2023 HS Preview: Nebraska’s Class A Teams on the Rise
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Let’s put a few more teams on your radar. Class A is always a competitive gauntlet packed with several championship-caliber teams. We’ve already discussed postseason prospects for a few Class A teams in our Unfinished Business series, but that addresses…
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Continue ReadingLet’s put a few more teams on your radar.
Class A is always a competitive gauntlet packed with several championship-caliber teams. We’ve already discussed postseason prospects for a few Class A teams in our Unfinished Business series, but that addresses only part of the picture heading into this fall.
So, we’re reaching beyond last year’s tournament participants to find a few more Class A teams on the rise in 2023. Could this group bring about Nebraska’s next surprise team?
Grand Island
Let’s start at the western boundaries of Class A.
The Islanders have a shot to disrupt the firm grip that Lincoln and Omaha teams have on the Class A race. Serious talent on the GISH squad can put this group on the map after going 21-12 last fall.
It all starts with the wicked combination of Tia Traudt Tia Traudt 6'0" | OH Grand Island | 2025 State NE and Haedyn Hoos Haedyn Hoos 5'9" | OH Grand Island Senior High | 2024 State NE on the outside. This duo has now collectively reached upperclassman status and cranked out a massive share of GISH’s kills in 2022. Traudt took a big step forward during the recently concluded club season and built off a 400-kill sophomore campaign with the Islanders. Her impact won’t just be felt in the frontcourt, however, as Traudt plays lockdown defense and will be a staple in the passing formation. The same can be said of Hoos, who will embark on her senior year after being a terminal trailblazer throughout her prep career.
More key returners add to Grand Island’s potential surge this fall. Keira Jones Keira Jones 6'0" | RS Grand Island | 2024 State NE has made her presence felt on the right pin and will add to the balanced Islander offense. Fellow senior Lauren Taylor Lauren Taylor 5'5" | DS/L Grand Island | 2024 State NE is back to run the show at setter and was one of the most effective distributors in the state last year.
These veterans are ready to take the next step.
Fremont
Past seasons have proven that Fremont can compete on Class A’s biggest stage. Let’s see if the Tigers can return to Lincoln.
Fremont’s 2023 roster composition looks favorable to make that kind of breakthrough. It helps to have one of Nebraska’s most prolific scorers back in the fold: Mattie Dalton Mattie Dalton 5'10" | OH Fremont | 2025 State NE . The rising junior had a nearly unrivaled 2022 campaign in attacking volume and efficiency. Dalton compiled over 500 kills last season, equating to about 5.5 kills per set in addition to all the other six-rotation skills she brings to the floor. Her reign atop Nebraska’s leaderboards will continue.
A stout group of returners elevates the optimism surrounding the Tigers. Elena Estudillo Elena Estudillo 5'6" | DS/L Fremont | 2026 State NE burst onto the scene last season with a strong freshman year in the libero jersey. She will be surrounded by other strong floor defenders like Kate Denker Kate Denker 5'6" | OH Fremont | 2025 State NE and McKinzie Brandt McKinzie Brandt 5'7" | DS/L Fremont | 2026 State NE . Denker, meanwhile, will also take care of setting duties as she did during her sophomore season in 2022.
Columbus
We’re still rolling out some Class A sleeper picks from outside the big cities. Let’s make a short hop from Fremont to Columbus.
A medley of strong all-around performers could thrust the Discoverers into the spotlight this fall. Many of these athletes have also made huge strides during this year’s club season, giving us further confidence in Columbus.
Another six-rotation star kicks off this roster conversation. Senior Addison Johnson Addison Johnson 5'10" | OH Columbus | 2024 State NE will set the pace for Columbus on the outside after tallying over 300 kills a year ago. Her steady hand in the passing pattern will be equally valuable, and it’s a skill we’ve seen flourish in the Nebraska Elite gym.
More attackers are sharpening their skills for the Discoverers, too. Taytum Miller Taytum Miller 6'2" | MB Columbus | 2025 State NE will be a force at the net regardless of which position she plays. Meanwhile, sophomore middle blocker Paighton Erb Paighton Erb 6'0" | MB Columbus | 2026 State NE is due for a sophomore surge after showcasing a wicked arm with Premier Nebraska this spring. A go-to middle blocker who can score off of one foot is a luxury, and Erb brings that kind of skill set.
Lincoln Pius X
We’ll wrap up our tour in the Capitol City.
Lincoln Pius X loses a fair amount of production from last year’s team but can make up those voids in a variety of ways. There’s always more young talent coming up the pipeline at this program, and we expect no different in 2023.
Junior middle blocker Faith Venable Faith Venable 6'1" | MB Lincoln Pius X | 2025 State NE is surely one source of Thunderbolt optimism. She put together one of the most efficient seasons of any Nebraska prep player last year with an astounding 0.401 hitting percentage. We’ve even seen her embrace an outside hitter role in recent club events, so nothing is impossible when Venable becomes a Pius X upperclassman.
Sidda Hagedorn Sidda Hagedorn 5'11" | OH Lincoln Pius X | 2024 State NE and Keeleigh Knobbe will be two more valuable veterans to watch in the frontcourt. There’s a changing of the guard at the setter position, however, and Samantha Chesley Samantha Chesley 5'7" | S Lincoln Pius X | 2024 State NE will be a name to know in this positional battle. Her marked improvement with VCN has shown that she can take command and bring Pius X back to postseason form.