Uncommitted 2025s Shine at 2023 NSAA State Championships

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What about those juniors?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lately, we've been taking a tour around the classes as we recap the standouts from this year's NSAA State Championships. Recent features have focused on underclassmen, but we're taking a step up the ladder today.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska's Class of 2025 still has plenty of uncommitted stars who added another prep milestone at the state tournament. The club season has offered valuable scouting reports, but there's something different about the high school title chase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at a few under-the-radar juniors who swiped the spotlight on Nebraska's biggest high school stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["155041"],"_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":"Kremer was a standout junior on a championship lineup loaded with seniors. The value of her defensive specialist role cannot be measured with stats alone, though Kremer posted solid numbers for a part-time role. She was also a lights-out server who could dial up scoring runs whenever she came off the bench. Look for Kremer to pursue Lincoln Southwest's libero jersey as the Silver Hawks start their title defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["189347"],"_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":"Livingston's explosiveness and range make her an ideal fit for the left pin. We've seen that in club venues and during Papio South's multi-year reign over Class A. Livingston entered the lineup during the Titans' quarterfinal match and provided an immediate spark at outside hitter. The upcoming club season will offer another great opportunity to perpetuate Livingston's forward momentum in the Class of 2025.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["189353"],"_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":"A thriving left-side attack was one of the major keys to Bellevue West's breakout journey to this fall's Class A semifinals. Reitsma anchored this position with over 200 kills and a large volume of first touches in serve receive. Another stellar season from Reitsma could bring the Thunderbirds right back to the state championship stage in 2024u002du002dright where we expect Bellevue West to be.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["155055"],"_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":"We keep marveling at Pillay's career trajectory with Papillion-La Vista. The junior brought an extensive background as a middle blocker but made the full-time move to outside hitter this fall. The move immediately paid off as the Monarchs made their extraordinary push to the Class A title match from the #8 seed. Pillay has proven her worth as a left side who can take some assertive out-of-system swings, furthering her range from her days as a middle blocker.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["216100"],"_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":"The junior leaders keep rolling in for Papio. Vitera's emergence as an offensive weapon assured that the Monarchs had clear six-rotation dominance in the middle. Though Vitera was slotted as the M2 who was mostly in the frontcourt during three-hitter rotations, she was able to wield her strong one-footed attacks and was dangerous behind the setter. This sets up a potential move to M1 next year, where Vitera should pick up right where she left off.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["155045"],"_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":"It's becoming a tournament staple: Omaha Skutt Catholic setters produce postseason magic every year. Banker made the most of her rotations through the lineup in Skutt Catholic's two-setter offense. The SkyHawks put up some of the loftiest offensive numbers of any tournament team with Banker consistently delivering dimes from pin to pin. We've seen Banker's impact as a hitter on the club side, but her setter niche really shines with the Skutt Catholic powerhouse.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["189352"],"_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":"Levinson runs every route you'd want to see from a middle. She was particularly effective on the 'gap' set that puts a lot of stress on opposing blockers who aren't properly positioned. Gretna East found a way to use Levinson even on passes that weren't perfect, making the Griffins even more difficult to defend. It's no wonder why this first-year school asserted itself in the Class B discussion right away.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["269961"],"_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":"Seward's defensive star is becoming the model of consistency. Covalt polished off another stat-stuffing season by racking up close to 500 digs and a wealth of perfect passes that can't be reflected by a box score. Her prowess as a secondary setter also evolved, which allowed the Bluejays to remain terminal in out-of-system situations. We'll now look forward to the club season, a venue where Covalt should continue to shine.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["189374"],"_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":"Platteview used a full team effort to make its postseason return, but we can't leave out Plueger's meteoric rise to help out the offense. The junior outside hitter became a true six-rotation threat this year who was a positive influence beyond her efficient scoring. Plueger's development this year is a reminder that any small-town gems can rise up and seize a moment in the spotlightu002du002dand this talented attacker is not done yet.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["342617"],"_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":"We'll have a lot of middle involvement for this feature. Landon is another junior who has climbed the 2025 hierarchy with her brilliant junior season with Waverly. She neared 200 kills on the year to go along with a team-leading block total. She seemed to thrive as a veteran member of a talented Vikings team, so we're already optimistic about Landon's potential senior production, too.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["380823"],"_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":"Sliva can play a couple of different positions for Bruning-Davenport/Shickley, a program that has become a tournament regular over the past several years. If BDS needs a right-side hitter, Sliva has the length and power to thrive in that role. However, the Eagles mostly had their star junior at the setter spot, where Sliva ran an up-tempo attack that thrived all season. We'll see how the narrative shifts in what should be another successful BDS campaign next year.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_11_player":["253912"],"_player_evaluations_11_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"Superstar middles were a prevailing storyline during our tournament coverage, and we shouldn't leave Henn out of the conversation. Any time a middle blocker puts up over 300 kills on the season, you take notice. Henn's prevalence in the EPPJ offense was incredibly clear during the postseason, as the Wolfpack designed plenty of first-ball routes for the junior leader. 2024 will show us more of the same.","_player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_12_player":["395132"],"_player_evaluations_12_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_12_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_12_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"We need to give more credit to the middles after Minden's championship run in Class C1. Betty is a tremendous athlete who presents some surprising physicality at the net. That physicality quickly entered the spotlight via some incredible stuff blocks in the title bout with Kearney Catholic. There's no doubt that the Whippets loved running their outsides, but a strong middle presence from Betty helped open up those opportunities on the pins.","_player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":13,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6557393d52350"} /-->