2024 Club Season Primer: Storylines and Lingering Questions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The club season is getting tantalizingly close. We're ready.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout December, we'll be walking you through all the players, teams, and storylines to keep an eye on throughout the Cornhusker State. It's an important stepping stone for all of us as we get everyone prepared for the months ahead. Our coverage will benefit from having all our thoughts sorted out, too!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Time to give you a preliminary look at the storylines and questions we'll be considering when the calendar turns toward 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18s Up First</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":457386,"width":"442px","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/5/2023/09/DSC09942.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-457386" style="width:442px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tvrdy</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The club season is always ushered in by the 18s age group. This season always goes by quickly with everything wrapping up at 18s GJNC in late April.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, there's always one big question surrounding the 18s: who's sticking around? On the Nebraska scene, we're preparing to see some top-tier teams stick together for one final outing. The 2024 Premier Nebraska 18 Gold team, which is on a multi-year run of GJNC Open bids, will bring back most of its core group for the upcoming club season. That includes electric attackers like outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='109585' first='Lauren' last='Medeck'] and middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='109603' first='Mia' last='Tvrdy']. [player_tooltip player_id='109593' first='Reese' last='Booth'] and [player_tooltip player_id='109586' first='Reagan' last='Hickey'] bolster the two-headed monster at the setter position. The big Class of 2024 omission here is outgoing libero [player_tooltip player_id='109590' first='Olivia' last='Mauch'], who will enroll early at the University of Nebraska. [player_tooltip player_id='104984' first='Faith' last='Frame'], [player_tooltip player_id='183983' first='Quinn' last='Groves'], and [player_tooltip player_id='105830' first='Sydney' last='Guthard'] are ready to step up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Premier Nebraska 18 Black should bring highlight moments of their own, and this is a roster with a medley of 2024s from different past teams. [player_tooltip player_id='122824' first='Kayla' last='Eggiman'] is a name to watch on the outside after a big-time senior season at Bellevue West. She'll join forces with other Metro-area stars like [player_tooltip player_id='109587' first='Kyla' last='Dyrstad'], [player_tooltip player_id='109595' first='Haylee' last='Wolf'], and [player_tooltip player_id='122816' first='Kaelin' last='Pribyl'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] is another big factor here. The new 18 Elite group was on the cusp of a 17 Open bid last spring, so perhaps there's some extra motivation to come back for 18s. Marquette commit [player_tooltip player_id='104989' first='Malayah' last='Long'] returns to lead the offense after walking off with a state championship at Lincoln Southwest. 18 Elite is a Lincoln all-star group that includes libero [player_tooltip player_id='152864' first='Mallorie' last='Meyer'] and right-side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='187800' first='Brynne' last='Topolski'] from Lincoln East. [player_tooltip player_id='122761' first='Eleanor' last='Brislen'] is a new addition to the frontcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>VCN 18 Black will also be fun to follow with so many Lincoln schools represented among players like [player_tooltip player_id='187810' first='Sidda' last='Hagedorn'] (Pius X), [player_tooltip player_id='393553' first='Mandy' last='Mettscher'] (East), [player_tooltip player_id='152859' first='Lucy' last='Cogan'] (Southeast), and [player_tooltip player_id='187798' first='Caylee' last='Rowley'] (Waverly).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And the list will keep growing. Stay tuned for more 18s coverage as our list of must-watch teams expands for this swan song season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":412193,"width":"453px","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/5/2023/07/IMG_7283.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-412193" style="width:453px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Premier Nebraska 16 Gold competes at the 2023 Northern Lights Qualifier.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The First Qualifiers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who's punching those GJNC tickets first?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Many of Nebraska's first bid-clinching opportunities come at the Northern Lights Qualifier. This is also our chance to mention the new wrinkle for NLQ in 2024: the qualifier wave for 15s will be played alongside 18s and 17s in the first January session. We're ready to embrace the new challenge of covering so many high-stakes matches at the same time. More on the 15s later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Early qualifiers gave rise to big breakthroughs. Premier Nebraska 15 Black's extraordinary runner-up finish at NLQ comes to mind. The heart-stopping Open pool featuring [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Synergy and Premier Nebraska 16 Gold happened alongside that. Where will the next Cinderella teams arise in 2024's bid tournaments?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Triple Crown Frenzy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Triple Crown NIT is not a qualifier, but the February event has other ways of rising to prominence. Hundreds of the nation's best teams flock to Kansas City in what has quickly become the biggest recruiting weekend of the entire year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's hard to put up a bigger spotlight for the 16s age group here. Recruiting microscopes will be on the Class of 2026 as collegiate programs search for the next emerging superstars to recruit the following summer. Of course, we'll be determined to cover Triple Crown from all angles while also recognizing that recruitable athletes will occupy the older age brackets, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect a few Nebraska names to be called when the power pools are revealed in the lead-up to NIT. We'll see how the Cornhusker State represents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Introducing the 15s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A new crop of athletes arises. Discovery season is upon us.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 season will bring the Class of 2027 into the club coverage spotlight for the first time. We've already started a <a href="https://prepdig.com/nebraska/rankings/2027-watch-list/">watch list</a> on this group based on the exclusive group of varsity freshmen from this year's high school season. But, as we know, the list of first-year contributors on the high school side barely scratches the surface of what we'll see on the club scene. Because 14s aren't on our radar, this preseason period is a chance for us to build our knowledge base on which players are where. Early tournaments help here, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Get ready to witness the future of Nebraska prep volleyball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Will a Nebraska Team Reach GJNC Gold?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Great Plains Region gave us an exhilarating GJNC triumph last year with [program_tooltip program_id='429192' first='MVP' last='United'] 16 Red winning the national title in 16 USA--albeit with a roster comprised mostly of Iowa and South Dakota stars. We saw other close calls across the Nebraska landscape. [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Synergy produced magic en route to a podium finish in the prestigious 16 Open division. South Central NE 15 Black marched to 15 Liberty's Top 3 with a special group of small-town stars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Are we due for a high-profile GJNC championship from a 2024 Nebraska squad? The journey starts soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->