GPR Bid Tourney Players to Watch: 16s
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Bring on the 16s. In case you missed it, we’ve started breaking down some players to watch in Sunday’s Great Plains Bid Tournament which features some of Nebraska’s best up-and-coming 15s, 16s, and 17s. These features are in addition to…
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Continue ReadingBring on the 16s.
In case you missed it, we’ve started breaking down some players to watch in Sunday’s Great Plains Bid Tournament which features some of Nebraska’s best up-and-coming 15s, 16s, and 17s. These features are in addition to the favorites and underdogs we already identified earlier this week.
So, let’s give you a few 16s to follow this weekend. Recruitment is about to pick up for many of these athletes, making events like these even more significant.
In the realm of do-it-all players in Nebraska’s Class of 2025, few have the kind of skillset that Kamery brings to Nebraska Pride. She’s made her mark as a setter and an outside hitter in both high school and club venues. Kamery is now looking to lift her new team to a Nationals bid after an impressive top-five showing in Show Me’s 16 USA division.
Highlights
Ball control is going to be a huge storyline for Nebraska ONE 16 Black this weekend, and players like Daly help make this one of the team’s strengths. She bolster a strong backcourt unit and can adapt to just about any zone along the end line. We’ve identified Daly’s team as a strong contender among GPR’s 16s, so it’s time to prove it on the court.
I’m allowing myself to dive into Iowa for this pick. Larsen has had an outstanding season as a go-to attacker for Premier 16 Black, and we got a firsthand look at that dominance during the Northern Lights Qualifier. Even when Larsen is in the backcourt, opposing defense are absolutely required to know the whereabouts of this explosive all-around hitter.
We have a lot of under-the-radar frontcourt talent to feature from the VCNebraska camp. Hathaway qualifies as one of those, and the Lincoln Southwest pin hitter should do some heavy lifting when 16 Black arrives on the scene Sunday. If Hathaway has a strong weekend, VCN could come ever closer to snagging a last-minute bid.
Gangwish represents a huge wave of rising stars from the Gretna area, particularly from the Class of 2025. She contributes as a lockdown defender for Premier 16 Black and will have a big say in how far the team goes at this bid tourney.
Zoe Petersen
Zoe Petersen
Petersen has already been a standout on stages like these. She captured our attention at the Northern Lights Qualifier in what eventually became a very strong weekend for Banzai VBC 16 Select. This dynamic outside hitter will likely lead the 16 Select offense once again when the chase for a 16s bid starts.
Ayla Meraz
Ayla Meraz
Banzai is fielding two squads at the 16s level for this bid tournament, so there’s plenty of depth to go around in that gym. Meraz is one of many 161 players that we’ll be able to scout at this event. The future Gretna East enrollee has done admirable work at the setter spot and combines that with some gritty defensive work in the back row.
I’ll be fascinated to see the kinds of responsibilities that McMillan shoulders for Nebraska ONE 16 Lime this weekend. Her frontcourt work as a pin hitter is often matched by her standout defense on the end line, giving 16 Lime some incredible lineup flexibility in any given match.
Stowe looms large in a Premier 16 Silver offense that has steadily evolved throughout the 2023 season. Length and physicality are major strong points for this Elkhorn South middle blocker. Like many teams in Premier Nebraska’s camp, 16 Silver will make a concerted effort to feed Stowe the ball whenever serve receive allows it.
Vlasek is a prior standout in last year’s Prep Dig Showcase, and now she brings that valuable skill and experience to the Club Legacy 16 Alpha. I’d expect Club Legacy to be consistent contender across the age spectrum this weekend. The 16s could be the most unpredictable of all, especially if players like Vlasek have a breakout tournament.
Audrey Shuput Audrey Shuput 5'2" | S Papillion-La Vista | 2025 NE
Audrey Shuput Audrey Shuput 5'2" | S Papillion-La Vista | 2025 NE
ENVY is the new club on the block, and we’re going to learn a lot about this group at Sunday’s event. Shuput is an athlete who has jumped out on film, as she has a strong command of the setter spot and her role as a floor defender in the right-back area. Well-rounded players like Shuput will provide an excellent foundation for ENVY to keep growing in successive seasons.