Road to June 15th: Recruiting Nebraska’s 2024 Liberos

<p>I haven’t forgotten about the defensive specialists!</p> <p>So, a little meta-discussion. We started this series roughly a week ago with outside hitters, middle blockers, and setters getting their due. By the time the most recent feature was released, I started getting caught up with all the travel and coverage related to our Prep Dig Finale up in Michigan. I’m settled back in Nebraska, so let’s finish this thing.</p> <p>We’ve wrapped up our journey to June 15th, and now we’ll finish our Nebraska 2024 feature series with liberos.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Holding the Line</strong></p> <p>It has been a big year for this position group.</p> <p>Similar to our discussion in the setter feature, you can hop up to the 17s age group to find a couple of 2024 liberos who are excelling while playing up. [player_tooltip player_id="109590" first="Olivia" last="Mauch"]’s outstanding year in the Premier gym has helped 17 Gold to several tournament titles, and we’ll be looking to see if her team saves its best stuff for Nationals. If Mauch remains as rock-solid as she has been all season, the chances of another Premier breakthrough are good.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="109597" first="Paisley" last="Douglas"] is another 17s participant that you have to keep an eye on. She made a big splash last fall when she transitioned to Omaha Skutt Catholic, took control of the libero position, and helped the SkyHawks to yet another state title. Now, Douglas is helping elevate the VCN 17 Elite backcourt into one of the most formidable defenses in Nebraska.</p> [caption id="attachment_168318" align="alignright" width="229"]<img class="wp-image-168318 " src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/12/30-Paisley-Douglas-194x300.jpg" alt="" width="229" height="354" /> Douglas[/caption] <p>The 17 Elite conversation doesn’t end with Douglas. [player_tooltip player_id="124953" first="Teagan" last="Little"] is another impactful defensive specialist that hops up to the 17s squad from the 2024 class. I’d expect Little to keep flourishing this fall with Lincoln Southwest to follow up her strong club showing to start the calendar year.</p> <p>Of course, we can find more 2024 libero talent if we stay in the VCN gym and check out the 16s. [player_tooltip player_id="152864" first="Mallorie" last="Meyer"] has been a defensive anchor throughout the year for 16 Elite, and that’s certainly nothing new for this instinctive libero. VCN’s 16 Elite group has now seen multiple seasons of success with Meyer leading the way in the back row. We also have our eyes on 16 Black, with Lincoln-area players like [player_tooltip player_id="152859" first="Lucy" last="Cogan"] and [player_tooltip player_id="187688" first="Joslyn" last="Rice"] leading the way there.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The depth of this class keeps showing up with Nebraska Juniors, too. [player_tooltip player_id="124779" first="Tatum" last="Backemeyer"] has put up some monster numbers in 2022, building off of what she was already doing with Elmwood-Murdock on the high school side. She is joined in the backcourt by [player_tooltip player_id="172561" first="Addison" last="Hatcliff"], a Beatrice native whose stock could continue to rise.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Premier’s 16s teams are obviously not short of defensive standouts, either. [player_tooltip player_id="104984" first="Faith" last="Frame"] has just gotten better with more high-level experience, and her court vision shows every time she competes with 16 Gold. It also helps that she can lean on teammate [player_tooltip player_id="105001" first="Alivia" last="Hausmann"], another savvy defender who is carving out a big role on the end line. And, speaking of Norris liberos, [player_tooltip player_id="105830" first="Sydney" last="Guthard"] and [player_tooltip player_id="187687" first="Grayson" last="Piening"] are consistent standouts to know from 16 Red.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="109595" first="Haylee" last="Wolf"] also warrants a shoutout after leading Premier 16 Black to a bid-earning triumph at NLQ in the 16 USA division. It’s not often that a team’s energy and passion come primarily from the libero, but Wolf’s vocal leadership skills were very evident when 16 Black made that NLQ run. Her sharp defensive skills back up that verbal presence.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_187495" align="alignright" width="400"]<img class="wp-image-187495" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/03/IMG_8281.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="267" /> Galligan[/caption] <p>On to Nebraska Elite, where a trio of defensive specialists has meshed well for 16 Lokahi. [player_tooltip player_id="187679" first="Sarah" last="Galligan"] patrols the crosscourt in that flashy pink libero jersey, and she puts on a show while doing it. Often standing next to her in the passing formation are [player_tooltip player_id="104976" first="Anna" last="Borner"] and [player_tooltip player_id="187799" first="Sage" last="McGill"], two players who will readily enter the match to steady Nebraska Elite’s serve receive.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This is a libero class full of breakout candidates--and players who are just starting to break out. [player_tooltip player_id="104997" first="Skyler" last="Ritterbush"] and [player_tooltip player_id="109613" first="Reese" last="Boyd"] have begun to shine for Premier 16 Red. [player_tooltip player_id="183983" first="Quinn" last="Groves"] has done the same for 16 Silver. Rest assured that we will be adding more players to this list in the weeks and months to come.</p> <p>For now, bring on June 15th.</p>