Nebraska’s Returning Stat Stuffers: Defensive Specialists

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Time to give some credit to those who hold down the backcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've covered outside hitters and setters on our preseason stat stuffer series, and now it's time to give the defensive specialists their due. Nebraska never runs out of players who know how to play some gritty defense, so we'll have no problem putting a list together here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's do it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63006a676df2f","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["106701"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Rogers' consistent statistical impact at the libero spot has been amazing to follow throughout her career. She started off by tallying nearly five digs per set as a freshman, and those averages have kept climbing in every successive season. Minden will rally around their senior libero one more time this fall.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["171640"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"2021 was undoubtedly a breakout year for Worley. The Kearney libero helped command the backcourt en route to nearly six kills per set last fall, and she has room to grow that production even more. Her Bearcats squad regularly challenges itself against the state's best teams, so Worley will gain plenty of experience digging some heat this season.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["171639"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Here's another rising senior who made a big leap last year. Draper was one of the veteran leaders on last year's Omaha Marian squad with her savvy defensive skills in the backcourt. 2022 offers a new opportunity for Draper to perform in the spotlight, as the Crusaders bring back a lot of talent that can challenge Class A's best lineups.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["124779"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Backemeyer was one of my favorite liberos to watch during last year's state championships. Her Elmwood-Murdock team came into Lincoln as an underdog, but Backemeyer's sprawling defensive plays and rock-solid passing had the Knights exceeding all expectations in November. We could see more of the same by year's end.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["172560"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Hass is the digging machine that helps Guardian Angels Central Catholic operate. We took note of her backcourt production in some of last year's stat-stuffer features, and Hass is back to lead the charge for the Bluejays. Expect her to stay atop the leaderboard among Nebraska's 2024s.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["109597"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Not all of Douglas' tremendous work at libero will be reflected in the stat sheet, though she has no problem putting up big numbers. The way she stepped into the Skutt Catholic lineup and took command of the backcourt was a huge factor in getting the SkyHawks their seventh consecutive state championship. That kind of impact simply can't be quantified.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["152865"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"I can't help but mention another libero who made their biggest impression in Lincoln last November. Archbishop Bergan's offense was impressive, but it was also set up by some great first contacts from Bojanski. If the Knights want to get back in the championship hunt this year, their libero will need to play a big part in their success.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["155030"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Freshman liberos are rare, but that didn't stop Jelinek from making a splash on one of the state's best high school volleyball programs last fall. She wore the contrasting jersey for Norris in 2021 and showed the poise and ball control of a veteran. Even if Jelinek makes a move to outside hitter later in her prep career, her dig totals will not drop off by much.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /-->