Which 2027 Pin Hitters Made Big First Impressions at NLQ?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back and forth we go.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've been bouncing between the 2025s and 2027s as we look to address as many NLQ standouts as possible. Our Class of 2027 features have covered <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/02/which-2027-liberos-made-big-first-impressions-at-nlq/">liberos</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/02/which-2027-middles-made-big-first-impressions-at-nlq/">middle blockers</a> so far. It feels like we need to bring some pin hitters into the mix.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's do that here. Nebraska has no shortage of rising stars from this position group, and many of them displayed that potential in Minneapolis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='521209' first='Mallory' last='Shaw']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32925","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Douglas County West","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Nebraska Elite 15-1","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"We'll have a few multi-position standouts on this feature, and Shaw is one of them. She is listed as a middle blocker but spent most of her time on the right side during Nebraska Elite 15-1's championship run at NLQ. Shaw's physicality makes her an ideal fit for any position. Her presence on the right side ensured that opposing outside hitters were met with a long, imposing block right in front of them. Let's see if Shaw stays at opposite as 15-1 finds the right combinations for GJNC.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["458187"],"_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":"Vandenberg has notched another important mark on her resume. She entered our Class of 2027 watch list after an impressive debut season with Aquinas High School, and her reign continues with Nebraska Elite. Vandenberg's explosive approach allows her to put away some hard-driven balls in the frontcourtu002du002dand on either pin. Look for this talented 2027 to become Nebraska Elite 15-2's leading terminator in 2024.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='521238' first='Regan' last='Blankenau']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"32925","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"Nebraska Elite 15-3","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Let's bring in another right-side hitter from Nebraska Elite's 15s crew. Nebraska Elite 15-3 made a concerted effort to get Blankenau involved on in-system plays. She reciprocated by terminating in a variety of ways, whether it was off the block or a well-placed shot between defenders. Blankenau also produced the quality block touches that aren't reflected in a stat sheet. Our 2027 radar keeps expanding after Nebraska Elite posted three extraordinary NLQ efforts in the same age group.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["458106"],"_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":"We were excited to see what Morris could bring to the club stage this year. Her freshman debut with Millard West put her in the spotlight right away, and 2024 offered a chance to keep climbing. So far, so good. Morris was a key piece of the Premier 15 Black front row during the team's magical run to an NLQ title. We got a stark reminder of Morris' efficiency when attacking into the crosscourt, and her vision remains impressive for a player who's just starting their prep career.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='521185' first='Brynn' last='Rasmussen']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"Premier 15 Red","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Compiling double-digit kills has become a regular feat for Rasmussen. We saw her take over matches in Minneapolis through her quick right arm. This is the kind of attacker you want to keep on the court at all times, so Premier 15 Red did that. Rasmussen remained available as a pipe attacker and showed a steady hand as a primary passer. This will be necessary addition to our next 2027 watch list update.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='521175' first='Ava' last='Johnson']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"32925","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"Premier 15 Silver","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Here's another one of those standout athletes who carries multiple roles. Johnson distinguished herself as one of Premier 15 Silver's most effective attackers at NLQ. Her combination of power and length helped pilot the team's offense to a Gold bracket appearance. Of course, that wasn't the only way Johnson assisted the offense. She dished out assists of her own as a backcourt setter and delivered unparalleled six-rotation impact. This was a statement weekend for Johnson.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["507304"],"_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'll address both pins for Premier 15 Silver. It starts on the left side, where Devers was a game-changing force whenever she rotated in. She generated some impressive heat and was perhaps equally valuable in bringing energy to the court. Devers and 15 Silver helped demonstrate Premier Nebraska's extraordinary depth in the Class of 2027u002du002dand we're just getting started with the 15s season.","_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":"Alex Zavala","_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":"32564","_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='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 15 Lime","_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":"Zavala does all the little things you'd expect from a [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] outside hitter. Her quick transition footwork makes her an ideal attacking option in any situation. Offense is just one element of Zavala's impact with 15 Lime, however. She also pitched in with some valuable backcourt reps and was an effective off-blocker defender along the net. Quality ball control could set 15 Lime apart moving forward, and Zavala will contribute in that area.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65c28a400574e"} /-->