2024 Club Season Primer: Defensive Duos to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How about some backcourt tandems for your club radar?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We just discussed some setter-hitter combos to keep in mind when we turn toward 2024, and we're sticking with the same "duo" theme today. This time, though, we're bringing out some of the best backcourt units we have in the Nebraska club landscape.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With so many substitutions available to teams in any given set, we can inevitably find some defensive specialists working in tandem around the club circuit. Let's peruse some 2024 rosters to bring out a few good ones.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":490365,"width":"338px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/IMG_8056-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-490365" style="width:338px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kucks</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='104984' first='Faith' last='Frame']</strong> &amp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='183983' first='Quinn' last='Groves']</strong> - <em>Premier Nebraska 18 Gold</em></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Look for these outgoing seniors to go out swinging--or digging, perhaps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='104984' first='Faith' last='Frame']'s resume speaks for itself. The Cincinnati commit, who wrapped up her prep career with a single season at Papillion-La Vista, has been to big matches at every venue imaginable. That includes the GJNC podium in 16 Open, where Frame was an all-tournament honoree. It's hard to believe this elite libero is already embarking on her last club season with Premier Nebraska.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='183983' first='Quinn' last='Groves'] has roved around the Premier Nebraska map for a while, and this will not be her first rodeo at the 18s level. The meteoric rise of this Papillion-La Vista South athlete has been a joy to follow, and it all culminated in a commitment to Morningside at the next level. Time to see what Groves and Frame--two rivals on the high school stage--can put together as teammates on 18 Gold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='155040' first='Kenzie' last='Kucks']</strong> &amp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='155037' first='Sierra' last='Pokharel']</strong> - <em>Premier Nebraska 17 Gold</em></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a duo that has been all around the map at Premier Nebraska. Finally, they're teaming up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='155040' first='Kenzie' last='Kucks'] has done a little bit of everything and hopped around the age group ladder. We recall the days of Kucks taking huge swings as an outside hitter and bolstering the backcourt along with that attacking role. She eventually took on a full-time defensive role and committed to Lipscomb this fall. Few Nebraska 2025s have had a more fascinating career progression.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='155037' first='Sierra' last='Pokharel']'s journey with Premier Nebraska has seen its own variation. The South Dakota commit spent most of her early club years playing up an age group and showing her range as a libero or a middle-back defender. Pokharel stayed down with her 2025 peers last season and is staying on that track with 17 Gold in 2024. Obviously, this squad will find a way to get its D1-bound duo involved as much as possible in pursuit of a repeat Open bid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='155029' first='Keri' last='Leimbach']</strong> &amp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='189326' first='Harper' last='Gable']</strong> - <em>[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Synergy</em></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Synergy will have a couple of new faces in the 2024 lineup, but its familiar defensive identity should persist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, that defense is anchored by libero [player_tooltip player_id='155029' first='Keri' last='Leimbach'], our top-ranked athlete in Nebraska's Class of 2025. The Cornhusker commit gives Synergy everything from flashy layout saves to the steady serve receive that should never go underappreciated. Meanwhile, [player_tooltip player_id='189326' first='Harper' last='Gable'] has been another multi-year fixture in the Synergy lineup who can sub in for any of the team's pin hitters and make an impact. She has even filled in as a frontcourt attacker when needed. Synergy has never been afraid to toy with its lineup throughout the season, so we can expect a few different combinations that allow Leimbach and Gable to work as a pair.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='256658' first='Tristyn' last='Hedman']</strong> &amp; <strong>Kya Branch</strong> - <em>Nebraska Juniors 18 Black</em></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska Juniors 18 Black gets another shoutout here with two veteran defenders ready to battle in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='256658' first='Tristyn' last='Hedman'] is no stranger to the spotlight--both with Nebraska Juniors and her Grand Island Central Catholic high school team. The Crusaders broke through for a 2022 state title behind Hedman's superior command of the end line. One more outing awaits at the 18s level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The wildcard in this 18 Black lineup is Kya Branch, who could spend time as a defensive specialist or reawaken her attacking skills in the front row. Regardless of which position Branch plays this year, she will offer the defensive consistency that Nebraska Juniors will want to wield in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":488074,"width":"287px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/402-Tristyn-Hedman.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-488074" style="width:287px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hedman</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='155041' first='Olivia' last='Kremer']</strong> &amp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='173519' first='Isabel' last='Junior']</strong> - <em>Nebraska Elite 17-1</em></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska Elite's top 17s group has suddenly gained some reinforcements to form a formidable back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='155041' first='Olivia' last='Kremer'] showcased her skills at [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] for the past couple of years, but she will now take her defensive prowess to Nebraska Elite. No stage will be intimidating for Kremer after she helped Lincoln Southwest win its first state title this fall. Her presence in the middle-back area was a huge factor in this Silver Hawk success, and Kremer also wields a wicked serve that can instantly flip momentum.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='173519' first='Isabel' last='Junior'] is the team's familiar face who ought to mesh well with Kremer. Junior was a digging machine in an ultra-competitive Class A field, making Elkhorn South a tough team to score on. We know how well the Elkhorn South-Nebraska Elite pipeline has panned out recently, and this talented libero is yet another example.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='173524' first='Nikki' last='Ott']</strong> &amp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='189328' first='Rya' last='Borer']</strong> - <em>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 17 Elite</em></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fresh faces are still the storyline as we move to [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, 2025 defender [player_tooltip player_id='173524' first='Nikki' last='Ott'] is a constant here. Ott put together a strong 2023 campaign with [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] and showed her ability to adapt to a variety of roles. She'll give you the leadership and technical skills needed out of your libero, but Ott can also fill in as a primary defensive specialist and bring an instant spark off the bench.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It will be interesting to see how Ott's role evolves with [player_tooltip player_id='189328' first='Rya' last='Borer'] joining 17 Elite after a prior stint with Premier Nebraska. Borer was part of the vaunted Norris backcourt that finished runner-up in Class B, so that high-level experience should translate nicely to a new club environment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='349487' first='Alaina' last='Kopf']</strong> &amp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='349483' first='Kamrynn' last='Wemhoff']</strong> - <em>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Elite</em></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've already seen this pair operate at a high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='349487' first='Alaina' last='Kopf'] is an emerging small-town star who made a stark impact with [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] at the 15s level. She's now making the jump to 16 Elite and will surely bring a steady presence to the team's strong defensive core.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That core also includes [player_tooltip player_id='349483' first='Kamrynn' last='Wemhoff'], who was a breakout DS and serving sub for Lincoln Pius X this fall. The Thunderbolts returned to the Class A tournament while players like Wemhoff elevated the team's ball control to another level. That's the perfect launching pad to the 2024 club season, where new chapters will be written for the Class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->