GPR Bid Tourney Players to Watch: 15s

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've covered <a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/04/great-plains-region-bid-tourney-preview-the-favorites/">favorites</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/04/great-plains-region-bid-tourney-preview-underdog-picks/">underdogs</a>, but why not give you a few players to watch, too?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like those prior team-based features, we'll march through each of the age groups for these player spotlights. Time to kick it off with a few 15s that could elevate their stock with big-time performances at the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Breanna Van Den Top","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Sergeant Bluff-Luton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='429192' first='MVP' last='United'] 15 Red","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Interestingly enough, we're starting this feature by briefly hopping into Iowa. You can expect that from [program_tooltip program_id='429192' first='MVP' last='United'], a Great Plains club that sits right on the crossroads between Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Van Den Top is one of several standout frontcourt players to watch for this team, and she does most of her damage at the middle blocker spot. I'm thrilled to see more of this dynamic attacker in live action, and 15 Red has a lot to prove as the age group's top seed.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["216933"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Opportunities abound for Premier 15 Red's athletes to assert themselves among their 2026 peers. Freeland is one of the team's representatives that we'll be watching, and the Elkhorn middle blocker has been finding more and more ways to contribute in the lineup. If 15 Red has ample chances to get Freeland some attempts, that bodes well for the team's chances to clinch a bid.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["253919"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Liebsack is a high-impact 2026 outside hitter who has been on our radar for a while. Her work for Bennington last fall was impressive, but Liebsack has seemingly found a new gear in this spring's fall season. She's a go-to attacker and passer who will find any way to help her squad in all six rotations.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["349455"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 15 Black's unique two-setter system allows a wealth of frontcourt talent to showcase a wide range of skills. Gustafson ought to provide a good example of this, as she can make her presence felt on the right pin or in the back row as a defensive specialist. She can even play in the middle from time to time, so the starting rotation for 15 Black will be a fascinating storyline to follow this weekend.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["349417"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Keep an eye where Nienaber ends up in the Premier 15 Silver lineup this weekend. She can play on the outside, at opposite, or as a primary defensive specialist in a variety of zones. Whatever the case, Nienaber will likely take full advantage of this bid tournament after an impressive stretch of qualifier finishes for 15 Silver.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='396752' first='Tyler' last='Torpy']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"Banzai VBC 15 Select","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Banzai gets on the board with a stout defender whose best work is in the middle-back area. Torpy plays an unorthodox role as a libero who primarily locks down Zone 6 for 15 Select, but this also allows Torpy to command a large chunk of the backcourt. Floor defense will be a major factor in Banzai's push for a 15s bid this weekend.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["349465"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Club Legacy 15 Alpha has a roster full of players who can fit in several different positions, and Cox fits this mold perfectly. She could make an impact this weekend as an outside hitter or a defensive specialistu002du002dor a little bit of both. This is a pivotal outing across the board for Club Legacy, particularly for a 15 Alpha group that has prepared well against tough competition.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["349483"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Wemhoff adds to a growing list of standout [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] defenders at the 15s level. While we're discussing teams that will be battle-tested for this tournament, 15 Black had an excellent outing in 15 USA at the Show Me Qualifier last month. That experience could translate to a big breakthrough in the season finale, and Wemhoff could play a pivotal part in the team's success.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["349486"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"One more VCN 15 Black closes out our 15s feature. We had one from the backcourt, so let's bring the front row into the mix. Kuhlmann had a big freshman debut with Wilber-Clatonia last fall, and that has yielded another impactful club campaign with VCN. Her specialty of terminating in front of the setter has brought her to the forefront of 15 Black's dynamic offense, so look for Kuhlmann to get involved whenever her team produces a good pass.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644b2f1df3c42"} /-->