2024 Club Season Primer: Star Freshmen Preparing for 15s Season
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Here’s a little high school-club crossover. Needless to say, our Class of 2027 watch list is still a work in progress. We have years to keep adding names and building our database. Still, our watch list has already tabbed some…
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Continue ReadingHere’s a little high school-club crossover.
Needless to say, our Class of 2027 watch list is still a work in progress. We have years to keep adding names and building our database. Still, our watch list has already tabbed some freshmen who made an early impact on the varsity stage. Now, it’s time to discuss where some of these players will land for the upcoming club campaign.
Get ready. The future is here.
Why not start with a state champion? Sidlo rocketed to prominence among her 2027 peers by helping Lincoln Lutheran secure its third consecutive state title. Being a standout freshman with a volleyball powerhouse is a rare feat, but Sidlo’s electrifying arm and blocking instincts made her a perfect fit for the Warrior lineup. Now, the 2027 middle blocker will turn her attention toward VCNebraska 15 Elite, a group that could make some serious noise at club volleyball’s highest levels.
Highlights
It was hard to miss Johnson in this fall’s Malcolm frontcourt. The dominant middle blocker pitched in with nearly two kills per set and was an immediate shutdown blocker for the Clippers. This sudden influx of physicality helped bring Malcolm back to the state tournament in 2023, and there’s more to come from Johnson during the club season. She will help expand on the historic Malcolm-VCN pipeline and compete with 15 Elite this spring.
Let’s turn toward the VCNebraska 15 Black roster, where we’ll surely find plenty of watch list additions in the coming months. Kroll, however, is already on our 2027 radar after earning starting setter reps with Lincoln North Star this fall. She was an ideal fit for the team’s two-setter offense, and Kroll was sure to pick up some impressive digs during her stay in the right-back area. Another opportunity awaits with VCNebraska in 2024.
Papillion-La Vista South had a fascinating medley of youth and experience in 2023. Of course, this article focuses on the newcomers. Bails had a huge debut season with the Titans that ended with over 200 kills on a 0.233 clip. The bright lights of Class A volleyball should have Bails poised to make another splash with Premier Nebraska 15 Gold. We know that this high-flying outside hitter can score in the frontcourt, but we’re also excited to see how Bails might contribute as a true six-rotation asset.
Lineups are certainly not set in stone at this point, but Eilenstine could be Bails’ counterpart on the left side for Premier 15 Gold. Eilenstine made an early entrance on our 2027 watch list by dominating our summer showcase in La Vista. She appeared poised to shine on the varsity stage right away, and that’s exactly what panned out with Elkhorn South in the fall. The Storm got 2.5 kills per set from their dynamic freshman attacker–just the start of Eilenstine’s climb up the 2027 ladder. Her progression with 15 Gold will have our attention, and we’ll see if it can yield some qualifier success.
Highlights
Nora Herian Nora Herian 6'1" | OH Pierce | 2027 NE
Nora Herian Nora Herian 6'1" | OH Pierce | 2027 NE
Nebraska Elite’s top 15s group will have some small-town influence, and we’re thrilled to see it come together. Not many freshmen on the small-town scene had a better 2023 season than Herian, who amassed 3.5 kills per set with Pierce and nearly led the Bluejays to the Class C1 title match. Herian had a knack for using her length to hit indefensible angles, even when she wasn’t allow to get a full approach. She’ll now look to be a fixture in the Nebraska Elite offense while competing against some of the nation’s best club programs. Way to represent the Bluejays.
We’ll make the hop from Pierce to Fort Calhoun to find another hidden gem on the Nebraska Elite 15-1 roster. Thayer-Mencke was a game-changer for Fort Calhoun this year, and her profound influence took a variety of forms. She’s a natural opposite whose lefty swing was difficult to stop on in-system plays. But the Pioneers also found ways to implement crossing patterns that gave Thayer-Mencke chances to swing on a slower tempo from the middle. That versatility bodes well for her club journey with Nebraska Elite, and there’s a lot of breakout potential here.