Which Nebraska 2026s Finished the Year Strong at GJNC?
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Let’s get back to that 15s wave. We started our analysis of Nebraska’s 15U GJNC participants by looking at South Central NE 15 Black, which earned a podium finish in the 15 Liberty division. That feature included a brief breakdown…
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Continue ReadingLet’s get back to that 15s wave.
We started our analysis of Nebraska’s 15U GJNC participants by looking at South Central NE 15 Black, which earned a podium finish in the 15 Liberty division. That feature included a brief breakdown of that roster, but we’re only just scratching the surface of our player spotlights from USAV Nationals. Great Plains teams had plenty of breakout performers in Chicago.
So, here are a few Nebraska 2026s who caught our eye on the season’s biggest stage.
Left-side hitters are asked to do a lot for Premier 15 Gold, and Lamb has risen to that challenge late in the season. She gained valuable six-rotation experience at GJNC against the nation’s top 15U competitors and took a big step forward in her all-around skills. Lamb ought to carry that momentum right into the fall season.
Here’s another 15 Gold athlete who’s clearly poised for a big sophomore campaign. Dyrstad capped off the club season with several more fabulous defensive displays at USAV Nationals. And, as we’ve seen throughout 2023, Dyrstad’s intensity and competitive spirit offer a boost to any team she’s on.
Here’s our chance to delve deeper on Branson’s huge GJNC outing. The Shelton superstar has not let off the gas since her spectacular freshman season and helped South Central NE 15 Black to a podium finish in 15 Liberty. Her all-around impact makes her a mainstay in the 15 Black from the frontcourt to the end line. The Class of 2026 is in good hands with these small-town stars.
Like Branson, Perdew made an early push to our 2026 watch list with an extraordinary freshman campaign on the high school side. However, the Nebraska Christian outside hitter has taken on some unfamiliar roles with 15 Black this year. Perdew has demonstrated that she can run an offense from the setter position, further boosting her stock ahead of the next high school season.
Ortmeier gets our first nod from Premier Nebraska 15 Black, which qualified for 15 USA via the Northern Lights Qualifier. 15 Black’s two-setter offense puts a wide array of attackers on display, and Ortmeier has stood out among the pack in recent weeks. Her presence in the middle offered an important scoring outlet at GJNC, and Ortmeier’s development is just getting started.
It’s hard not to notice Olsen’s influential role in the Premier 15 Black lineup. She plays backcourt defense like a pure libero, but she does a lot more than that. Olsen then rotates into the frontcourt and puts her wicked arm on display on the left pin. Now that the club season has wrapped up, we can look ahead to what should be a breakout season for Olsen at Bennington, which made the state tournament last fall.
Highlights
Kauffman’s GJNC run deserves a shoutout after she got her opportunities in the libero jersey. Premier 15 Red’s defensive depth has been a major storyline during the 2023 campaign, and Kauffman’s GJNC excellence adds another chapter to the narrative.
When 15 Red needs a quick sideout, Siebler becomes a primary target. She can score from anywhere along the net and is a crucial part of 15 Red’s attacking patterns. This is a group, along with Siebler, who can make serious strides in the leadup to 2024.
Wemhoff got her shot at libero during 15 Black’s stay in Chicago. This Lincoln Pius X standout works hard on the end line and has the leadership skills to guide her teammates into proper positions. This year’s GPR triumph should be a springboard for many of 15 Black’s athletes, and Wemhoff is no exception.
Highlights
A lefty on the left side? Bellamy makes it work. VCNebraska ‘ last=”] has not been afraid to experiment with unconventional roles for its players at the 15s level. That’s the case with Bellamy, a left-handed pin hitter who got some reps on the left side at GJNC. It worked out incredibly well, and we’re anxious to see what the future could hold for the Lincoln Southwest athlete.
Just when you thought Nebraska ONE 15 Black had enough multi-talented players in its lineup, along comes Schaedel. This Lincoln Lutheran athlete has now proven she can lock down the libero position in addition to the work she’s already done as a setter. 15 Black embraced this versatility at GJNC, and Schaedel is due for a big sophomore surge.
Gustafson keeps thriving in the Nebraska ONE frontcourt. Her role in the 15 Black lineup has been fascinating to follow, as she can seamlessly move between the middle blocker and right-side hitter positions. Wherever Gustafson gets her swings, she makes the most of them. GJNC was another chance to make this known.