Nebraska 2024 Rankings Update: New Additions (Part 1)
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We’ve got quite a group of new names in this rankings update. Nebraska’s Class of 2024 found a new gear in this year’s fall season, so we naturally have some new names on our radar in the wake of all…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve got quite a group of new names in this rankings update.
Nebraska’s Class of 2024 found a new gear in this year’s fall season, so we naturally have some new names on our radar in the wake of all this action. In fact, there are enough additions in this 2024 update to warrant a two-part feature.
So, here’s Part 1!
Hedstrom’s can’t-miss junior campaign with St. Mary’s made her a surefire addition to our 2024 rankings. The multi-talented frontcourt hitter piled up nearly 500 kills this fall and helped the Cardinals reach their first state tournament since 2016. Feel free to classify Hedstrom as an outside hitter or a middle blocker, because she can do a little bit of both.
West is another name that has been occupying a spot near the top of Nebraska’s kills leaderboard. Not only did the Wausa standout put down 4.5 kills per set this year, but she did it on a blistering 0.418 hitting percentage. West’s contributions in the backcourt have also been stellar, making her a six-rotation player to follow in small-town Nebraska.
Highlights
Carnes first landed on my radar with her performance in September’s Harvest Festival Invite in Gothenburg. She’s an instant gamechanger in the frontcourt for Kearney Catholic, as she locks down the net with both her blocking and her assertive swings. This junior middle blocker was a huge factor in getting the Stars back to the postseason despite some impactful departures from last year’s runner-up squad.
It was hard not to pay attention to Jones’ impactful backcourt work for Hartington Cedar Catholic this year. After all, her reliable floor defense and passing helped yield a title run for the Trojans. Jones embodies the value of a good libero, as her consistent first contacts set up a Cedar Catholic offense that was simply unstoppable in Lincoln.
2022 was a breakthrough year for Seward, and Kratochvil’s leadership at the setter spot had a lot to do with it. Reaching 1,000 assists in a single season is quite an accomplishment. Kratochvil was just a few assists shy of reaching that milestone, but it is perhaps more impressive to see the junior setter elevate the Bluejays to their first tournament appearance in half a decade.
Platteview High School is no stranger to producing some physical, high-efficiency middle blockers. You can add Roseland to the list after an impressive junior season in which she hit over .300 with more than two kills per set.
Hasselman’s junior season with Grand Island Central Catholic featured a fascinating medley of effectiveness and versatility. She can play either middle blocker or opposite and has excelled in both roles. Beyond her individual accomplishments, Hasselman now has a state title to her name, too.
Let’s keep the GICC energy going. While Hasselman locked down the frontcourt, Hedman took care of libero duties in the back row. And she thrived. The junior Crusader put up over 500 digs in 2022 and was even more valuable in taking serve receive burdens off her teammates.
If you’re looking for a new go-to attacker to step up on next year’s Nebraska Christian team, keep an eye on Seip. The Eagles leaned on their junior outside hitter in some tight situations this year, and Seip always seemed to deliver. With some impactful frontcourt graduations from the 2023 class, Seip’s role will continue to grow.
You have to have some dependable pin hitters to put together a two-loss season, and that’s exactly what Bayard had in Hassel. This dominant lefty opposite put down 300 kills this year and lifted the Tigers to their first state tournament appearance since 1992. That’s clearly a breakthrough worthy of this feature.
Highlights
Small-town standout defenders just keep popping up around the state. Gonzalez-Orozco dug the ball at an incredible rate this year and was credited with nearly 600 with Gering this year. When Gonzalez-Orozco didn’t take the first contact, she was always available to put up hittable balls as a secondary setter.
Twarling seems to have found some extra juice as an upperclassman. She lands on our 2024 rankings after taking a huge step forward with Hay Springs this year, tallying over 200 kills at the outside hitter spot. Her all-around skills are another huge plus, as Twarling put up staggering dig numbers for someone who spends so much time in the frontcourt.
Rasgorshek is Crete’s physical anchor along the net. Her high contact point yielded a hitting percentage close to .300 this year, by far the most efficient single-season effort of Rasgorshek’s career. That kind of progression could set the stage for an even more dominant campaign next fall.