2025 Pin Hitters on the Rise after Northern Lights Qualifier

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group keeps evolving.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, we brought the 2025s into the conversation by discussing a few <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/02/nebraska-2025-liberos-on-the-rise-after-northern-lights-qualifier/">liberos who raised their stock</a> after the Northern Lights Qualifier. That wasn't the only position group that shined among Nebraska's 17s teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cornhusker State is still full of uncommitted 2025 gems at the pin positions. Those athletes will be the focus of today's feature, and all of these players brought their game to new heights in Minneapolis. What a way to kick off 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["189322"],"_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":"[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 17 Elite boasts a lot of different lineup combinations and permutations, especially with Cose joining the fray on the right side. The Norris prep athlete is fitting right in as one of 17 Elite's terminal frontcourt opposites. Cose can also get involved in the middle on crossing patterns, which opens up VCN's offense even more. Keep an eye on all the new faces for 17 Elite as the year progresses.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["189371"],"_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":"How about another new addition to the [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] camp? Piatkowski's six-rotation prowess has already elevated the VCN 17 Black's ceiling for 2024. Recall how efficiently Piatkowski filled up the stat sheet with Elkhorn South last fall. The same storyline is playing out on the club side with Piatkowski's tough serving and rock-solid passing. Then, you have to factor in her frontcourt termination on the left side. It's a perfect fit for [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']'s style.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["189327"],"_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":"If you're partial to high-flying lefty opposites, Porter is the one to watch from Nebraska's Class of 2025. She's another fresh face in the [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] lineup that has provided an instant boost to 17 Black's offense behind the setter. Porter is touching new heights in 2024 and is particularly lethal when given a window to hit into the crosscourt. An impressive weekend in Minneapolis will have Porter and 17 Black climbing the ladder heading into the spring.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["494896"],"_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":"Put another opposite on the board. Carnie has shown a wicked arm that can be effective on both pins, but her recent success with [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Black has come on the right side. She doesn't need to be in perfect rhythm to put away balls in the front row. Even when 17 Black is out of system, a high ball to Carnie can result in crafty kills off the opposing block. This steady attacker has a lot to gain in 2024, especially with [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] playing great volleyball in the 17s age group.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["173526"],"_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":"Players at new clubs seems to be the theme today. Smith has proven to be a universally effective outside hitter as she joined Nebraska Elite 17-1 this year. She made a lot of the clutch plays were used to seeing from her at Wahoo High School. NLQ's wide array of terminal attackers in 17 Open did not stop Smith from wielding her extraordinary defensive skills, either. It's scary to think that Smith could become even more effective as she settles in with the talented u0022Top Gunu0022 squad.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["214048"],"_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":"Multi-position flexibility is a huge plus for Gwinn. We've seen her thrive on the right pin in past seasons. She's been a go-to hitter on the left. Nebraska Elite has even leaned on Gwinn as a setter. No matter the role, this do-everything athlete has performed well, particularly at this year's first qualifier. Minneapolis was yet another venue to put Gwinn's range on display, and she delivered.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["395124"],"_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":"Nebraska Elite 17-3 was powered by its left sides throughout NLQ. A lot of credit goes to Woodford for stepping up in this spot and providing some serious out-of-system firepower. Woodford frequently worked over the top of blockers while also being able to place the ball anywhere on the court. Her emergence is an important development as her Nebraska Elite team builds off a Gold bracket run in Minneapolis.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Huston Rau","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"32925","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"Premier 17 Black","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Once again, we're bringing an Iowa prep athlete into the Nebraska conversation. We'll let it slide, especially with Rau performing so well with Premier 17 Black. She's a natural right-side hitter who uses her quickness and vertical to overpower defenses. Moreover, we've seen how Rau can become a stabilizing force along the end line when she's slotted into a six-rotation role. She's done a little of everything for this group, and now it's time to hunt that bid.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["215458"],"_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":"One more for the Iowa-Premier pipeline. What can't Larsen do? We documented her jump up to Premier Nebraska's top 17s team this year, and she's already taking command of that group in more ways than one. Even though we're including her on a pin hitter feature, we can't omit the fact that Larsen is an incredibly dynamic backcourt setter for 17 Gold. Combine that with her hard-hitting style as a front-row opposite, and you have one of the most exciting 2025 prospects on the Nebraska-Iowa state line.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65c1249c1f3db"} /-->