Nebraska’s Must-Watch Saturday Triple Crown Power Pool Matchups
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The journey starts on Saturday. We’re ready. Yesterday’s feature discussed some Nebraska teams to watch from outside of Triple Crown’s coveted power pools. Of course, we also have some elite Great Plains squads with the privilege of starting in these…
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Continue ReadingThe journey starts on Saturday. We’re ready.
Yesterday’s feature discussed some Nebraska teams to watch from outside of Triple Crown’s coveted power pools. Of course, we also have some elite Great Plains squads with the privilege of starting in these top groups. Power pool placement gives teams the luxury of an assured spot in the 64-team bracket regardless of Round 1 results. But even with that guarantee, we’ll see some intense volleyball right out of the gates on opening day.
Let’s set it all up. Here are a few Day 1 power pool matchups we’ll be following for our local Nebraska squads. A couple of teams have been added to the mix since our post-reveal discussion, so the intrigue keeps growing.
Premier Nebraska 18 Gold vs. Tri-State Elite 18 Blue
Bright and early for this one.
The first pool matchups at Triple Crown NIT kick off at 7:30 a.m., which is a storyline in itself as Premier 18 Gold battles Tri-State Elite 18 Blue. Which team will start out hot amid unusual circumstances? Perhaps we can bank on 18 Gold, which is loaded with athletes who have won on every stage imaginable. Lauren Medeck Lauren Medeck 5'10" | OH Papillion-La Vista South | 2024 State #31 Nation NE and Mia Tvrdy Mia Tvrdy 6'0" | MB Papillion-La Vista | 2024 State #35 Nation NE lead the way offensively while Faith Frame Faith Frame 5'6" | DS/L Papillion-La Vista | 2024 State #167 Nation NE pilots the defense.
Championship experience abounds for 18 Gold, and we might see another special run this weekend.
Nebraska ONE 17 Synergy vs. MAVS KC 17-1
It’s a regional matchup with a ton of history. Settle in for this one.
Nebraska ONE 17 Synergy starts in power pools for the second year in a row. It’s hard not to include a top-3 team from last year’s GJNC, even as 17 Synergy features some new faces in 2024. Those new contributors–outside hitter Abbie Hagedorn Abbie Hagedorn 5'11" | RS Omaha Skutt Catholic | 2025 State NE and middle blocker Kiera Link Kiera Link 6'1" | MB Omaha Skutt Catholic | 2025 State NE , will play a big part in how far Nebraska ONE goes. Of course, steady anchors like Keri Leimbach Keri Leimbach 5'4" | DS/L Lincoln Lutheran | 2025 State #40 Nation NE and Natalie Wardlow Natalie Wardlow 6'5" | MB Lincoln Southeast | 2025 State #17 Nation NE are still here.
MAVS KC 17-1 appears on Synergy’s early docket. We have memories of these two teams vying for an Open bid way back at the 2022 Show Me Qualfier. Line them up for a reunion.
VCNebraska 17 Elite vs. GP 17 Rox
Welcome to the power pool discussion, VCNebraska .
VCN 17 Elite did not appear on NIT’s power pool selection show, but the high-flying squad got slotted in anyway. It’s a worthy selection given how much VCN has invested in this squad. Class of 2026 standouts Kamryn Behrns Kamryn Behrns 5'11" | RS David City | 2026 State NE and Ellie Eckman Ellie Eckman 5'10" | S Lincoln Southwest | 2026 State NE have joined their 2025 counterparts on 17 Elite. Zoe Rademacher Zoe Rademacher 5'6" | DS/L Norris | 2025 State NE , Kendall Cose Kendall Cose 6'0" | RS Norris | 2025 State NE , and Rya Borer Rya Borer 5'1" | DS/L Norris | 2025 State NE are also new additions–but from entirely different clubs. Returning stars include D1 commits Tia Traudt Tia Traudt 6'0" | OH Grand Island | 2025 State NE (UNLV) and Faith Venable Faith Venable 6'1" | MB Lincoln Pius X | 2025 State NE (Omaha) in the frontcourt.
The nightcap for 17 Elite is a contest with Game Point 17 Rox. Florida squads tend to find plenty of success in Kansas City, so this should be a solid early test.
Premier Nebraska 16 Gold vs. AVC CLE 16 Red
Here come the 16s.
So many eyes will be fixed on this age group in the morning wave. That goes for the D1 coaches there to recruit, but we have a ton to learn as scouts, too. Consider this the dramatic prelude to upcoming qualifiers.
16 Gold was an Open qualifier last year and hopes to bring the same success to the new year. Outside hitter Hayden Liebsack Hayden Liebsack 6'1" | OH Bennington | 2026 State NE is coming off an extraordinary prep campaign and will boost the team’s offense. She joins forces with Addison West Addison West 6'1" | OH Omaha Skutt Catholic | 2026 State NE to form a top-tier pin duo from the 2026 class. Don’t forget about the middles, either, as Paighton Erb Paighton Erb 6'0" | MB Columbus | 2026 State NE , Siena Sumner Siena Sumner 5'11" | MB Elkhorn South | 2026 State NE , and Harlow Miller are all finding their groove at the net. Day 1 features a matchup with AVC CLE, a club that always seems to wield physicality as its strength. These middles will need to be ready.
VCNebraska 15 Elite vs. WPVC 15 Armour Black
Another VCNebraska group joins the fray.
Like 17 Elite, VCN 15 Elite was plugged into power pools after some consternation. It’s hard to ignore the national success this team had as 14s, and we’re setting up for more of the same in 2024.
Gracie Lauenstein Gracie Lauenstein 5'9" | OH Waverly | 2027 NE is reaching new heights at the outside hitter spot. She’s accompanied by other multi-talented 2027s like McKenzie Sidlo McKenzie Sidlo 5'10" | MB Lincoln Lutheran | 2027 NE and Laurel Johnson Laurel Johnson 6'2" | MB Malcolm | 2027 NE , both of whom shined on the state tournament stage last fall. We’re anxiously awaiting 15 Elite’s Saturday contest with WPVC, the #1 seed in Power Pool D. There’s no better challenge than that.