Nebraska 2026 Watch List: Top Freshman Performers in 2022
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Our new 2026 watch list in Nebraska was heavily influenced by the fall high school season that concluded last month. It only seems fitting that we revisit that season as we dive into some of Nebraska’s standout 2026s. So, as…
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Continue ReadingOur new 2026 watch list in Nebraska was heavily influenced by the fall high school season that concluded last month. It only seems fitting that we revisit that season as we dive into some of Nebraska’s standout 2026s.
So, as we peruse the initial release of Nebraska’s Class of 2026 watch list, here are a few names that jump out as instant standouts on this year’s high school stage.
The future of Sumner-Eddyville-Miller is in good hands, especially after the Mustangs reached this year’s state championships with a variety of young contributors. Arbuthnot was one of those breakout players, and she tallied nearly 300 kills on a 0.226 clip in her freshman year.
Beethe’s debut season with Johnson County Central puts her in elite company among Nebraska’s 2026s. She put away well over 300 kills and nearly reached a 0.300 season hitting percentage, too. Look for Beethe and the Thunderbirds to make some postseason noise before long.
Branson has been firmly on our radar for a while. After she shined with Shelton in postseason play, she made a further impression at this month’s Nebraska Top 250 Expo in La Vista. That ought to be a great launching point to another successful club stint with South Central.
We’ll have a lot of small-town talents in this feature, and another fascinating hidden gem is already emerging at Sandhills/Thedford. Dahlberg was among Nebraska’s most efficient 2026 attackers this fall with a 0.220 percentage on nearly 2.5 kills per set.
Few Nebraska freshmen, if any, can boast numbers like Dolliver’s. The Malcolm standout piled up well over 500 kills this year and was one of the state’s most productive six-rotation hitters regardless of class. Dolliver and the Clippers ought to become a common sight at the state championships.
The Dyrstad pipeline just keeps rolling. Kami was a valuable backcourt contributor on this year’s championship-winning Papio South squad, and she also showed a bit of that value with some tough serving in the Class A title match. Anticipate more of the same from Dyrstad at Premier Nebraska.
There’s little that Emery can’t do on the volleyball court. She can set, hit, defend, and do anything in between. That’s a good way to describe Emery’s role in her freshman year with Minden, as she was a frontcourt outside hitter and a backcourt setter for the Whippets.
Highlights
Gleason made an immediate impact this fall with Beatrice, and she elevate her stock yet again at our Nebraska Top 250 Expo. Like some other players in this feature, Gleason’s success carries on a family tradition of high-level volleyball.
Consider this a “tandem” entry featuring Kyra Nelms Kyra Nelms 6’0″ | MB Southwest | 2026 State NE and her twin sister, Annika. Needless to say, Southwest was all set in the middle with this pair anchoring the net en route to a state championship appearance. Kyra reached triple-digit kills in her debut season, and Annika was not far behind.
Young talent continues to keep Nebraska Christian in the state championship conversation, even as the school made the climb to Class D1 a year ago. Perdew became another high-impact underclassman for the Eagles in 2022, and the freshman pin hitter proved she’s not intimidated by the postseason stage.
In her debut season, Wattier helped Norfolk Catholic earn the #1 seed in Class D1 and set the Knights to the D1 state championship match. But, in Norfolk Catholic’s two-setter system, Wattier was also tasked with hitting in the frontcourt in addition to her back-row setting. It’s hard to say what her role will be next year, but it’s bound to be a big one.
Highlights
With Omaha Skutt Catholic’s rich tradition and depth of talent, it’s always notable when a freshman phenom emerges in the SkyHawk frontcourt. West did just that in 2022, as she seized a starting left-side hitter role and produced some clutch kills during the team’s eight-peat journey.