Nebraska’s Tall Talents to Follow in the 2023 Club Season
In this article:
It’s been a long, long time since I’ve delved into one of these “tall talent” features. In fact, it was one of the first motifs I used for a feature series on Prep Dig a few years ago. A lot…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIt’s been a long, long time since I’ve delved into one of these “tall talent” features. In fact, it was one of the first motifs I used for a feature series on Prep Dig a few years ago. A lot has changed since then, so it’s time to dig the series back up.
Those who follow volleyball will be familiar with the unreachable advantage that height provides. Physicality at the net can be a massive difference-maker in a club match, especially when athletes can reach high enough to effectively negate an opposing block. Nebraska has plenty of players who fit this “tall talent” description, and they come from every class and club from around the Great Plains landscape.
Here are a few imposing frontcourt players we’ll be watching as the 2023 season begins in earnest.
We’ll talk a lot about frontcourt attackers in this feature, but let’s start by bringing a setter on board. Maser has long been a key contributor in the Nebraska Juniors gym, and she just added a high school championship ring to her docket last fall. The GICC product is certainly not a blocking liability whenever she’s along the net.
Pribyl’s value is not just measured in her height. She can play on either pin and is lethal on the variety of combination plays that Premier 17 Black will run this year. The Millard West outside hitter pipeline has been very fruitful lately, and Pribyl’s dominance is a perfect example.
Richardson could be tabbed as Nebraska Elite 17 Flame’s utility player this year. Like many of our featured players here, Richardson has experience in just about any position along the net. Her impact in the middle is particularly notable, as Richardson provides the length and physicality that this Nebraska Elite team will need to thrive.
We’ll now venture over to the VCNebraska gym for another versatile frontcourt athlete who could have a breakout year. Rink had some good chances to show her strength on the right pin with Lincoln Southwest last fall, and there’s reason to believe she’ll slide over to middle blocker with VCN. Either way, Rink’s physical presence will fit right in with some top-tier 17s competition.
On to the 2025s. Wardlow has been on our radar for a while as one of Nebraska’s top middle blockers from her class. She is incredibly nimble for a young prep athlete with a six-foot-four frame, and Wardlow uses all of that length to her advantage in the frontcourt. After last year’s incredible club campaign with Nebraska ONE, expect Wardlow to elevate her game even more this time around.
Highlights
While we’re on the topic of elite frontcourt 2025s, Paymal is another name that soared to the top of the rankings after last year’s club season. Her role in getting 15 Matrix to a 15 Open bid was massive, and Paymal should bring another spectacular 2023 campaign to the 16 Maverick lineup.
Highlights
The run of VCNebraska middle blockers continues with Link, a six-foot-one athlete with plenty of high-level experience. She took part in Omaha Skutt Catholic’s eight-peat last fall, and Link will get more exposure to the big stage with 16 Elite in 2023.
You can bet on Bosiljevac being a go-to attacker for Premier 16 Red this season. She was already that kind of player when she competed with Premier last year, and Bosiljevac is only going to improve with more reps. Overall, 16 Red has a chance to make some serious noise in Midwest qualifiers.
Finally, we’ll wrap up with a pair of 2026s. I got a preliminary look at Erb when I visited the Elite Classic earlier this month, and there’s no doubt about her potential to change a match. Erb’s lateral quickness makes her a lethal middle blocker who can defend the net and score at will in two-hitter rotations.
Highlights
With so much young talent on the Millard North roster, players like Wingett will be fascinating to follow this fall. Before we get there, though, this physical middle blocker can make a splash on Nebraska Elite’s top 15s entry on the club side. Stay tuned as we start to scout even more tall talents on Wingett’s team.