Sophomore Surge: Which Nebraska 2026s Surprised Us This Fall?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're all about "sophomore surges" here. There's no need for the proverbial slump.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school season always offers a variety of trends and storylines to keep track of. At the individual level, it's always fascinating to watch how players evolve and progress from their freshman to sophomore seasons. This progression looks different for everyone, though. Many breakout sophomores are players we had only seen in club venues and didn't get a starting varsity opportunity as a freshman. Others flash their potential as freshmen but really take off in Year 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This feature will hone in on the players whose meteoric rise took us off guard this fall. With players typically becoming much more confident and comfortable as sophomores, there's a wide pool to choose from here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Embrace the surprises and unexpected stars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["253919"],"_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":"Liebsack has been a valuable contributor for Bennington since Day 1, but her sophomore production was astonishing regardless of context. She finished the season on the cusp of five kills per set—or almost 500 total terminations on the year. That came with all the six-rotation impact that Liebsack brought, too, including a lethal serve that gave passers fits. Liebsack is now a 2026 stock riser to watch as the club season ramps up.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["253928"],"_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":"Young talent was asked to step up for Omaha Westside, and Lamb delivered. The sophomore outside hitter eclipsed 2.5 kills per set and used her unmatched power to dominate opposing blocks. A high-pressure postseason environment did not change Lamb's unyielding onslaught along the net. She was made for the rigors of Class A competition, and that will persist for another couple of years.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["349457"],"_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":"Sjuts has proven that she can take over matches in a variety of ways. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of her sophomore campaign with Lincoln Lutheran was her impact as a shutdown blocker. Sjuts has a knack for reading setters—perhaps because she has club experience at the setter spot. This do-everything athlete might have even more to add to the scouting report in early 2024.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["464730"],"_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":"Oakland-Craig's prevailing narrative in 2023 was its returning group of veterans who were around for the program's volleyball title in 2021. However, Ray's emergence in the sophomore class shifted that focus quite a bit. She stepped up for the Knights by taking over 1,000 total swings and notching 384 kills on a clip better than 0.200. We weren't expecting such incredible volume from an Oakland-Craig underclassman, but Ray brought the firepower and consistency to become a reliable setting target.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["464840"],"_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":"Cambridge has its leader at the setter spot. Springer soared onto the scene with nearly ten assists per set as she led the Trojans to a runner-up finish in the ever-competitive Class D2. Not only did Springer distribute the ball well throughout the year, but she brought an aggressive edge at the net that showed up in her impressive blocking statistics. Small-town Nebraska always has a knack for churning out gems that we didn't see coming.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["278995"],"_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":"How about another setter who took a big step forward as a sophomore? We had seen Bodnar earn some extended reps with Omaha Duchesne in 2022, but the starting job was all hers this fall. Bodnar responded with a healthy assists total and a wealth of other contributions in all six rotations. She defends the right-back area like a defensive specialist, giving the Cardinals a serious advantage in their three-hitter rotations. Another big year for Bodnar in 2024 will keep Duchesne in the Class B postseason huntu002du002da familiar spot for the storied program.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["396731"],"_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":"A bit of setter-hitter representation is always welcomed. Andel carries both roles for David City, tallying 2.3 kills per set and 5.7 assists per set in her sophomore campaign for the Scouts. David City is a program worth watching in future wildcard race, and Andel has a lot to do with that optimism. Such a versatile player is rare at the prep level.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["464824"],"_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":"Omaha Concordia soared to new heights this year, so you could pick out a lot of different players as surprise performers. Perkinson guided the offense from the setter spot with 9.6 assists per set and helped Concordia post one of the best team efficiency numbers in the region. Having a steady all-around setter has helped keep Mustang hitters in a groove, and Perkinson will be at the center of that conversation for two more seasons.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["349472"],"_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":"You never know where Nebraska's biggest dig numbers are going to come from. Myers staked a claim to one of the state's loftiest totals with six digs per set in the Millard South libero jersey. We were bound to be surprised by someone on Millard South's young roster, and Myers fits the bill perfectly. Though she posted head-spinning numbers, its perhaps best to measure Myers' effectiveness by how well she kept the Patriots in system this year. First contacts from Myers often yielded positive results.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["276206"],"_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":"Do we dare put a single position label on this Ashland-Greenwood star? Glock did her share of attacking this year with over three kills per set for the Bluejays. But she's also listed as a DS on some rosters, and a lot of that has to do with Glock's tremendous defensive instincts along the end line. She soared past four digs per set in 2023, which would rival most primary liberos in the Cornhusker State. Prepare to see a lot whenever Glock takes the floor.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["349404"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"Sure, Zimmerman assembled an impressive highlight tape with Premier Nebraska during the club season. Did we expect her to dominate this much on the prep side and immediately seize Gretna's libero position? Zimmerman finished with one of Class A's best dig totals as she neared 400 total saves with the Dragons. Gretna needed some new faces to step up in 2023, and players like Zimmerman lay the foundation for the program to get back on track in future seasons.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":11,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65601cfd62a5b"} /-->