Prep Memories Abound in Nebraska-Creighton Battle
A record-setting crowd was treated to an instant classic. The annual volleyball matchup between the Huskers and Bluejays always brings something for everyone. For me, this contest is a showcase of so many prep stars that I’ve had the privilege…
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Continue ReadingA record-setting crowd was treated to an instant classic.
The annual volleyball matchup between the Huskers and Bluejays always brings something for everyone. For me, this contest is a showcase of so many prep stars that I’ve had the privilege of covering in Nebraska and its neighboring states. More than that, though, the buzz and fan support at this match is a stark reminder of the rising popularity of women’s volleyball. 15,797 fans attended the Wednesday night match at the CHI Health Center–a new regular-season attendance record for the sport.
In the aftermath of this incredible spectacle, I wanted to rattle off a few lingering thoughts. We’re going to take a trip down memory lane and relive some of my favorite prep memories from some of the top performers we just watched in Omaha. This will also frame our discussion of the future of these storied volleyball programs, as there are a lot of regional prep stars on these teams that are just starting to make their collegiate impact. Nebraska and Creighton are not done producing classics.
The Waverly Wave
I’m willing to be that most fans of the Waverly volleyball program have quite a vested interest in what’s going on with the Huskers right now.
You seldom see three athletes from the same high school have such a profound impact on a single college team, let alone one of Nebraska’s caliber. Kelly Hunter and the Rolfzen twins had that kind of representation for Papio South, but that was an anomaly, right?
Well, Nebraska’s next collegiate trio has arrived with Anni Evans, Bekka Allick, and Whitney Lauenstein all holding starting roles during most of Nebraska’s non-conference slate. Lauenstein emerged as the star of the Husker attack Wednesday night, piling up a whopping 25 kills on 52 swings. Her extraordinary range and elevation made Waverly a must-see team during the Lauenstein era, and that has translated into awe-inspiring performances like the one we saw in Omaha.
Evans is the eldest member of the Vikings bunch and has carved out a setting role in Nebraska’s 6-2 system. Her three-rotation presence in right-back defense also yielded 17 digs in the hard-nosed match that featured a lot of extended rallies. Even setters in a 6-2 system can rack up some stats.
The newcomer of the Waverly trio is Allick, who has immediately seized a starting middle role for the Huskers. She produced some legendary moments for the Vikings during her senior season in which she was largely a six-rotation outside hitter. That 30-plus-kill performance in her final match will always stand out. After Allick wrapped up her time in Waverly, she added to her resume earlier this year by winning gold with the USA U21 National Team at the Pan American Cup. These big college stages suit Allick just fine.
Club Connections
It should be no surprise that we had a lot of club cohesion between these two lineups.
The most widely discussed connection heading into the weekend was the Premier Nebraska outside hitter duo of Lindsay Krause and Norah Sis, who now compete on opposite sides for Nebraska and Creighton, respectively. These two extraordinary athletes paved quite a history of club success, including an 18s GJNC championship with Krause embracing a post-injury role at libero.
Sis has maintained her role as an all-around outside hitter for Creighton, while Krause plays opposite in Nebraska’s 6-2. That led to some direct hitter-blocker matchups between the two that surely lit some competitive fire between two best friends that also hate losing.
Of course, Sis and Krause were not the only Premier alums who made a splash at the CHI Health Center. True freshman Sky McCune has seized a starting spot as Creighton’s primary defensive specialist, and her Gretna supporters are surely proud of the way she performed in this match. McCune piled up a match-high 22 digs in the five-set thriller–eclipsing the dig totals from both liberos on the floor while playing only three rotations across the back row. That’s quite an accomplishment.
A Word on KC
Kansas City has become my second “home base” behind Nebraska during club seasons. The talent pool in the city is growing at an astonishing rate, and the Creighton lineup featured two athletes who played prominent parts in recent KC club success.
Kendra Wait is arguably the highest-profile volleyball commit that Creighton has ever landed. The Gardner, Kansas, native has been the starting Bluejay setter since she joined the team last fall, and that immediate impact came as no surprise to those who saw Wait compete with MAVS. She has always been an incredibly dynamic athlete who can push tempo from just about anywhere on the court. Wait’s touch and distribution regularly caused problems for Nebraska’s vaunted block and defense.
This year’s Creighton team has a new KC freshman torchbearer, too. I remember watching Ava Martin Ava Martin 5'10" | S Bishop Miege | 2024 State #77 Nation KS compete in an Omaha Skutt tournament last fall, where she quickly established herself as the offensive leader for St. Thomas Aquinas. Martin’s versatility has already been on full display in her debut season. Like Krause, Martin is shifting over to the right pin after spending most of her prep days on the left. It’s working out so far, and the combination of Wait and Martin will continue to demonstrate the strength of Kansas City volleyball.