [player_tooltip player_id="109603" first="Mia" last="Tvrdy"] is the obvious example here, as she keynoted our <a href="https://prepdig.com/2022/03/nebraska-mid-season-2024-rankings-update-stock-risers/">stock risers feature</a> from the latest 2024 rankings update. We've also got [player_tooltip player_id="104975" first="Nora" last="Wurtz"] from Nebraska Elite 16 Lokahi among the state's top 2024 prospects, and this multi-talented athlete can also split out to the pin and do far more than play middle blocker. The Nebraska Juniors 18 Black middle duo is still ferocious. [player_tooltip player_id="124243" first="Katelynn" last="Oxley"] and [player_tooltip player_id="58784" first="Brenna" last="Schmidt"] are as physically imposing as they are dominant, and their ability to hit any attacking pattern makes them suitable options for an all-Power League squad. We've got some 15s teams loaded with middle talent, too. [player_tooltip player_id="189320" first="Natalie" last="Wardlow"] from Nebraska ONE 15 Synergy is having a spectacular year for her nationally qualified squad, and [player_tooltip player_id="155044" first="Elle" last="Heckenlively"] already has some big-stage experience for Premier Nebraska 15 Gold.   Defensive Specialist/Libero Finally, let's anchor your team with some elite defenders and passers. Just another stellar Power League from [player_tooltip player_id="109590" first="Olivia" last="Mauch"]. Premier Nebraska 17 Gold's 2024 libero is growing into a big leadership role with her high-powered team, and she is one of Nebraska's steadiest players in serve receive. Add [player_tooltip player_id="155029" first="Keri" last="Leimbach"] from Nebraska ONE 15 Synergy to that elite tier. Some scouts question how much a libero can really impact any given match, but there's no denying that Leimbach contributes to everything that 15 Synergy does. She's a vocal leader, plays relentless defense, and sets an unbelievably smooth second ball. Many of your all-Power League libero candidates might be from the older age groups. There's no shortage of options here, either. [player_tooltip player_id="82412" first="Harlei" last="Cole"] is putting a bow on a fabulous prep career with Nebraska Juniors. [player_tooltip player_id="58811" first="Katie" last="Galligan"] anchors the backcourt for Nebraska Elite 18 Omega -- and don't forget that [player_tooltip player_id="187679" first="Sarah" last="Galligan"] is rising up the ranks with 16 Lokahi.   Truthfully, you could write a separate future on each of these positions. Props to the Midwest Power League for providing a great venue for the region's top club teams.