Ball Control Gems from Nebraska’s 15s at AAU Nationals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The Nebraska Stock Up Showcase is quickly approaching! Registration details can be found <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/info?website_id=3&amp;event_id=782">here</a>. Be sure to use code '<strong>KingsleyDig2023</strong>' for a discount on the signup fee!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, we've got to round out this conversation with some setters and defensive specialists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/06/more-standout-pin-hitters-from-nebraskas-15s-at-aau-nationals/">Pin hitters</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/06/more-monster-middles-from-nebraskas-15s-at-aau-nationals/">middle blockers</a> have been in the spotlight as we take a wholesale look at Nebraska's top 15U performers at AAU Nationals. It's no secret that ball control specialists help set up success for both these position groups, so let's give them their due.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few ball control gems that caught our eye in Orlando's second wave.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["276212"],"_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":"We're not afraid to give outside hitters some recognition for their ball control skills. Markowski leads off this feature even as she puts up big numbers in the frontcourt when she gets the opportunity. But her stint in Orlando was especially notable for her backcourt play and steady leadership in the middle-back area. Six-rotation stars are on the rise in Nebraska's Class of 2026.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["276191"],"_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":"Estudillo remains the reliable anchor to the Nebraska Elite 15 Phoenix defense. It's not just her defense that has drawn our attention, though, as Estudillo's command of serve receive has thrust her into the spotlight among Nebraska's 2026s. We expect an impactful sophomore campaign from Estudillo this fall, which would elevate her stock even further.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["345147"],"_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":"McMahon is part of a well-rounded platoon of setters that 15 Phoenix can deploy at any moment. We've seen McMahon harness her strengths in a variety of roles throughout the 2023 season. She can play in the frontcourt as a 5-1 setter, split time in the backcourt, and be a valuable vocal leader regardless of her on-court role.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["275961"],"_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":"Wattier gets another nod as the Nebraska Juniors 15 Black's club season winds down. What a run it's been for this setter. She was an early addition to our 2026 radar with her ascent to the state championship with Norfolk Catholic last fall. Wattier certainly hasn't slowed down on the club side, providing a savvy mixture of finesse and aggression for 15 Black. We're anxious to see what her next fall outing might bring.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["349472"],"_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 rapid ascent of [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] 15 Navy wouldn't have been possible without Myers's tireless work in the backcourt. This libero was an incredible force when digging in the crosscourt, but her impact was not limited to the first contact. Myers also showed incredible touch in Orlando when handling out-of-system setting, further adding to her list of vital contributions.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["349470"],"_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":"We might as well give out some credit to 15 Navy's setter spot, too. Frandson has garnered attention for her smooth offense, especially when setting the middles on 'gap' plays. She can also lock down the right-back area like a defensive specialistu002du002da trait we're used to seeing from the [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] gym.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Mariana Bazan","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Lincoln North Star","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"Nebraska Juniors 15 Red","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Our next 2026 watch list update is bound to be skewed toward adding standout defensive specialists. Bazan is one of those sure to be added, as her influence in the Nebraska Juniors 15 Red lineup shined at AAUs. She can come off the bench and deliver some absolute daggers from the service line, and she'll also command Zone 6 with authority.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["349452"],"_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":"Keep growing that list of big-time performances for Menicucci. This Omaha Marian prep athlete took full control of the end line when she donned the libero jersey with Nebraska Elite 15 Prime. That was evident in Orlando, and her breakthrough on the high school side could be coming soon.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='582848' first='Nadia' last='Arul']","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] 15 Red","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_8_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Arul was identified as a player to watch when we previewed Nebraska's 15U AAU participants. This libero promptly delivered on the hype. [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] 15 Red leaned on Arul to dish out some clutch passes and set a perfect five-and-five ball in out-of-system scenarios. Whatever was needed, Arul was there to provide it.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='518595' first='Justina' last='Cronin']","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"Nebraska Elite 15 Extreme","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_9_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Cronin has made a late-season surge for Nebraska Elite 15 Extreme, culminating in an impressive showing at AAUs. Regardless of which zone Cronin is locking down, she can approach her tasks with confidence. The best is yet to come for this Nebraska Elite team, and we can say the same about Cronin.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6497d2c190a09"} /-->