Nebraska 2025 Spotlight: Revisiting State Championship Standouts
In this article:
Our countdown to June 15th rolls on. Yesterday, we got the conversation started with some trends and storylines we’ll be following when the open recruitment of the Class of 2025 begins on June 15th. It’s now time to take a…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingOur countdown to June 15th rolls on.
Yesterday, we got the conversation started with some trends and storylines we’ll be following when the open recruitment of the Class of 2025 begins on June 15th. It’s now time to take a deeper dive into what makes Nebraska’s 2025 class so stacked. Consider this a way to refresh your recruiting radar.
Why not kick things off with some state tournament memories? College coaches often have a vested interest in players that have shined on big stages, and Nebraska’s high school state championships are a perfect opportunity for athletes to rise to prominence. So, as we highlight some of the state’s best 2025s, we’re looking to identify those who have racked up some high school hardware lately—while still having two more years left to play.
Keep these state tournament stars in mind as we count down the days to June 15th.
Not many rising juniors can claim the list of high school accolades that Leimbach already has. She took over the libero jersey for Lincoln Lutheran as a freshman and anchored the backcourt en route to a 2021 state title. As if that wasn’t good enough, Leimbach helped the Warriors win a repeat championship while notching a perfect 40-0 record in the process. New challenges await in 2023, but there’s little doubt that this elite libero will rise to the occasion. She always has.
Not only has Heaney seen some of the biggest stages that Nebraska has to offer, but she’s done it with a program that just opened its doors a few years ago. Heaney’s debut season with Elkhorn North was the school’s second year of volleyball competition, and the Wolves made an incredible climb to the state semifinals. Greater horizons awaited in 2022 as Elkhorn North earned Class B’s top seed and appeared in the title match at the Devaney Center. Heaney’s role will continue to expand in 2023 as she becomes a featured left-side attacker in the Elkhorn North offense.
Heckenlively has now appeared in two state tournaments while playing two different positions—a unique accomplishment that is surely worthy of mention here. In 2021, Heckenlively’s services were needed most at the middle blocker spot, and the freshman promptly delivered. The following year, Heckenlively became the focal point of Gretna’s offense upon moving to the left-side hitter spot. Keep that versatility in mind as you watch this dominant athlete represent the Dragons in 2023
Here’s one for the small-town crowd. Rennerfeldt embraced the pressure of taking over the setter spot for Oakland-Craig as a freshman, and that maturity immediately paid dividends. The Knights captured their first-ever state volleyball championship in 2021 and did it with Rennerfeldt distributing the ball with outstanding precision. Oakland-Craig made a repeat trip to Lincoln in 2022, offering optimism that a dynasty is forming behind Rennerfeldt’s leadership.
How about another setter helping perpetuate a high school dynasty? Banker stepped into the Omaha Skutt Catholic lineup last season and faced all the pressure you could expect while playing for a seven-time defending champion. You couldn’t see any signs of that pressure, however, as Banker’s steady presence was a huge boost to the SkyHawk lineup en route to the eight-peat.
Let’s bring Oakland-Craig back into the mix. While Rennerfeldt was tearing it up at the setter spot, Helzer was following along with her own standout performances on the left side. She was a vital component to Oakland-Craig’s scoring during the 2021 championships, and she did it alongside her older sister, Bailey. When Bailey graduated after the 2021 triumph, Brandi took the reins as the Knights’ go-to attacker. Nothing will change in 2023.
Vitera has been identified as a breakout performer during the 2023 club season, but her positive impact goes beyond this most recent action. Her presence in the middle for Papillion-La Vista helped keep the Monarchs in the state title hunt last fall, and Vitera is only getting better with more experience on these big stages.
Highlights
Dzingle is another middle blocker who has made herself known while playing with a volleyball powerhouse. Kearney Catholic has gotten so much from this small-town star, particularly during the Stars’ thrilling 2022 campaign. Based on what we’ve seen from Dzingle on this year’s club stage, we’re expecting another uptick in production from the talented middle as a junior.
Papio is bringing two players into the conversation for this one. Francis helped lock down the libero spot for the Monarchs last season and carried on a long tradition of talented liberos in that program. She’s recently been thriving with Premier Nebraska during the club season and will get an extra dose of high-pressure volleyball as a junior.
Don’t overlook the impact that Weers has had on Diller-Odell’s persistent presence at the state tournament. Her contributions in the middle have created a balanced attack that the Griffins have used to become a mainstay in postseason action. 2023 marks a big transition for Diller-Odell, but we can still be confident that Weers will elevate her play this fall.
Clarkson/Leigh deserves a lot of praise for its multi-year run to the state championships, and Hollatz has had a steady hand in that success. Her setting was particularly sharp during the 2022 season as the Patriots benefitted from a balanced, ever-evolving offense. We anticipate more of the same from Hollatz and Clarkson/Leigh with a great core group of players coming back.