Uncommitted Nebraska 2025s in Postseason Contention (Part 2)
In this article:
How about a few more potential postseason participants to keep on your radar? Yesterday, we spotlighted a handful of uncommitted 2025s who are on a fast track toward this year’s state volleyball tournament. Nebraska has plenty more representation from this…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingHow about a few more potential postseason participants to keep on your radar?
Yesterday, we spotlighted a handful of uncommitted 2025s who are on a fast track toward this year’s state volleyball tournament. Nebraska has plenty more representation from this stacked class, so a second part feels warranted.
Back to the list.
It’s hard to attribute a single position to Rademacher’s skill set. We’ve seen her lock down the backcourt as a primary defensive specialist in both club and high school venues. Since she joined the Norris lineup, Rademacher has also proven her worthiness as a frontcourt terminator. Perhaps this means Rademacher might be better described as a so-rotation threat. Either way, this junior is set to make a postseason splash.
Johnson’s workload at Cambridge just keeps expanding, and the Trojans have been regular postseason participants throughout. The high-flying junior attacker has tallied almost four kills per set this year to lead a team that is now second in the Class D2 wildcard standings. We’ll have a stacked field of frontcourt hitters in every class of the state tournament, and Johnson’s success is a reminder that gems can come from Nebraska’s smallest schools.
Here’s another key cog in Oakland-Craig’s star-studded Class of 2025. Helzer’s numbers have spiraled to incredible heights in her junior campaign, as she’s now closing in on five kills per set for the season. Her wide-ranging impact is felt in every rotation with Helzer’s superior command of passing and defense. It’s a development that we saw during her spring tenure with Nebraska Elite, and it’s now panning out on the Class C2 stage with the Knights. Expect another trip to Lincoln for a group that hopes to replicate 2021’s state title triumph.
We’ve alluded to Hollatz’s dual role with Clarkson/Leigh, but it’s worth rehashing here. The do-everything junior has spent her entire prep career in the Patriots’ starting lineup, primarily as the team’s setter. But, in addition to her savvy distribution and consistent location, Hollatz has also mixed in a front-row attacking niche to her repertoire. She’s hitting for a high efficiency amid all these responsibilities and should have another shot at a state title this November. Clarkson/Leigh has been here before.
Pierce is back in the business of pursuing a title, and Riggert has been a constant for the team’s multi-year success. She’s back to hitting over 0.300 on the season and is maintaining her career average of over two-and-a-half kills per set. This efficiency and reliability will make Riggert a go-to target in high-pressure situations, and Pierce will surely face several of those. The Bluejays are sixth in the ultra-competitive Class C1 wildcard race and could be poised to knock off some juggernauts in Lincoln.
Highlights
Freeman is not far behind aforementioned Class C2 powerhouses Clarkson/Leigh and Oakland-Craig. Goes has been a significant contributor to the team’s 22-5 mark and makes life considerably easier for the players around her. Any tips or roll shots heading toward the Falcons will go right to Goes, who reads opposing attackers with incredible accuracy. This also allows Freeman to set up its high-powered offense in transition, and the wins have piled up as a result. It could bring Goes and the Falcons to Lincoln.
Highlights
Bules was one of our standouts from last month’s Harvest Festival Invite in Gothenburg. It’s no accident that Minden has rolled to an unblemished record this year, as Bules helps anchor the unflappable ball control that makes the Whippets so dominant. Whether its defense or serve receive, Bules is stepping up in ways that put Minden in a position to excel. Expect the same in the postseason.
We jumped at the opportunity to add Wentzlaff to our 2025 rankings this fall. Her precision at the setter spot is helping usher in a “program renaissance” that could bring Grand Island to the Class A tournament. Wentzlaff is credited with 10.5 assists per set this year, which ranks among Nebraska’s best in any class. The state tournament is Nebraska’s best venue to put stars on the map, so 2023 could offer a major opportunity for Wentzlaff and the Islanders.
We’ll wrap up with another setter. Like Wentzlaff, Emery has set her team to its own breakout season as Bellevue West looks to reclaim a spot in the Class A tournament. This junior setter has proven her ability to run a 5-1 offense with her strong blocking presence and lockdown backcourt defense. The Thunderbirds are experiencing an extraordinary revival behind this leadership, and we’ll see if it culminates in a postseason run in a couple of weeks.