Nebraska 2026 Watch List Update: Ball Control Gems
In this article:
We’ve focused a lot of our conversations regarding the Nebraska 2026 watch list on the frontcourt. Middles and outside hitters have both been in the spotlight over the past couple of days. So, it’s only fair that we wrap up…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWe’ve focused a lot of our conversations regarding the Nebraska 2026 watch list on the frontcourt. Middles and outside hitters have both been in the spotlight over the past couple of days. So, it’s only fair that we wrap up with the players that help tie everything together.
Setters and liberos are both fair game for this one. This is an exciting group, but that group is only going to get bigger as we compile more observations on this class. The journey continues.
Bartholet grabbed our attention early in the 2023 season with her leadership within the Nebraska Elite 15 Prime offense. This is a setter who remains an attacking threat even when she’s in the back row, as Bartholet has a killer set-over dump that has caught many opposing defenses off guard.
River City Jrs 15 Navy continues its run of standouts with Dutcher pitching in at the team’s setter position. If these 2026 features are any indication, we’ll have plenty more highlights to discuss from Dutcher and her team in future seasons.
Faust rocketed to the forefront this year in one of the best ways possible. She was a pivotal contributor to Premier 15 Black’s run to a bid at NLQ, where Faust showed her ability to set in a variety of systems. Whether she’s part of a two-setter offense or running the show herself, Faust knows how to make a splash on club volleyball’s most prominent stages.
Premier Nebraska gets another one on the board with Stevens surging in late-season action. The Great Plains Bid Tournament offered an outstanding testament to this setter’s steady command of her position. We’ll see her 15 Red squad shine again at Nationals.
Highlights
Wattier made an early ascent up the 2026 hierarchy by appearing in the Class D1 state championships as a freshman. Norfolk Catholic received a wide array of contributions from this multi-talented athlete, as Wattier can make an impact as a setter and an opposite. That materialized yet again when she suited up for Nebraska Juniors this spring.
Highlights
Wiebelhaus brings us right back to the Nebraska Elite gym to wrap up our run of setters. 15 Extreme will keep putting under-the-radar athletes in the spotlight, and Wiebelhaus is one who stood out during the mid-season qualifier gauntlet.
Another postseason pressure cooker? No problem. Dyrstad jumped right into the fire last fall as a standout defensive specialist for Papio South, and the Titans promptly won back-to-back Class A titles. Now, Dyrstad will have another chance in the spotlight as Premier 15 Gold takes on Open competition at Nationals. This star libero will be ready.
So, the Papio South-Premier pipeline is pretty strong. Alongside Dyrstad in the back row, Eymann has made her own mark as a defensive specialist who can lock down any zone along the end line. She has been particularly effective in the middle-back area as a substitute for a left-side hitter. Don’t overlook that impact in Chicago.
Luke makes the jump from Kearney all the way to VCNebraska, and the move has certainly paid off. Her presence in the 15 Elite backcourt has bolstered a unit that could be the strength of the entire team. Look for this valuable experience to translate to Luke’s high school campaign with the Bearcats.
Nebraska Elite keeps racking up entries here, and Rangel brings even more depth to the 15 Prime lineup. In addition to being one of the team‘s vital defensive specialist options, Rangel has also been an extraordinary serving weapon who has keyed up big scoring runs from behind the line.
Wemhoff is poised for even more breakthroughs with VCNebraska, and it all starts at Nationals. 15 Black has seen this Lincoln Pius X product shine in the right-back area, especially as the team locked up a bid in Omaha. This DS role firmly belongs to Wemhoff, and her superior command of Zone 1 will be a major factor during postseason play.
Highlights
Finally, we have another Premier Nebraska defender seeing so much recent success in the contrasting jersey. Zimmerman is the undisputed focal point of Premier 15 Black’s floor defense and has equal success in serve receive. It’s the kind of well-rounded skill set we’d expect from a Gretna athlete, so keep an eye on Zimmerman in future prep seasons. Before we look ahead, though, a huge opportunity awaits at Nationals.