Lockdown Liberos from Midwest Power League #2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's start those player spotlights.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second iteration of the Midwest Power League spotlighted many more rising talents from across the Great Plains Region. We saw players shuffle around in the lineup, giving us a new perspective on many of the athletes we had already seen this year. This was prevalent in the back row, where countless stars arose at the libero position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's one for the defensive specialists who locked down the end line last weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["189902"],"_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":"Goes has been a major Class of 2025 stock riser over the past several months. It all started last fall with Freeman High School, where Goes put up massive dig numbers in the contrasting jersey. That has carried into her 2024 stint with Nebraska Juniors, particularly at Power League #2. Goes was impenetrable in the crosscourt while also anchoring the serve receive pattern for Nebraska Juniors 17 Black. This squad figures to be one of Nebraska Juniors' strongest with Goes leading the defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["269961"],"_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":"Another small-town prep star enters the spotlightu002du002dthis time, with [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE']. Covalt has made her mark with Seward High School in a prep tenure that has featured multiple state tournament appearances. Her impact with [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Black has been similarly impactful. We saw Covalt make big strides at last month's Northern Lights Qualifier, and she remains locked in for the Power League grind. 17 Black figures to be a strong passing team this year with Covalt being the best of the bunch. Let's see if another qualifier run is in their future.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["349420"],"_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":"Brandt played with a fearless style that simply could not be ignored. This was especially evident in Nebraska Elite 16 Lokahi's high-level tilt against the aforementioned [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Black. Nebraska Elite has previously wielded Brandt as a primary defensive specialist, but last weekend's Power League gave us a chance to see what she could do in the libero jersey. Brandt looks incredibly comfortable in the role and will never be afraid to absorb some contact in the back row.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["276194"],"_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":"Bassett is not an ordinary defensive specialist entry. Sure, she primarily patrolled the right-back area during Sunday's pool and showed some remarkable finesse in floor defense. But Bassett also brought firepower that is rarely seen from her position. Nebraska Elite 16 Lokahi set against the grain several times to get Bassett going on the backcourt 'D' pattern. The talented prep attacker responded with serious crosscourt heat that few defenders could handle. Look out for Bassett's rare combination of defensive skills and back-row hitting prowess.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["396741"],"_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":"There's no doubt that Noerrlinger runs the show for [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Black's backcourt. We saw her break out late in the 2023 campaign, when Noerrlinger's ball control lifted [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] to a huge run at the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament. The Midwest Power League offered a reminder of how far 16 Black can go with its quality first contacts and transition offense. If Noerrlinger gets a share of those initial touches, [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] will keep thriving.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["349487"],"_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":"Kopf keeps adding to her highlight tape. She was a persistent standout during last year's 15s season, and the same trend is already playing out with [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Black. It's no surprise to see VCN capitalizing on Lincoln-area defense talent. Kopf is a true defensive focal point whose stats with Tri-County High School are already escalating. Let this libero control a large chunk of the court and watch her go to work.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["458161"],"_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":"We've covered some of Premier 15 Gold's frontcourt terminators, but what about the back row? Fettin got her shot at the libero spot in Sunday's Power League and was more than willing to secure the end line. Her knack for reading opposing hitters puts Fettin in the right place to make a perfect transition dig. She's the kind of libero who makes tough plays look easy, and that will be an important asset as 15 Gold takes on qualifiers.","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='521233' first='Ella' last='Twarling']","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_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":"32926","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 15 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":"The second Midwest Power League allowed us to add a ton of notes to our scouting report on [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 15 Black. One of those notes was how well Twarling played backcourt defense against some hard-hitting competition. Her perfect passes put 15 Black's frontcourt in a position to succeed, and that's everything you'd want from your leading defender.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='521280' first='Ella' last='Strasburger']","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 15 Lime","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_8_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Strasburger has rocketed onto our radar after 15 Lime's Power League showing. This libero made double-digit digs look like an ordinary feat, and she continued to build on a stellar weekend at the Northern Lights Qualifier. More high-level tournaments are on the horizon, which should only raise Strasburger's stock further heading into the midseason grind.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cbaf252e919"} /-->