2023 Prep Dig Nebraska Preseason All-State: Class B
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On to Class B. We’ve just kicked off our class-by-class selections for Nebraska’s pre-season high school all-state teams. The series began with Class A, which left us with few easy decisions when paring down the list. The same will be…
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Continue ReadingOn to Class B.
We’ve just kicked off our class-by-class selections for Nebraska’s pre-season high school all-state teams. The series began with Class A, which left us with few easy decisions when paring down the list. The same will be true for Class B, a group stacked with elite talent.
Here’s our list.
Crist’s 2022 kill total is the best among all returning players in Class B. That big number was 420, or nearly four-and-a-half per set. The Cardinals are now hoping to take that next step toward a tournament bid with Crist leading the way at outside hitter.
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Jelinek’s prep career has featured a transition from standout libero to elite attacker. Players of this archetype are rare. The Long Beach State commit compiled over 350 kills as a sophomore and will likely put up even loftier totals as an upperclassman.
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Cynley Wilkinson
Cynley Wilkinson
Wilkinson had a massive surge last fall to become one of Class B’s leading scorers. She hammered down nearly four kills per set for York and effectively limited her errors in doing so. Another season as York’s go-to hitter is on the horizon.
Heaney is about to carry a significantly heavier attacking load this fall. Elkhorn North loses some substantial offensive production from last year’s runner-up squad, leaving the high-flying junior to pick up the slack. Heaney was already impactful in 2022 with well over 200 kills.
You could chalk up Moore as a “utility player” if you wanted. She’s done it all throughout her prep career. Her inclusion on this list is a nod to Moore’s impact at the opposite position, where she became an unstoppable scorer for Waverly last year.
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Link is an important piece of the puzzle as Skutt Catholic looks for new front-row trailblazers. She was a mainstay in the 2022 lineup and greatly exceeded a 0.300 attacking efficiency through her sophomore season. Link’s kill numbers are due to rise with that kind of reliable scoring.
Gleason was recently featured as a middle blocker to watch among Nebraska’s vastly talented junior class. Now, the Beatrice attacker garners an all-state nod. She had a terminal sophomore year in the frontcourt and will be on track to exceed those impressive numbers in 2023.
Miller gets a nod at the middle blocker spot for her efficient scoring throughout the 2022 season. Her hitting clip was just shy of 0.300, and Miller was able to maintain this impressive rate on nearly three kills per set. Seward is reloading for another postseason push.
These assist stats are unparalleled. Bennington’s emergence at last year’s state championships was fueled by a stunning 11 assists per set from their junior setter. Uhlir now has one more year to pilot one of the state’s smoothest offenses.
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Seward was one of Class B’s major breakout teams in 2022, and Kratochvil became a significant contributor in that sudden rise. She dished out nearly 1,000 assists last year as the Bluejays posted a 28-8 record and an appearance in the state tournament.
Rowley entered Waverly’s starting setter spot in 2022 and had one of Class B’s most prolific seasons at the position. Her 9.8 assists per set ranks near the top of the leaderboards, and Rowley also put up dig numbers akin to a strong libero. Look for more of the same in Rowley’s final prep campaign.
Booth’s setting was a primary catalyst for Elkhorn North’s rise to the Class B state championship match last year. She averaged over ten assists per set and was equally effective as a floor defender in her backcourt rotations. The Northern Iowa will have a big say in the Wolves keeping up their high standards this fall.
Mauch returns to the Bennington lineup after winning gold with Team USA at this month’s U19 World Championships. That’s big-time. On the high school front, the future Cornhusker was credited with a staggering eight-and-a-half digs per set last season and will remain one of Nebraska’s most productive liberos in any class.
Here’s another Big Ten-bound libero in Class B. Douglas, a USC commit, was an indispensable part of Skutt Catholic’s passing and defensive formations in 2022. She exceeded five digs per set in a daunting schedule that included out-of-state opponents at Chicago’s ASICS Challenge. Now, Douglas will be a foundational senior leader as the SkyHawks chase their ninth consecutive state title.
We’re selecting seniors for all three of our libero slots. Rice anchored Waverly’s backcourt last year en route to nearly six digs per set. This defensive output will be crucial as the Vikings hope to stay on the tournament stage.