Early-Season Check-in with Nebraska’s 2025 Pin Hitters
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With our early-season look at 2025 defenders already complete, it’s time to hone in on some of Nebraska’s sophomore attackers. Not only do we see some standout performances from 2025s who are already in our rankings, but plenty of other…
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Continue ReadingWith our early-season look at 2025 defenders already complete, it’s time to hone in on some of Nebraska’s sophomore attackers.
Not only do we see some standout performances from 2025s who are already in our rankings, but plenty of other athletes have caught our attention and will likely be featured in upcoming rankings updates. Keep an eye on that in the coming weeks.
Here’s a look at a few 2025 outside attackers who are off to a fast start this fall.
Plenty of Pins
Many of the state’s top pin performers are names you’d expect to see at the top of the leaderboard.
Grand Island’s Tia Traudt Tia Traudt 6'0" | OH Grand Island | 2025 State NE is still teeing off after having a stellar debut season with the Islanders. Her scorching 0.344 hitting percentage up to this point is particularly impressive given all the tough swings that left-side hitters need to take. No matter the situation, though, Traudt is terminating.
Mattie Kamery Mattie Kamery 5'10" | S Minden | 2025 State NE is another outside attacker who is building on a strong freshman campaign from last year. Though we’ve discussed Kamery’s background as a setter, this Minden sophomore has left no doubt that she can take over a match on the pin. She has almost eclipsed the 100-kill mark in fewer than two dozen sets played this year, so expect more highlight moments from Kamery throughout the year.
Like Kamery, a few more of Nebraska’s top 2025 pin performers are actually accustomed to playing other positions. Gretna’s Elle Heckenlively Elle Heckenlively 5'10" | OH Gretna | 2025 State NE is adapting to life on the outside after she took the prep scene by storm as a freshman middle blocker. This position swap gives Heckenlively an opportunity to take as many swings as possible for the Dragons, and the sophomore is responding well to her increased responsibilities.
Rilyn Gish Rilyn Gish 5'10" | MB Millard North | 2025 State NE has taken a similar path to Heckenlively, though Gish’s new role on the outside also includes being at an entirely new school. After playing middle blocker in her debut season at Omaha Duchesne, Gish is now producing big numbers on the pin for a Millard North squad that has plenty of other new pieces in 2022.
Of course, many of the state’s 2025 pin hitters have been settled on the pin for a while, with Traudt being a good example. Shay Heaney Shay Heaney 6'2" | OH Elkhorn North | 2025 State NE has also been thriving on the outside in her second year with Elkhorn North, which is no surprise given her strong club season last spring. We previously discussed Elkhorn North’s tough schedule to begin the season, which helps elevate Heaney’s impressive performances even more.
Players outside the big cities are represented well, too. Brandi Helzer Brandi Helzer 5'10" | OH Oakland-Craig | 2025 State NE is stepping up her game for defending state champion Oakland-Craig, and Hayden Osmera Hayden Osmera 5'11" | OH Lincoln Northeast | 2025 State NE continues to anchor the offense for Wahoo. More small-town stars will surely emerge alongside this pair of standout sophomores, and we’ve already got our eye on players like Kara Menke from Lawrence-Nelson and Cynley Wilkinson of York.
Lastly, it only feels right to include a setter-hitter on this feature. Grace Lewis Grace Lewis 5'9" | S Omaha Northwest | 2025 State NE has been a do-it-all player for Omaha Northwest since her prep career began last season, and she’s accomplishing more of the same in 2022. Her attacking and setting numbers are both on the rise so far this season, and Lewis still stands out for her willingness to do anything that will help her team succeed.