Nebraska’s Qualifier Stock Risers: Uncommitted 2024s
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We still have plenty of talented 2024s left on the recruiting board! Our retrospective look at recent qualifiers has already delved into 2025 middle blockers and 2026 pin hitters. But there’s perhaps a broader group that is embarking on an…
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Continue ReadingWe still have plenty of talented 2024s left on the recruiting board!
Our retrospective look at recent qualifiers has already delved into 2025 middle blockers and 2026 pin hitters. But there’s perhaps a broader group that is embarking on an important club season, and that’s the uncommitted 2024s throughout the Great Plains Region. Many of these available gems will be represented at Nationals, too, so this is just the beginning of the crucial push to the finish.
So, let’s address some of those unpledged athletes from the Class of 2024 as our Qualifier Stock Riser series continues.
This year’s club season has been a fascinating one for Hickey, so it feels proper to address it here. She’s been a vital part of Premier 17 Gold’s revamped two-setter offense, but Hickey’s nationally qualified team is still undergoing changes, too. Because of some untimely injuries, Hickey now gets to show her defensive prowess in the right-back area. 17 Gold has effectively shown a modified 5-1 system with a setter playing defensive specialist, and Hickey has proven lately that she can do a little of everything.
I was thrilled to see Maser back on the club stage this spring, particularly at Kansas City’s Show Me Qualifier. She’s fresh off a state championship with Grand Island Central Catholic, which is bound to draw plenty of attention already. But Maser has also put her setting prowess and leadership skills on display with Nebraska Juniors. This is one of Nebraska’s highest-profile 2024s who has yet to make a college pledge.
We’re bringing another Papio product into the mix with Glaser representing Premier 17 Black this season. This pin hitter’s club journey has been full of surprising twists, as Glaser has seen some big stages at the Open level as a last-minute fill-in. Not only has Glaser adapted to competing with multiple teams, but she has also exhibited the ability to play on both pins. It’s hard to label Glaser as either an outside or an opposite because she will inevitably succeed at either spot.
Wohlgemuth is another one of last fall’s state champions to appear on this feature. She was a can’t miss outside hitter who found a way to score in almost any situation imaginable. No wonder her team posted an unblemished record en route to the title. Aside from her attacking, though, Wohlgemuth has also developed into a lethal serving weapon who dominated the state tournament with her heat from behind the line. All of these skills have risen to the forefront this spring as Wohlgemuth competes with Nebraska ONE.
This is a big year for Rowley. She has already proven she can take the reins of her high school’s offense, as she assembled quite a junior campaign with Waverly last fall. Now, she’s a multi-talented contributor for VCN 17 Elite, and Rowley and her team have captured the national spotlight at recent qualifiers. Show Me was certainly one of those.
Little has been hopping up an age group throughout much of her club career, but that hasn’t stopped her from standing out. Last fall was a major breakout period for Little as she held down the libero spot for Lincoln Southwest en route to a state semifinal appearance. In club, Little competes with VCN’s 18s and shows a strong sense for reading the fast-paced offenses this age group presents.
Johnson does all the things you’d hope to see from an outside hitter playing all the way around. While her high-flying style in the frontcourt is something to behold, it also shouldn’t be forgotten that Johnson is a lockdown passer and defender. It’s no wonder why Johnson has consistently been a big contributor with Nebraska Elite’s top 17s group.
Nebraska Juniors is no stranger to fielding standout liberos, and Backemeyer is one of those that keeps churning out highlight moments. We’ve seen her do it on the high school side with an Elmwood-Murdock program that is always in the state tournament hunt. Now, Backemeyer is repping for Nebraska Juniors 17 Black and its stout group of floor defenders.
Nebraska Pride just keeps popping up on these features, and the small-town representation there is growing exponentially. Franzen hails from Kearney and takes her high-level experience to Pride for club competition. Kansas City became a pivotal venue for this club during the Show Me Qualifier, and Franzen was a persistent standout for Pride’s 17s group.
Ahrens’s stock continues to soar this year, and the bright lights of qualifiers have only helped to elevate her game even further. She’s an unquestioned leader for Premier 17 Red and runs a precise offense that gets everyone involved. This was especially apparent at NLQ back in January, where 17 Red was on the cusp of a Nationals bid.
Here’s yet another six-rotation standout who has made the most of her qualifier opportunities. Hagedorn had a particularly successful Show Me weekend, lifting her VCN 17 Black squad into bid contention in bracket play. From locking down serve receive to making crafty tool shots on the left, there was little that Hagedorn couldn’t contribute to her squad.