GameChangers: Can’t-Miss Pin Hitters from #PDTop250ExpoNE

This content series is sponsored by GameChanger – The Official Scorekeeping, Stats, Team Management & Technology Partner of Prep Dig

Another successful Prep Dig showcase is in the books! We have a lot to cover.

The Prep Dig Top 250 Expo is one of my favorite annual events to cover, but this year's Nebraska showcase was on another level. A huge influx of talented athletes made the trip to The Volleyball Academy, and we inevitably have some instant standouts in this one.

So, our GameChangers feature peruses through some pin hitters who made an instant impression at #PDTop250ExpoNE.

Steely Veterans

We knew this showcase would bring some heavy hitters to the forefront. Where do you even start with this group?

Many of our top-performing pin hitters at the expo were experienced standouts from Nebraska's Class of 2024. Papillion-La Vista's Morgan Glaser Morgan Glaser 6'0" | OH Papillion-La Vista | 2024 State NE is one of those 2024s, and she has kept elevating her game throughout 2022. Better yet, Glaser has demonstrated her versatility by playing on different pins in club and high school venues.

Eleanor Brislen Eleanor Brislen 5'11" | OH Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE also embodies this pin-to-pin flexibility, though much of her recent on-court experience has been on the right side. It's a good fit for the Omaha Westside junior, too, and Brislen is poised for a standout year with Premier Nebraska.

Lauren Jones Lauren Jones 5'9" | OH Millard West | 2024 State NE is another Premier pin hitter that performed well at the expo. She reminded us of the heat she can put on the ball when she's at full strength, so consider this a big comeback moment for the junior. The upcoming club season can't come soon enough for Jones.

Over in the Nebraska Elite gym, Addison Johnson Addison Johnson 5'10" | OH Columbus | 2024 State NE is showing her readiness to take on the club season, too. The Columbus junior has become known for her outstanding ball control skills and her six-rotation effort, but don't forget about her ability to terminate on the pin. Johnson did plenty of that at our showcase. I'm expecting big things from Johnson and Nebraska Elite's 17s squad this spring after the team was right on the cusp of an Open bid last spring.

Archbishop Bergan's Paige Frickenstein Paige Frickenstein 6'1" | OH Archbishop Bergan | 2024 State NE has brought her best to Nebraska's biggest prep stages, and she did the same at this expo. Frickenstein has become the go-to attacker for a Bergan program that now has multiple appearances in the state title match during Frickenstein's career. Saturday morning's showing at the showcase was another step forward for this experienced pin hitter.

To round out our discussion of 2024s, Bellevue West's Kayla Eggiman Kayla Eggiman 5'8" | OH Bellevue West | 2024 State NE deserves a lot of praise for her development as a pin hitter. I saw another Eggiman find another gear at this event with her strong outside attacks, and that could translate into an even better 2023 calendar year.

Up-and-Coming

Now, we turn our attention to the 2025s and 2026s. The future is here.

Gretna's Elle Heckenlively Elle Heckenlively 5'10" | OH Gretna | 2025 State NE stands out right away among the 2025s at this event. We've documented her shift from the middle to the outside this year, and Heckenlively promptly became one of Nebraska's most prolific sophomore scorers despite the position change. The power and elevation she showed during our showcase were everything we remembered from that successful sophomore season. Keep a close eye on Heckenlively in the spring--no matter which position she plays.

It was a privilege to see Hayden Osmera Hayden Osmera 5'11" | OH Lincoln Northeast | 2025 State NE of Wahoo compete at this showcase, too. This 2025 athlete has had a starting role at the outside hitter spot since her debut season with the Warriors in 2021, and Osmera has just kept improving from there. The future looks bright for Wahoo, too, as fellow Warrior sophomore pin hitter McKenna Smith McKenna Smith 5'9" | OH Wahoo | 2025 State NE also joined in on this weekend's action.

Other 2025 pin hitters, like Skutt Catholic's Abbie Hagedorn Abbie Hagedorn 5'11" | RS Omaha Skutt Catholic | 2025 State NE , had a huge breakthrough this year that suddenly propelled them up Nebraska's individual leaderboards. Hagedorn's huge contributions on the right pin helped the SkyHawks to yet another state title, and this versatile attacker is not done yet. Expect to see Hagedorn tear it up yet again next spring.

And get ready for the emergence of the 2026s. Jalyn Branson Jalyn Branson 5'9" | OH State NE made an impactful appearance at our showcase after reaching the state tournament in her debut season with Shelton. Likewise, Madeline Lamb Madeline Lamb 6'0" | OH Omaha Westside | 2026 State NE looks like a future standout for an Omaha Westside program that is soaring to new heights lately. And don't lose sight of other multi-talented 2026s like Beatrice's Sophie Gleason Sophie Gleason 5'9" | OH Beatrice | 2026 State NE and Bennington's Hayden Liebsack Hayden Liebsack 6'2" | OH Bennington | 2026 State #116 Nation NE . We have plenty of time to learn more about these fast-rising freshmen, and this event was a great way to get the ball rolling.