New Middle Blockers to Follow in the Nebraska 2027 Watch List
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Here’s one for the new additions–and the middle blockers. Our updated Nebraska 2027 watch list brought dozens of new names into our database, so there’s a lot to discuss this week. We already explored a few liberos who have been…
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Continue ReadingHere’s one for the new additions–and the middle blockers.
Our updated Nebraska 2027 watch list brought dozens of new names into our database, so there’s a lot to discuss this week. We already explored a few liberos who have been turning heads this week. Let’s shift toward the players who help lock down the net.
The Great Plains Region is stacked at middle blocker in the Class of 2027. We already saw this trend materializing in our previous iteration of the watch list. Now, we have even more middles to follow for the rest of the club season. Keep these names on your radar.
This certainly isn’t the first time we’ve brought up Gregg’s name this year, but this is her debut in the 2027 watch list. She’s a no-brainer addition after helping Premier 15 Black win the 15 USA title at NLQ. Gregg’s physicality helped 15 Black match up with any of the hard-hitting squads it faced–and we saw plenty of talented hitters in Minneapolis. Speaking of hitting, Gregg is also a major transition scoring threat who will always assert herself in front of the setter. We’ll see more from Gregg this year, right up to this summer’s stay at GJNC.
We’re staying with the Premier Nebraska camp to introduce one of 15 Red’s middle blockers. Floersch was a vital leader as 15 Red navigated a tough NLQ schedule in January. That early test was a great development opportunity for Floersch, who has kept improving throughout the 2024 season. 15 Red will not hesitate to set Floersch on in-system opportunities and let her high contact point take over. Expect this middle blocker to keep reaching new heights in the coming weeks.
Let’s complete a Premier Nebraska trifecta by bringing in a middle blocker from 15 Silver. Lind is an ideal fit for the 15 Silver frontcourt, which already has some serious length at the net. Early-season events have revealed Lind’s tireless effort, particularly as a pin-to-pin blocker. Her quick lateral movement has produced an intimidating wall at the net, even against quick offenses. Premier Nebraska is bringing us early indications of our state’s extraordinary middle depth in the Class of 2027.
VCNebraska is no stranger to middle blocker talent, either. Kepler has stood out in our recent visits to the Midwest Power League, where she excelled against the region’s best offenses. VCN 15 Black’s front row gets a boost whenever Kepler rotates in, and that can come in a variety of ways. She’s quick off the floor as an attacker and has also excelled at reading opposing setters. That gives Kepler a chance to score whether it’s on the quick or on a straight-down block.
Highlights
We’re not done with VCN 15 Black. Scribner deserves some recognition here after all the gains she’s made in 2024. She’s emerging as her team’s quintessential ‘gap’ hitter who always keeps defenses guessing with her routes. This range often yields wide-open lanes to hit through, and Scribner will always take advantage. 15 Black is now a team to watch after several dominant performances on the regional stage.
River City Jrs is well represented among our new additions to the 2027 watch list. Hays was an easy to choice to join the database after lighting up the scoreboard for 15 Navy this year. She’s fresh off an impactful performance at the Midwest Power League and showed a unique skillset for a middle blocker. Hays has the rare ability to shift between playing in the middle or at outside hitter. This means she thrives with any tempo. River City Jrs has an impressive “change-up” attacker who has earned her way into the watch list–and Hays is just getting started.
Look out for Nebraska ONE 15 Black. McKernan’s explosiveness is hard to miss when you watch this group, and she’s one of many high-flying athletes on the team. This middle blocker has grown accustomed to scoring against double-team blocks and makes it look easy every time. McKernan also wields a slow-to-fast approach that makes her difficult to mirror in sideout situations. More 2027 stars are about to emerge with Nebraska ONE .
Nebraska Elite enters the conversation. Sudbeck landed on our radar after several early-season run-ins with Nebraska Elite 15-3. We’ve been impressed with this team’s offensive efficiency, and a lot of that has to do with Sudbeck’s dominance in the middle. Like some of the other athletes we’ve discussed, Sudbeck is most effective on the ‘gap’ set away from the setter. She also has the freedom to run slides and will terminate on those, too. Middle blockers like this open up the offense for everyone else, even if they’re not the one taking the swings.
Shaw was a player we had to have on the watch list after our January visit to Minneapolis. It’s hard not to include a middle blocker who helped her team win a 15 Open championship. Shaw is one of several Nebraska Elite 15 Revolution athletes who can swap between playing middle blocker and opposite. 15 Revolution will find this dynamic attacker regardless of where she’s lined up, and we can’t wait to see how it translates to the GJNC stage.
We always have to keep an eye on the ironclad pipeline between Omaha Concordia High School and Club Legacy. Samuelson is a multi-sport athlete who perpetuates this connection with Club Legacy’s top 15s team. 15 Alpha generated some headlines with a 7-2 record at the ASICS Presidents’ Day Classic, and Samuelson aids the team’s success with her power and length in the middle. Future events will be the basis for more 15 Alpha representatives in the watch list.