Nebraska 2026 Watch List Update: New Additions (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Time for the 2026s!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, after some deliberation, our latest update to <a href="https://prepdig.com/nebraska/rankings/nebraska-2026-watch-list/">Nebraska's 2026 list</a> is still a watch list--albeit for just a few more weeks. That means the list is still alphabetical while numerical rankings are on the horizon. The summer offseason will offer an excellent chance to make some final film evaluations and tweak our rankings. Plus, there's a good chance we'll see some movement based on one of the biggest events of the year: Nationals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You could call this the beginning of an extended conversation on the 2026s until we nail down those rankings. This latest update puts a heavy emphasis on new additions and will set us up for a more complete numerical list later on. Like the 2025 refresh, a trilogy of features is probably warranted here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's get right into Part 1!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["396731"],"_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":"It shouldn't be a surprise to see South Central NE 15 Black well represented among the new additions. The team qualified for Nationals after a 15 Liberty championship at Show Me, and Andel was one of the squad's key contributors on that special weekend. The David City native can do a little bit of everything.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["396764"],"_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":"u003cp style=u0022text-align: leftu0022u003eThe Backemeyer name has become synonymous with incredible backcourt defense at Elmwood-Murdock and Nebraska Juniors. However, this latest Backemeyer brings a different set of skills as a front-row standout who can play middle blocker or outside hitter. So, perhaps “multi-talented athlete” is a more apt description of the Backemeyer family tradition.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["396784"],"_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":"[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 15 Lime will get a few names on the board in this feature series. Bartels is one of those we have to keep an eye on after she became a leading terminator for 15 Lime at the left-side hitter spot.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["396733"],"_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":"Bauer is another one of those versatile pin hitters that lifted South Central NE to a bid-earning breakthrough in Kansas City. The best work we've seen from Bauer has been in n the right pin, and that ought to be the case once again in Chicago.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["396783"],"_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":"We'll be highlighting a wealth of up-and-coming talent in the Lincoln Pius X pipeline, and Black helps lead us off. [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 15 Lime has received so many positive contributions from this lockdown libero, so her addition to the watch list was clearly warranted.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["396756"],"_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":"There's no way we could leave Bowen out of our watch list after recent late-season developments. She had so many clutch moments in the spotlight while [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 15 Black was battling for a bid last month. The team eventually snagged that coveted ticket, and Bowen's stock should continue to rise at club volleyball's most prominent venue.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":[524200],"_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":"We still had some gaps to fill from the Premier 15 Silver lineup, and this felt like a good time to finish the job. Brummond is one of the team's standouts who joins the watch list this time, as it was hard to ignore her steady defense in the middle-back area. Steady defensive specialists like Brummond remain a cornerstone of Premier Nebraska's extraordinary run of success.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["396759"],"_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":"Burhoop is another [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 15 Black athlete we couldn't wait to add to the 2026 watch list. Whenever she's slotted into the team's lineup, her influence on the team's cohesiveness is noticeable. Options abound for 15 Black at the setter position.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["396761"],"_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":"Nebraska Juniors 15 Black keeps bringing more impressive 2026s to the forefront. We'll have our eye on Burkey this fall after a strong showing as a setter-opposite hybrid for 15 Black.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["396785"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Another Burkey checks in, but this one hails from Milford and [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE']. But, like our prior Burkey entry, this multi-talented athlete can make a splash on the right pin in a variety of ways","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["396749"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"We have so many under-the-radar gems to discuss from the Banzai VBC 15 Select backcourt. DeLeon is one of those, and she makes many of her big plays as a right-back defender. She is equally comfortable covering the crosscourt or down the line, allowing 15 Select to thrive off of DeLeon's positive touches.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_11_player":["396753"],"_player_evaluations_11_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"Let's picture to Banzai's front row for a moment. Evans is no stranger to putting down some tough swings for 15 Select. That means the team can find success no matter what kind of pass they're given, and we saw a little of that adaptability at the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament.","_player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_12_player":["396770"],"_player_evaluations_12_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_12_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_12_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"Hello, Nebraska Pride! We've talked a lot about the two Pride squads heading to Nationals, but keep an eye on this 15s group. Feldman is one of several Gold 15s standouts who took a big step forward during this exciting 2023 campaign.","_player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_13_player":["349470"],"_player_evaluations_13_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_13_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_13_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_13_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_13_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_13_evaluation":"Don't forget about the talented bunch lurking at [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs']. Frandson joins a handful of her 15 Navy teammates on the 2026 watch list after she helped set the team's high-powered offense this year.","_player_evaluations_13_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_14_player":["396736"],"_player_evaluations_14_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_14_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_14_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_14_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_14_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_14_evaluation":"Fulton joins the fray after a strong spring outing with Nebraska Elite. Many of her 15 Extreme teammates have seen the spotlight in recent rankings updates, but this one is all about Fulton's high-flying termination on the outside. Expect another big uptick in production with Omaha Concordia in the fall.","_player_evaluations_14_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":15,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64763c518d14f"} /-->