Nebraska Teams to Watch Outside of Triple Crown NIT Power Pools
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Triple Crown NIT is widely known for its power pool format that rewards the best of the best in each age group. Teams selected to these groups have an assured spot in the challenger round regardless of opening-round results. Still,…
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Continue ReadingTriple Crown NIT is widely known for its power pool format that rewards the best of the best in each age group. Teams selected to these groups have an assured spot in the challenger round regardless of opening-round results. Still, this advantage does not preclude a team from climbing the ladder and making noise from outside power pools.
This feature is for “the outsiders.” Nebraska is bringing several talented teams that will start their NIT journey from beyond the top groups. The pressure will ramp up right away for these squads, but we’ve seen these players thrive in tense situations. Look for more of the same in Kansas City.
VCNebraska 18 Elite
We’ll start at the top with VCNebraska ‘s 18s entry.
18 Elite’s roster is loaded with championship experience that could pay off at NIT. Marquette commit Malayah Long Malayah Long 6'0" | S Lincoln Southwest | 2024 State #142 Nation NE pilots an up-tempo offense featuring fellow Lincoln Southwest stars Emerson Lionberger Emerson Lionberger 6'0" | MB Lincoln Southwest | 2024 State NE and Madison Rink Madison Rink 6'2" | MB Lincoln Southwest | 2024 State NE . Backcourt defense is another major plus with D1 commits Paisley Douglas Paisley Douglas 5'5" | DS/L Omaha Skutt Catholic | 2024 State #123 Nation NE (Southern California) and Mallorie Meyer Mallorie Meyer 5'5" | DS/L Lincoln East | 2024 State NE (Pittsburgh) locking down the end line. Few teams outside of power pools will feature so many high-profile commits. 18 Elite is dangerous.
Premier Nebraska 18 Black
Here’s one team that ought to be gaining momentum after recent results.
Premier 18 Black has secured its postseason plans after a runner-up finish at the Northern Lights Qualifier. This bid-earning triumph in the 18 USA division was a powerful statement for 18 Black’s new-look lineup in 2024. Outside hitters Kayla Eggiman Kayla Eggiman 5'8" | OH Bellevue West | 2024 State NE and Kaelin Pribyl Kaelin Pribyl 6'0" | OH Millard West | 2024 State NE shouldered some serious volume throughout the tournament. 18 Black can also achieve balance in big matches, allowing the middle blocker duo of Camille Renken Camille Renken 5'7" | OH Millard South | 2024 State NE and Isabella Lamb Isabella Lamb 6'0" | RS Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE to thrive.
Elite competition will not deter this seasoned group.
Premier Nebraska 17 Gold
Like 18 Black, Premier 17 Gold features some vital new contributors in this year’s lineup. Future Lipscomb libero Kenzie Kucks Kenzie Kucks 5'5" | DS/L Millard North | 2025 State NE has offered a huge boost to a backcourt that already had South Dakota commit Sierra Pokharel Sierra Pokharel 5'4" | DS/L Millard West | 2025 State NE . Ball control is further elevated by Iowa prep star Brooke Larsen, who will set in the backcourt and kill balls in the front. Of course, 17 Gold also boasts returning stars like Shay Heaney Shay Heaney 6'2" | OH Elkhorn North | 2025 State NE , Elle Heckenlively Elle Heckenlively 5'10" | OH Gretna | 2025 State NE , and Hayden Hart Hayden Hart 5'10" | MB Gretna East | 2025 State NE along the net. We’ll see if a bracket run comes from the top seed in Pool Q.
Premier Nebraska 17 Black
Another Premier Nebraska team joins the fray in the 17s division.
Premier 17 Black brings a good amount of roster continuity from 2023. Setter Nyah Potthoff Nyah Potthoff 5'8" | S Gretna East | 2025 State NE is playing the best volleyball of her prep career, and she connects well with high school teammates Hailey Levinson Hailey Levinson 6'1" | MB Gretna East | 2025 State NE and Maddie Schnell Maddie Schnell 5'9" | OH Gretna East | 2025 State NE along the net. Gabby Lund Gabby Lund 5'7" | DS/L Gretna East | 2025 State NE is always an athlete to watch when she dons the libero jersey.
This squad is slated as an underdog in Pool M, but we’re also familiar with the wild results NIT can produce.
VCNebraska 16 Elite
Time to learn a bit about the 16s.
Our January trip to the Northern Lights Qualifier brought the 18s, 17s, and 15s into the spotlight. This left the 16s as the odd one out, but that’s about to change as we travel to Kansas City.
VCNebraska 16 Elite will be a fascinating entry in this field. Small-town stars like Brooklyn Stehlik Brooklyn Stehlik 5'9" | MB Platteview | 2026 State NE , Katie Rowe Katie Rowe 5'10" | MB Columbus Lakeview | 2026 State NE , Kaydence Haase Kaydence Haase 6'0" | OH Exeter-Milligan | 2026 State NE , and Lauren Kuhlmann Lauren Kuhlmann 5'11" | MB Wilber-Clatonia | 2026 State NE should get their share of swings in the front row. Jadyn Hazzard Jadyn Hazzard 5'8" | S Lincoln Southwest | 2026 State NE and Ava Bearden Ava Bearden 5'6" | S Lincoln Southeast | 2026 State NE will both play their part at the setter spot, regardless of the system 16 Elite deploys.
Is 16 Elite ready for the qualifier grind? NIT is an important litmus test.
Premier Nebraska 16 Black
Premier 16 Black is no stranger to the big stage. This group punched an early ticket to last year’s GJNC after placing second at the Northern Lights Qualifier. Let’s see a little more of that magic at NIT.
Multi-talented pin hitters are one key to 16 Black’s sustained success. Evynn Olsen Evynn Olsen 5'8" | OH Bennington | 2026 State NE can play outside hitter or libero. Kayelyn Liebentritt Kayelyn Liebentritt 5'11" | RS Skutt Catholic | 2026 State NE is honing her six-rotations skills on the left, and Sydney Rogokos Sydney Rogokos 5'9" | RS Millard North | 2026 State NE can play all the way around as an opposite. Two-setter systems are usually the preferred route for 16 Black with Sarah Faust Sarah Faust 5'9" | S Omaha Skutt Catholic | 2026 State NE and Maggie Miller Maggie Miller 5'8" | DS/L Gretna | 2026 NE guiding the offense.
Premier Nebraska 15 Gold
This is the team you don’t want to see in your 15s pool.
Premier 15 Gold retooled and reloaded in 2024. The headlining change for this team was the addition of Reagan Wallraff Reagan Wallraff 6'0" | MB Elkhorn North | 2027 NE , an outside-middle hybrid player who previously competed with Arizona Storm. Wallraff’s move to the Great Plains Region has instantly shaken up Nebraska’s 15s landscape while thrusting 15 Gold into the Open conversation.
The team then added setter Millie Mauch Millie Mauch 5'8" | S Bennington | 2027 NE , who played up with last year’s 15s but stayed down to lead the 2024 group. She is accompanied by Ava Waters Ava Waters RS Gretna East | 2027 NE at the setter spot to give 15 Gold a cohesive 6-2 lineup. Look for Maddox Graves and Kaitlyn Huff Kaitlyn Huff 6'0" | RS Elkhorn North | 2027 NE to succeed on opposite ends of the starting rotation.
Premier Nebraska 15 Black
The champs!
Early-season results effectively locked in 15 Black’s presence in the NIT field. This special group hoisted the 15 USA championship trophy at January’s Northern Lights Qualifier, locking in a spot at GJNC. Triple Crown NIT is the perfect venue to hone your skills against the nation’s best.
Outside hitters Makenna Sanders Makenna Sanders 5'10" | OH Papillion LaVista South | 2027 NE and Campbell Capece Campbell Capece 5'8" | OH Omaha Marian | 2027 NE have quickly become the lifeblood of 15 Black’s offense. Kenzie Morris Kenzie Morris 5'8" | OH Millard West | 2027 NE joins the conversation on the left side to form an unstoppable trio. We’ll also see exceptional ball control with Nevaeh Jacobson Nevaeh Jacobson 5'4" | DS/L Millard South | 2027 NE and Logan Hickey Logan Hickey OH Papillion-La Vista | 2027 NE working in tandem along the end line.