Impact Attackers from the 2023 LPS Invite Gold Bracket
In this article:
We’ll have no shortage of options here. My Saturday morning visit last weekend was to Lincoln Southeast for the Gold bracket of the annual LPS Invitational. This event pulls in elite teams from Lincoln and beyond, giving us a broad…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWe’ll have no shortage of options here.
My Saturday morning visit last weekend was to Lincoln Southeast for the Gold bracket of the annual LPS Invitational. This event pulls in elite teams from Lincoln and beyond, giving us a broad look at some of Nebraska’s up-and-coming talent. It’s no surprise that the event’s Gold bracket participants had an impressive lineup of terminal hitters.
So, let’s talk about a few of them. Here are some of the most impactful attackers from last weekend’s LPS Invite.
Lionberger is a constant showstopper in the Lincoln Southwest frontcourt. She can run a standard quick in front of the setter or play as a part-time opposite whenever necessary. Regardless, Lionberger produced some of the weekend’s most assertive swings and was an emotional spark plug for the Silver Hawks. The runner-up triumph wouldn’t have been possible without her.
What a huge weekend for Harding. The experienced outside hitter was a can’t-miss terminator for the Silver Hawks last weekend. Harding’s style is perfectly suited for the up-tempo offense that LSW operates so well. She can work around opposing blockers down the line or in the seam. Harding will find a way.
Highlights
Feed the hot hand. That was Grand Island’s mantra as it climbed to the Gold bracket and remained dialed in Saturday morning. Traudt, a UNLV commit, commanded the Islander frontcourt in ways only she could muster. She’s incredibly fluid and dynamic on the left pin, giving Grand Island a reliable outlet whether they’re in system or out of system.
Rasmussen made the most of her time in the spotlight at last weekend’s tournament. She thrived in the high-pressure environment of the LPS Invite, producing some clutch offense when Lincoln East needed it most. We knew about Rasmussen’s game-changing presence as a blocker, but her offense took a major step forward against elite competition.
Highlights
Just another standout weekend for Eggiman. We’re used to that by now. She was the primary catalyst for Bellevue West’s success, which is nothing new for the Thunderbirds and their veteran hitter. Eggiman wanted the ball in crucial spots and delivered, particularly in Saturday’s three-set battle with Lincoln East. Her ascent during the club season was clearly a precursor to Eggiman’s strongest year yet at Bellevue West.
Keeleigh Knobbe
Keeleigh Knobbe
Lincoln Pius X could not have made its climb to the Gold bracket without Knobbe’s steady hand on the outside. This junior has seen a series uptick in attacking volume and has stepped up to be the second-leading scorer for the Thunderbolts. Knobbe’s steady progression will keep Pius among the most formidable teams in the Star City.
This was a time for freshmen to shine for Papio South. That’s a lot to ask of young players with an undefeated season on the line, but players like Bails have risen to the occasion. Bails was asked to take some tough swings throughout Papio South’s run to another LPS Invite title. Luckily, her effortless elevation and explosiveness make her an ideal fit for this task. Overall, the Titans proved that they can adapt to so many different lineups and personnel. The future is bright, too.
There’s nothing like leaning on the reliable senior. Few are more reliable than Medeck. The South Dakota commit has been compiling big numbers for a long time, so last weekend’s dominance is a surprise to no one. Even with all the lineup variations that Papio South has deployed this year, Medeck is a constant that will always keep the Titans in front of the pack.
Here’s our shoutout to Rademacher for taking on an atypical role as she joins the Norris lineup this year. We’ve seen what she can do as a defensive specialist, both with Nebraska ONE and in her prior prep stints at Lincoln East. She’s become an attacking threat across the front row for Norris alongside several of her club teammates, yielding a well-balanced offense with tons of quality ball control.
It only feels right to round this out with another senior. Glaser has primarily been a left-side hitter throughout her career with the Monarchs, though she’s displayed her versatility on the right pin in club venues. Wherever you put Glaser, you can rely on this savvy scorer to rack up her share of stats.