Nebraska’s Qualifier Stock Risers: 2026 Pin Hitters
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Let’s keep this series rolling. In case you missed it, we started taking a wholesale look at a few more Nebraska athletes who took full advantage of national qualifiers over the last several weeks. The period from mid-March to mid-April…
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In case you missed it, we started taking a wholesale look at a few more Nebraska athletes who took full advantage of national qualifiers over the last several weeks. The period from mid-March to mid-April is incredibly hectic on the qualifier scene, and it’s often helpful to take a step back and feature more players after the dust settles.
Yesterday’s feature focused on 2025 middle blockers, and now we’re looking down to the Class of 2026. Bring on the outside hitters.
Haase remains a player to look out for in the VCNebraska 15 Elite lineup. This high-flying left-side hitter finds a way to hit in perfect rhythm regardless of the tempo or location of the set she’s given. Moreover, Haase will remain a major contributor in the backcourt and plays stout floor defense in the middle-back area. After this club season, look for Haase to make a splash with Exeter-Milligan on the high school side.
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Speaking of the high school season, Liebsack is an outside hitter who already made a spectacular freshman debut with Bennington last fall. She’s picking right up where she left off with Premier 15 Red as a go-to attacker is also a fixture in the passing formation. That’s the kind of skill set that made Bennington a state championship contender, and Liebsack is still thriving in 2023.
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Bennington strikes again! Indeed, the future is bright for the Badgers with Olsen poised for a big prep impact alongside Liebsack. Her club duties have been with Premier 15 Black, where Olsen is the kind of pin hitter that is almost always present for all six rotations. Passing and defense are huge strengths for an outside attacker who could certainly play DS at the next level.
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Back to the big stage for Ryan. We’ll inevitably talk about a lot of 15s performers on these 2026 features, but Ryan has made her presence felt while playing up in 16s competition. Her Nebraska Pride Gold 16s team notched a top-five finish at Show Me in 16 USA, and this is after Ryan contributed to a runner-up finish with Overton in last year’s state championships. What a way to start a prep career.
Recent qualifiers have started to reveal Bassett’s knack for scoring in just about any situation. She’s quick off the floor with an effective step-close, meaning she can convert on high balls and during scramble plays. Her impact isn’t limited to the frontcourt, either, as Bassett will gladly step into the serve receive pattern to take over responsibilities there. 15 Phoenix is sure to take advantage of all these skills.
We’ve covered a wide array of pin hitters for Premier 15 Gold, and we’ll have many more chances to do so after the team snagged its Open bid at Show Me. Schram is one of those attackers that we’ve been watching, and she does most of her damage on the right side. 15 Gold’s two-setter offense often depends on its terminal opposites during tight contests. This is a role that Schram will gladly embrace.
Let’s give a shoutout to Premier 15 Silver, which has its some recent qualifier success of its own. Bracket appearances at NLQ and Show Me are a testament to 15 Silver’s pin-hitting balance, and Gross is one of those players who chips in on the right. The Gretna athlete is carving out an increasingly vital role for her team, so look out for this group heading into regional competition.
Highlights
Lastly, we return to the Nebraska Elite gym for another attacker who does not shy away from hard-hitting moments. In fact, Sattem’s physicality has begun to make her a good fit for 15 Prime’s middle blocker spot. It’s an impressive display of versatility from a player who has also put together a wealth of highlight moments at opposite.