Updated Look at Nebraska’s Under-the-Radar 2025 Pin Hitters
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Our run of 2025 features rolls on. With our new Nebraska 2025 rankings released, we have plenty of storylines and trends to address within this stacked group. Earlier features this week focused on an exclusive group of stock risers, as…
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Continue ReadingOur run of 2025 features rolls on.
With our new Nebraska 2025 rankings released, we have plenty of storylines and trends to address within this stacked group. Earlier features this week focused on an exclusive group of stock risers, as well as a large list of new additions (Part 1 and Part 2) to our list. Now, it’s time to head into some positional breakdowns.
A complete picture of Nebraska’s Class of 2025 pin hitters has not yet fully materialized. We’re still bringing in plenty of new names for our scouting radar, and a gauntlet of upcoming qualifiers will offer opportunities to learn even more.
But, for now, here’s a breakdown of where the position stands following our March refresh.
Small-Town Prep Standouts
Many of the top pin performers in Nebraska’s Class of 2025 come from outside the big cities. It’s quite a trend to behold, especially given the urban and sub-urban dominance that usually prevails on the club side.
VCNebraska 16 Elite has some shining examples of this small-town resurgence. Hayden Osmera Hayden Osmera 5'11" | OH Lincoln Northeast | 2025 State NE and McKenna Smith McKenna Smith 5'9" | OH Wahoo | 2025 State NE both rep the Wahoo Warriors with 16 Elite, and it’s fitting that both present similar styles that help elevate their squad. This duo has become a six-rotation mainstay in the VCN lineup, so expect Osmera and Smith to display their passing prowess and defensive skills during any given match. As for as under-the-radar talent goes, these Warriors are among the state’s best.
Another small-town name that comes to mind is Club Legacy’s Taylor Mostek Taylor Mostek 5'10" | OH Blair | 2025 State NE . The Blair native is a multi-sport star on the prep side who surpassed triple-digit kills in her sophomore campaign with the Bears. Mostek is similarly impactful when she suits up for 16 Alpha, becoming one of many under-the-radar stars in the Club Legacy gym.
Other names to follow in this category include Oakland-Craig’s Brandi Helzer Brandi Helzer 5'10" | OH Oakland-Craig | 2025 State NE , BDS’s Campbell Bohling Campbell Bohling 5'9" | OH BDS | 2025 State NE , and Fremont’s Kate Denker Kate Denker 5'6" | OH Fremont | 2025 State NE .
Pure Opposites
Because this is a pin hitter feature that is not limited to the left side, let’s dedicate a section to the players who do most of their damage on the right.
Under-the-radar opposites are everywhere in the Cornhusker State. Gabi Hern Gabi Hern 5'10" | RS Omaha Marian | 2025 State NE was discussed in our post-update stock riser feature, and the Omaha Marian athlete is poised to have a big prep breakout after this year’s club season with Nebraska Juniors.
Courtney Carlstrom Courtney Carlstrom 5'9" | RS High Plains Community | 2025 State NE , Logan Chvatal Logan Chvatal 5'9" | RS Omaha Concordia | 2025 State NE , and Autumn Holt Autumn Holt 5'7" | RS Loomis Public | 2025 NE make up a trio of opposites that stood out at last December’s Prep Dig Top 250 Showcase in La Vista. Offseason events like these are perfect venues to put new names on our radar, and this group of small-town right-side hitters is a perfect example.
We’ll give a repeat mention to VCNebraska 16 Elite and discuss Amara Siebert Amara Siebert 5'11" | RS Seward | 2025 State NE ‘s growing role on the right pin. Siebert has been busy on the basketball court with Seward lately, but she will also remind us of her multi-faceted skill set on the volleyball court. There are few frontcourt positions that Siebert hasn’t played, so perhaps we’ll hesitate on anointing her as a full-time opposite. Versatility is a major advantage.
More Do-It-All Hitters
We’ll wrap up this spotlight with a few more players whose impact is not limited to the frontcourt.
Nebraska has seemingly never lacked the prototypical six-rotation left-side hitter who can do absolutely everything. And we’re still discovering more 2025s who fit this description, too.
Look to the Nebraska Elite gym for many of these all-around standouts. Paisley Piatkowski Paisley Piatkowski 5'11" | OH Elkhorn South | 2025 State NE has been a name to know for a while, and her contributions to 16 Koa have reached a new level in early 2023. Likewise, Sky Miller Sky Miller 5'10" | OH Omaha Westside | 2025 State NE and Elizabeth Briscoe are providing a testament to the depth of Nebraska Elite as it further expands its wealth of hitter talent.
Premier Nebraska will also find its way into this conversation with under-the-radar gems like Tessa Reitsma Tessa Reitsma 5'8" | OH Bellevue West | 2025 State NE , Keatyn Liebsack, and Maddie Schnell Maddie Schnell 5'9" | OH Gretna East | 2025 State NE . Any of these outside hitters can put on a ball-control clinic whenever they’re called upon.