Updated Look at Nebraska’s Under-the-Radar 2025 Middle Blockers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's time we brought a few more 2025 middle blockers into the spotlight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, we started taking a position-focused look at Nebraska's new <a href="https://prepdig.com/nebraska/rankings/2025-rankings/">Class of 2025 rankings update</a>. Our first feature focused on some under-the-radar outside hitters, and we managed to cover a variety of skills and roles in that article. We'll do the same here as we shift our focus to middle blockers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue to emphasize that our perception of Nebraska's 2025s is still evolving. That's the case again with the middle blockers. It's the perfect time to address some under-the-radar athletes who are beginning to break through and make themselves known.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They won't be hidden gems for long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Already Prep Standouts</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As I look at Nebraska's list of top-performing 2025 middle blockers on the club side, I see a lot of players who have already made a big impact as high school underclassmen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":255183,"width":439,"height":292,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/42_Laynee-Baker-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-255183" width="439" height="292" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Baker</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska Elite has a couple of these under-the-radar prep standouts that I'll be watching this year. [player_tooltip player_id='189373' first='Laynee' last='Baker'] from Nebraska Elite 16 Maverick is a good example, and her prep journey has been an interesting one. She landed at Millard West last fall, and her strong performances with the Wildcats and at our December showcase helped elevate Baker to Nebraska Elite's top 16s squad this year. When you're discussing the most prominent stock risers in the 2025 class, this is one name that ought to be mentioned.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hop over to Nebraska Elite 16 Koa to find [player_tooltip player_id='189372' first='Liv' last='Odvody'], another middle blocker who made some big strides in last year's fall season. We documented some of Omaha Westside's frontcourt injury strife during the 2022 season, and Odvody used that adversity as an opportunity to elevate her team and make herself known. Her role as an unsung hero for that Warrior team has led to a nice start to 2023 with 16 Koa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>River City Jrs claims its own rising Omaha-area star in [player_tooltip player_id='216100' first='Lillian' last='Vitera']. Throughout the 2022 season, we saw Vitera cement her status as a future leader for the Monarchs. Her physicality and imposing presence fit right in with the hard-hitting style of Class A volleyball. Now, Vitera's role with River City Jrs 16 Navy could not be bigger, as she will terminate in just about any gap imaginable. You can even give this middle blocker some side-out swings on the left pin, and Vitera will gladly put those away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='269932' first='Gretchen' last='Seagren'] from VCNebraska. We know this middle blocker can spend some time at opposite if necessary, but we're also paying attention to the time she's spent on high school championship stages. Oakland-Craig has enjoyed some extraordinary success over the past couple of years, including a historic title run in 2021. Seagren has been in the middle of it all.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>More Omaha Dominance</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Omaha metro is really running up the score with some of these under-the-radar middle blockers. We've already mentioned Millard West, Westside, and Papio, but the list just goes on from there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='189352' first='Hailey' last='Levinson'] is due to make a major impression for the new Gretna East High School, but she's already making her mark on the club side with Premier Nebraska 16 Black. She has been incredibly effective in front of the setter this year and is still making shutdown blocking the hallmark of her game. Premier's depth at middle blocker keeps ramping up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll also have our eye on Omaha Marian's [player_tooltip player_id='189350' first='Lainey' last='Bosiljevac'], who also represents Premier for club competition. 16 Red is surely happy that Bosiljevac is now on their side of the net, and I'd expect some big strides from the team during qualifiers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meanwhile, Nebraska Elite boasts some rising Omaha stars of its own in 16 Maverick's [player_tooltip player_id='173518' first='Rilyn' last='Gish'] and [player_tooltip player_id='173520' first='Ava' last='Stone']. It's worth noting that Gish has plenty of experience as a pin hitter for both Nebraska Elite and Millard North, but her roots as a middle blocker cannot be ignored. Stone, meanwhile, is perhaps more fixed at the middle blocker spot but leaves no doubt that it's the right position for her. Indeed, competition in the Omaha metro is going to be fierce for years to come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->