Nebraska 2026 Watch List Update: New Additions (Part 2)
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Let’s keep breaking down these new additions to the 2026 watch list! Our latest update to the Nebraska 2026 watch list dropped yesterday, and we’ve already addressed some standout players who were just added to our ever-expanding radar. That was…
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Continue ReadingLet’s keep breaking down these new additions to the 2026 watch list!
Our latest update to the Nebraska 2026 watch list dropped yesterday, and we’ve already addressed some standout players who were just added to our ever-expanding radar. That was just the start of our 2026 features, so it’s time to bring a few more names to the forefront.
Here’s Part 2.
Griess’s defensive prowess captured our attention before the 2023 club season started. She has been a standout on the high school side for Sutton, a school that is quickly climbed up the ranks of its small-town peers. We now have a Nationals appearance with South Central NE 15 Black to add to Griess’s growing resume, and we’re thrilled to see what this libero can do on the big stage.
Look out. There’s another Haarberg standout coming through the Kearney Catholic pipeline. It’s only fitting that we discussed Margaret Haarberg Margaret Haarberg 5’9″ | OH Kearney Catholic | 2024 State NE for our 2024 additions, as Hazel has made her own mark among the 2026s. This multi-sport star is part of a Nebraska Pride Gold 15s team that is bringing several fresh faces to our watch list.
Janke receive a shoutout in the immediate wake of the Great Plains Bid Tournament, so it was only a matter of time until she landed on our watch list. Her savvy distribution for Club Legacy 15 Alpha was a major factor in the team’s success, and Janke has a knack for mixing up pace to suit different attackers.
Highlights
Banzai VBC 15 Select is about to have a significant presence in these features, so get ready. Johnson has emerged on the 2026 watch list after her solid 2023 season as a defensive specialist for this upstart team. No matter which zone Johnson was tasked with defending, she always rose to the occasion.
Freeman High School has garnered a few different mentions over the past few weeks, so let’s get one more for the 2026s. Kastanek’s reliable floor defense was enough to put her on the 2026 watch list alongside many of her Nebraska ONE 15 Lime teammates.
Kolli found the spotlight in so many late-season venues, but the Great Plains Bid Tournament was perhaps her best outing of all. Not only were we captivated by Kolli’s ability to establish a rhythm with her hitters, but her right-back defense was an extraordinary catalyst for Premier 15 Silver’s most memorable moments.
Highlights
Kubat is another one of Club Legacy 15 Alpha’s athletes who stood out at the Great Plains Bid Tournament. Her command of the backcourt was clear through her communication, technique, and the amount of court she covers in serve receive. Look for this libero to keep climbing up the 2026 ranks in future seasons.
Lampe joins Kolli on the run of Premier 15 Silver players who have emerged on the watch list. This middle blocker’s is incredibly comfortable when attacking on the quick in front of the setter, and that skill is allowed to flourish in 15 Silver’s two-setter offense.
Nebraska Pride’s vaunted 16s team has a healthy infusion of 2026s who are playing up. Lempka is one of those rising contributors, and she showed some great efficiency during Gold 16s run to Great Plains glory. We’re anxious to see how Nebraska Pride performs in Chicago this summer, especially with players like Lempka making a big surge in recent weeks.
MacLeod is one of those middle blockers that can contribute to the offense in a seemingly infinite number of ways. Banzai VBC 15 Select will often split her out to the left pin like an outside hitter or let her run a two-footed approach behind the setter like an opposite. It’s easy to forget that she’s a middle by trade, and her blocking prowess anchored the net for 15 Select this season.
Highlights
Our discussions on Banzai VBC 15 Select have mentioned frontcourt standouts and stout defensive specialists, but we have yet to mention the setter spot. This is where Mancuso ties everything together. This is a setter who is perfectly comfortable running the offense herself, and Mancuso’s wide array of skills are more than suitable for 15 Select’s 5-1 system.
Club Legacy is racking up the entries today. Milbourn made her presence felt on the left pin throughout the year, and her development is only just beginning. As 15 Alpha keeps experimenting with its lineup, look for Milbourn to get some opportunities to showcase her ball control skills, too.
Let’s round it out by returning to the River City Jrs gym. Myers has helped bolster an impressive defensive unit for 15 Navy, and she will likely do the same for Millard South before long. Depth at defensive specialist is clearly not a problem for Nebraska’s Class of 2026.