More 2024 Middles to Follow from Nebraska's State Championships

<p>The 2022 Nebraska state championships proved that quality talent can be found in every corner of the state. Middle blockers demonstrated this well in Lincoln.</p>   <p>So, with liberos and 2024 setters already covered, we now turn to the junior middle blockers who stole the spotlight on Nebraska's most prominent high school stage.</p>   <p></p>   <p><strong>Outstanding 2024s</strong></p>   <p>Like our setter discussion, the Class of 2024 is well-represented among Nebraska's most dominant middle blockers.</p>   <p>Of course, some of these star middles are already committed. Papillion-La Vista's [player_tooltip player_id='109603' first='Mia' last='Tvrdy'] is not done making a splash on the Nebraska prep scene before heading to Oregon in 2024. Her prowess off of one foot yielded a monster year from the junior, and Tvrdy has only gotten better in the Papio program. Look out.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588676130521116673?s=20&t=FPI2t2kJPZQWkCTo5ZOGEw </div></figure>   <p>Likewise, Creighton commit [player_tooltip player_id='104975' first='Nora' last='Wurtz'] has redefined dominance in the DC West stat sheet. This junior's outstanding year is encapsulated by her staggering 0.524 season hitting percentage that helped lift the Falcons to an appearance in the state championships.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1587880664560533504?s=20&t=FPI2t2kJPZQWkCTo5ZOGEw </div></figure>   <p>But for every committed superstar middle at the state championships, we had several more who are uncommitted. Better yet, the Class of 2024 has some rare six-rotation phenoms at the middle blocker spot.</p>   <p>Overton's [player_tooltip player_id='105006' first='JoLee' last='Ryan'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='172559' first='Natalie' last='Wood']</strong> are a couple of those gems. These Eagle standouts have been consistent 0.300 hitters for most of their careers, and both played in the back row for this year's Class D2 runner-up. Ryan tallied a whopping 28 kills in the D2 championship match, while Wood added 21. This duo has a good shot at returning to the big stage in 2023.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588590796852580352?s=20&t=FPI2t2kJPZQWkCTo5ZOGEw </div></figure>   <p>Clarkson/Leigh also has a do-it-all middle blocker in junior [player_tooltip player_id='122806' first='Chloe' last='Hanel']. The versatile attacker has now elevated the Patriots to back-to-back state tournament appearances, and we got to see Hanel's entire attacking repertoire in Lincoln this November. She can hit the quick as well as any middle, but Hanel will gladly take a swing on the pins, too.</p>   <p>Add [player_tooltip player_id='109591' first='Mikah' last='O'Neill'] of Sumner-Eddyville-Miller to the list of six-rotation middles. I've seen O'Neill compete in a variety of venues, and I remain impressed by her ability to lead a team and show a full range of skills as a middle blocker. Her willingness to pass and hit as a frontcourt middle is fascinating.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1588271090912333824?s=20&t=FPI2t2kJPZQWkCTo5ZOGEw </div></figure>   <p>We still have another all-around star to discuss here: Amherst's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='122819' first='Hannah' last='Herrick']</strong>. The high-flying junior led the Broncos in kills by a wide margin this year, and she did it while playing a six-rotation middle role similar to O'Neill, Hanel, Ryan, and Wood. Herrick will hit any gap along the net and even played good enough floor defense to lead Amherst in digs, too. There's something about watching small-town middle blockers dominate at the state championships, and we have so many stark examples from the 2022 postseason.</p>   <p>In the capital city, Class A #2 seed Lincoln Southwest boasted a pair of 2024 middles who both took a huge step forward this fall. [player_tooltip player_id='152857' first='Emerson' last='Lionberger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='152856' first='Abbie' last='Appleget'] were efficient terminators on the gap plays that became a staple of Southwest's offense. That connection should only continue to flourish next season, putting this duo firmly on our radar among Class A's best.</p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152906' first='Ava' last='Spies']</strong> had an extraordinary breakout tournament this season for Class B runner-up Elkhorn North. She had her hands all over Elkhorn North's run to a 2-1 lead over Skutt Catholic in the state championship match and finished with nine kills and five blocks in the contest. Her role will be even bigger as a senior.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1589056469819101184?s=20&t=FPI2t2kJPZQWkCTo5ZOGEw </div></figure>   <p>Gothenburg, another state runner-up in Class C1, got major contributions from junior middle blocker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='459979' first='Madison' last='Smith']</strong> this season. The steady veteran had four kills and four blocks in the championship and thrived in a Swedes offense that was never afraid to pump the middle. I made the trek out to Gothenburg during the regular season, and I might have to make a repeat journey next fall.</p>   <p></p>

The 2022 Nebraska state championships proved that quality talent can be found in every corner of the state. Middle blockers demonstrated this well in Lincoln.