Nebraska Teams Taking on Northern Lights Qualifier #1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here we go.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Northern Lights Qualifier is the first pressure test of the year for so many of Nebraska's top club teams. Bids are at stake and the competition is fierce. Teams are about to get a good look at where they stand in the early weeks of the 2024 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll be on scene Saturday and Sunday to cover the action and see which teams reach the mountaintop. A lot of Nebraskans will make the Minneapolis trek along with me, so let's give you the full rundown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's your Nebraska viewing guide for this weekend's first Northern Lights Qualifier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Club Legacy</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Club Legacy group is back in the NLQ spotlight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year, Club Legacy 17 Alpha made waves in Minneapolis by emerging in the final bracket within its division. This season's 18 Alpha group has plenty of new faces, but the goal remains the same in the 18 Liberty division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Look out for dynamic new additions like [player_tooltip player_id='173518' first='Rilyn' last='Gish'] and [player_tooltip player_id='184299' first='Anna' last='Johansen'] in the frontcourt. They'll pair well with seasoned veterans like [player_tooltip player_id='212054' first='Brooklynn' last='Snyder'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212055' first='Delaney' last='Briganti'], who have been impactful in the Club Legacy gym for the past few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1749115263390199962?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1749115263390199962?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Nebraska Elite</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska Elite is bringing the full cavalry to this one. The club has seven entrants across the three age groups competing for bids--including a team vying for an Open bid in each of those groups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska Elite 18-1 is hunting a GJNC berth in the Open division with some of the state's best 2024s wrapping up their prep careers. We'll have our eye on high-flying stars like [player_tooltip player_id='124771' first='Addison' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='187796' first='Carly' last='Ries'], and [player_tooltip player_id='152906' first='Ava' last='Spies'] from this talented roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This club is three-deep for the 17s and 15s. 17-1 brings a roster full of players who have clinched Open bids before. This includes top-tier 2025s like [player_tooltip player_id='155047' first='Ashlyn' last='Paymal'] and [player_tooltip player_id='173523' first='Elizabeth' last='Layson']. But Nebraska Elite 17-1 also has its share of new additions, and we're anxious to see how [player_tooltip player_id='173526' first='McKenna' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='155041' first='Olivia' last='Kremer'] perform in a new environment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 17s are stacked. [player_tooltip player_id='155038' first='Melody' last='Mayer'], [player_tooltip player_id='189375' first='Kate' last='Denker'], and [player_tooltip player_id='173528' first='Brylee' last='Nelsen'] are ball control stars that highlight the 17-2 roster. We'll also learn a lot about the 17-3 group that will compete in 17 American this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And, as we've discussed in our club previews, the 15s age group represents "the great unknown." We at least know a little about Nebraska Elite 15-1, which features early prep standouts like [player_tooltip player_id='498907' first='Nora' last='Herian'], [player_tooltip player_id='458185' first='Emilee' last='Thayer-Mencke'], and [player_tooltip player_id='499001' first='Madison' last='Phillips']. Many other leaders will likely emerge as 15-1 chases a coveted Open bid. Get ready for our narratives to expand to 15-2 and 15-3, both of which will compete in 15 American.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE']</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another big pack of teams enters the fray. [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] brings six teams to Minneapolis. And, like our discussion of Nebraska Elite, this is a medley of new and familiar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":503735,"width":"343px","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/5/2024/01/IMG_7211.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-503735" style="width:343px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Synergy competes in the 2023 NLQ 16 Open championship match.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 18 American division will have a [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] double stack featuring 18 Black and 18 Lime. We're thrilled to see some of the state tournament regulars in 18 Black's lineup. [player_tooltip player_id='187688' first='Joslyn' last='Rice'], [player_tooltip player_id='187686' first='Eden' last='Moore'], and [player_tooltip player_id='109592' first='Sophie' last='Wohlgemuth'] are just a few of the dominant prep players who are ready to rise up on the club side. The same can be said of [player_tooltip player_id='172600' first='Keira' last='Hennerberg'], [player_tooltip player_id='342582' first='Brie' last='Evert'], and Libby Kraochvil on 18 Lime's roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bring on the 17s. This age bracket is keynoted by [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Synergy, last year's 16 Open runner-up at NLQ. We know the national stage never daunts this team. [player_tooltip player_id='155029' first='Keri' last='Leimbach'] and [player_tooltip player_id='458131' first='Malorie' last='Boesiger'] anchor the ball control phase while [player_tooltip player_id='189320' first='Natalie' last='Wardlow'] and [player_tooltip player_id='155030' first='Anna' last='Jelinek'] remain key terminators in the frontcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We like [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Black's chances in the 17 USA field. [player_tooltip player_id='342615' first='Shelby' last='Harding'] and [player_tooltip player_id='342613' first='Jillian' last='Donovan'] bring state championship resumes to the lineup. [player_tooltip player_id='342612' first='Sierra' last='Crist'] adds another layer of offensive firepower as she joins 17 Black this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then, we'll have a chance to pile onto the 2027 watch list by scouting 15 Lime and 15 White in the 15 American division. A big learning experience awaits when we visit these two teams. That's why we go to these events.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Premier Nebraska</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven more. Let's do it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The pressure is off for Premier Nebraska 18 Gold. This extraordinary team already locked up its Open bid at KC MLK a couple of weeks ago. Now, it's all about fine-tuning the small details in a condensed 18s season. Expect [player_tooltip player_id='109585' first='Lauren' last='Medeck'] and [player_tooltip player_id='109603' first='Mia' last='Tvrdy'] to remain dominant.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Premier Nebraska 18 Black was on the cusp of its own bid-earning triumph in Kansas City. Minneapolis offers an excellent chance at redemption in the 18 USA division. This team will likely strike a balance between its top terminators with [player_tooltip player_id='122816' first='Kaelin' last='Pribyl'], [player_tooltip player_id='124776' first='Isabella' last='Lamb'], and [player_tooltip player_id='122824' first='Kayla' last='Eggiman'] leading the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minneapolis holds fond memories for Premier Nebraska 17 Gold. We won't soon forget the tiebreaker madness that yielded an Open bid last March. New reinforcements like Brooke Larsen and [player_tooltip player_id='155040' first='Kenzie' last='Kucks'] will be absolutely critical to 17 Gold's 2024 success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":503741,"width":"351px","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/5/2024/01/IMG_0232-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-503741" style="width:351px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Premier Nebraska 15 Black competes at the Midwest Power League.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The USA division is back in the conversation with Premier Nebraska 17 Black preparing for its bid hunt. 17 Black impressed us at last weekend's Midwest Power League with [player_tooltip player_id='230003' first='Nyah' last='Potthoff'] guiding a balanced offense. [player_tooltip player_id='189352' first='Hailey' last='Levinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='342514' first='Maddie' last='Schnell'] help establish strength in the middle. NLQ always seems to produce a huge triumph for at least one Premier Nebraska team, and 17 Black could do the honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More 15s teams, more learning experiences. 15 Black, 15 Red, and 15 Silver are carrying the torch for Premier Nebraska this weekend. We already got a glimpse of 15 Black's firepower with [player_tooltip player_id='503568' first='Makenna' last='Sanders'] and [player_tooltip player_id='521094' first='Charlotte' last='Gregg'] finding a groove at the Midwest Power League. Scouting opportunities exist all the way down the 15s ladder, and we'll have a huge list of 2027s to follow after our Minneapolis visit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] teams are raring to represent the Star City in Minneapolis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 18 Elite will draw a lot of attention in 18 Open. This team has KC MLK under its belt and will be battle-tested for NLQ. Championship-winning connections between [player_tooltip player_id='104989' first='Malayah' last='Long'], [player_tooltip player_id='152858' first='Madison' last='Rink'], and [player_tooltip player_id='152857' first='Emerson' last='Lionberger'] will thrive. [player_tooltip player_id='109597' first='Paisley' last='Douglas'] anchors the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17 Elite is pursuing an Open bid, too. It's a retooled roster with [player_tooltip player_id='349479' first='Kamryn' last='Behrns'] and [player_tooltip player_id='251144' first='Ellie' last='Eckman'] coming up from the Class of 2026. [player_tooltip player_id='155031' first='Zoe' last='Rademacher'], [player_tooltip player_id='189322' first='Kendall' last='Cose'], and [player_tooltip player_id='189328' first='Rya' last='Borer'] are new to the VCN fray. Mark this down as one of the most fascinating NLQ entrants from the Great Plains Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17 Black is lurking in 17 American to round out VCN's representatives. [player_tooltip player_id='253926' first='Lauren' last='Pearson'] is an exciting 2026 setter prospect. She is flanked by 2025 stars like [player_tooltip player_id='342564' first='Katie' last='Merten'] and [player_tooltip player_id='189371' first='Paisley' last='Piatkowski'] who have already made their mark in the VCN gym. This weekend's event will write another compelling chapter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->