Prep Dig Showcase Alums Who Shined in Nebraska’s 2023 Fall Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's almost showcase time!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Saturday, I'll be traveling to La Vista for the Nebraska Top 250 Expo. The Prep Dig Expo series is an annual rite of passage between the high school and club seasons, and I'm thrilled to be back for more showcase action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The upcoming event had me thinking back to the last time we held a La Vista Showcase. It was late July when we hosted the Nebraska Stock Up Showcase in the small time window after the club season and before the fall. We now have the full fall season in the rear-view mirror, and several athletes from that Stock Up Showcase took their forward momentum right into high school venues.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, before we look ahead at the event coming up, let's take a trip back. Here are some Nebraska showcase alums who just finished up extraordinary seasons on the high school side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["342621"],"_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":"Kafka claimed the spotlight early and often in July's Nebraska Stock Up Showcase. That turned out to be an omen of what was to come at Omaha Marian, as Kafka tallied a career-best 1.6 kills per set on a 0.244 hitting efficiency from the middle. She was also the most physical blocker for the Crusaders and tallied 66 total blocks in her junior campaign. There are still higher ceilings to reach in 2024.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["155055"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Pillay's journey has to be one of my favorite storylines from our summer showcase. The Papio junior was lights-out as a middle blocker during the event, but she took on a completely different role with the Monarchs this fall. Pillay was one of the team's starting outside hitters and demonstrated her ability to take tough out-of-system swings. The Monarchs could not have made this year's Class A title match without Pillay's extraordinary adaptability.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["349487"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Let's move into the backcourt. Kopf was already on our radar heading into the Stock Up Showcase after she posted a stout club season with [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']. Her stellar performance at the showcase was no surprise, and neither was her productive sophomore season with Tri County High School. Kopf finished the 2023 season with a fantastic 4.8 digs per set and locked down the Trojan passing formation. More highlight moments are in the works.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["349472"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"It doesn't get much better than this. Myers was recently identified as a sophomore who surprised us during the 2023 season. Perhaps her impressive showing at our Stock Up event should have been an indication that Myers was ready for big-time volleyball. The Millard South libero led nearly all of her peers with six digs per set and a wealth of other quality first touches to help the Patriots.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["393554"],"_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":"Jones and Grand Island had big plans for the fall season. After Jones showed her strength on the right pin over the summer, she quickly set her sights on some new horizons for the Islander program. The senior opposite was an unsung hero of Grand Island's frontcourt as the squad made a long-awaited return to the Class A tournament. What a way to finish off a career.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["187807"],"_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":"The Stock Up Showcase was made for determined athletes like Trost. We took note of Trost's efficient offense during the event, but that pales in comparison to what she accomplished in her final season with Lincoln Southwest. Trost led the team in kills throughout most of the season at lifted the Silver Hawks to their first volleyball title in school history. Not a bad way to put yourself in the forefront.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["443108"],"_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":"Eilenstine was one of our freshmen-to-be at the July showcase. Her high-flying termination caught everyone's eye, and the same can be said of her debut season with Elkhorn South. The 2027 outside hitter posted 2.5 kills per set and showed the kind of range that you don't expect from first-year prep players. Prepare for more headlining moments from Eilenstine in the coming years.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["342613"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Bring out the setters. It's hard not to include Donovan on this list after her show-stopping season in the Lincoln Lutheran lineup. It was hard to miss Donovan throughout 2023, whether it was on the club side with [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'], her performance at the Stock Up Showcase, or her championship-winning efforts with the Warriors. This 2025 prospect is climbing the ladder even faster than we expected.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["351465"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Johnson is another signal-caller whose steady presence yielded a state tournament appearance. Lincoln East leaned on their junior leader to pilot an offense that was among Class A's best. We saw Johnson's potential materialize as she competed in team drills at the Stock Up Showcase, and her rise just continued from there.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["240780"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Feeney is still making moves in the Class of 2025. She transitioned from a successful club season with South Central NE to our highly competitive showcase in La Vista. From there, it was off to Adams Central to continue leading a squad that is always in the postseason conversation. Even with so many different venues in play, Feeney has always delivered on the hype.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6566d98743e7e"} /-->