Nebraska’s Qualifier Stock Risers: 2025 Middle Blockers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The dust has settled for now. A flurry of qualifiers is mostly in the rear-view mirror for Nebraska teams, and there's still a lot to review.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, let's fire up a mini-series just for that. This will be a wholesale look at the recent qualifiers with heavy Nebraska representation, including NLQ, Show Me, and more. This ought to be a good way to transition into late-season action, which will be punctuated by the upcoming Great Plains Bid Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today's spotlight is on a fast-rising position group in Nebraska's Class of 2025: middle blockers. Here's a look at a few more players who made the most of the big stages of the past few weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["269911"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"What a year it's been for small-town Nebraska athletes on the club side. We've noted before how well Dzingle represented Kearney Catholic during last year's high school season, and that led right into a similarly impactful 16s campaign with Nebraska Pride. Show Me was the big breakthrough for Dzingle and her team, as they placed in the top five of the 16 USA field.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["342557"],"_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":"Lang's physicality and power have quickly risen to the forefront of Nebraska Elite 16 Vision's offense. Whether it's in front of the setter or behind, Lang has become a scoring threat who forces opposing teams to commit two blockers to her. That captures the true value of a dominant middle blocker, as it allows many of 16 Vision's other attackers to thrive under favorable conditions.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["269910"],"_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":"We'll now visit the Premier Nebraska gym for a middle blocker who is quickly rising up the 2025 ranks. Schmidt's most effective attacking route is the u0022gapu0022 play halfway between the center of the net and the pin. 16 Red does a great job of shooting the ball out to this dynamic attacker, and Schmidt knows how to capitalize.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["155055"],"_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":"Pillay could be a name to follow in the fall with Papillion-La Vista, but she has some unfinished business in the club season first. We keep harping on the successes of Banzai VBC 16 Select in 2023, and Pillay is one of several athletes on this team who have stepped up. Expect more on this team as we dive into regional coverage in the coming weeks.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["342564"],"_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":"The Lincoln area has some rising 2025 middles of its own. Merten has made a big splash with VCNebraska 16 Black this year, helping to demonstrate the kind of depth that this club is building. Look for this Lincoln East product to do much of her scoring right in front of the setter, and it's also worth mentioning Merten's pivotal role in generating block touches for 16 Black's defense.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["189369"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Let's return to Nebraska Elite's 16 Vision roster for another middle blocker with big things on the horizon. Brown presents much of the same length as her aforementioned counterpart, making 16 Vision's middle a major strength of the team. Don't be surprised to see Brown run a variety of patterns, either, as she can score at just about any spot along the net.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["342621"],"_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":"Nebraska Elite gets another one on the board with Kafka leading the charge for 16 Koa. This imposing middle was a crucial component to 16 Koa's run to bracket play at NLQ, and the team has kept up its winning ways since then. Kafka also constitutes the second Omaha Marian prep athlete to make this future, so there's a storyline to keep an eye on.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["342578"],"_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":"Hidden gems continue to make notable contributions in the Nebraska ONE gym. Otto has been one of those surging talents for 16 Lime, and she hails from a Freeman program that has had a few Nebraska ONE stars to its credit. Great Plains matchups in the next few weeks will offer a fascinating litmus test for Otto and her team.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["342617"],"_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":"Finally, we have another athlete from just outside of Lincoln who is entering the spotlight for Nebraska ONE. Landon recently appeared on our latest update to the 2025 watch list and has continued to stand out since then. After posting an impressive sophomore campaign with Waverly last fall, this impressive athlete is rising yet again as a member of 16 Black.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643b44f7ce083"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->