Nebraska’s Shutdown Blockers Standing Out Early in 2023 Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's hone in on a part of the stat sheet we don't address often: blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sure, we all love to see floor-denting kills from some of Nebraska's best athletes. But volleyball players know that the showstopping power of a stuff block cannot be overstated. Not only can a block fire up a team, but it's also a way for strong frontcourt players to change the course of a match. The players listed below have that game-changing ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few of Nebraska's breakout blockers in early-season play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["393589"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Eickhoff has had a brilliant stint as an upperclassman for Hartington Cedar Catholic. She was key contributor to the team's Class D1 state championship last year, and now she's taken the lead as a senior. The veteran Trojan middle has evolved into a major blocking force who has put down 1.7 stuffs per set so far. 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Stoppkotte's multi-year contributions have kept Grand Island Northwest in the Class B postseason conversation. Her attacking numbers have brilliant, but Stoppkotte is also stepping up in the blocking phase with over a block per set. 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Ligon's meteoric rise with Premier Nebraska was a fun storyline to follow this year, and she's now locking down the Titan front row in her senior season. She's leading the charge with 21 total blocks in 12 matches as a full-time starter. It's a sign of more to come as Ligon and Papio South chase a third consecutive title.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["276193"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Gretna boasts a large group of upperclassmen this year, but the blocking brigade is being led by a sophomore. Spath is chipping in with nearly a block per set for the Dragons against some tough competition. The impact of Spath's positive block touches cannot be totally encompassed by a box score, but Gretna certainly recognizes the value of their up-and-coming middle.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["393553"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Mettscher's multi-position adaptability continues to amaze. Her primary position is at setter, and Mettscher will not hesitate to run the Lincoln East offense when she's given the opportunity. But Mettscher has also been mixing in some pin hitting into her repertoire and is putting up a wall at the net. She's dropping in 0.7 blocks per set in this dual role, proving that middles are not the only ones who can put up big numbers in this stat.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["276195"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Wingett clearly has all the tools necessary to be a statistically productive blocker. She brings tremendous length along the net, something that Millard North has harnessed en route to a solid start to 2023. We've seen Wingett on the pin and in the middle throughout her prep career, but recent reps in the middle have produced some monster numbers in the blocking category. The Mustang program knows all about impactful middle blockers, too.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Madison Vogel","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Wilber-Clatonia","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"A small-town senior is next in the spotlight. Vogel's 0.7 blocks per set in early 2023 mirrors the production she was able to achieve throughout last season. The Wolverines have such incredible depth along the net that Vogel isn't the first Wilber-Clatonia middle blocker we've discussed this fall. The roster is loaded.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='462342' first='JJ' last='Black']","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"Elkhorn Valley","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_8_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"We might as well finish the formidable wall at Elkhorn Valley. Black has been a machine on the blocking front, and most of her stuffs are of the solo variety. Her superior length is obviously helpful in this regard, but Black also knows how to read opposing setters and place herself in the right spot. All of these traits have yielded some head-turning numbers and a 5-2 start for the Falcons.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64f963a7a868b"} /-->