New Pin Hitters in the Nebraska 2025 Rankings
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A stacked group of pin hitters has entered the Nebraska 2025 rankings. Yesterday, we covered a handful of middle blockers who have earned their spot on our watch list. The conversation continues with an even larger pack of pin hitters,…
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Continue ReadingA stacked group of pin hitters has entered the Nebraska 2025 rankings.
Yesterday, we covered a handful of middle blockers who have earned their spot on our watch list. The conversation continues with an even larger pack of pin hitters, many of whom are making considerable gains in 2024.
Let’s bring these dynamic attackers into the spotlight.
Bryant joins the rankings after making the most of her starting reps with VCNebraska 17 Black. It’s hard not to include this high-flying opposite after 17 Black secured a dominant championship run at the ASICS Presidents’ Day Classic. Expect more from Bryant as 17 Black hunts a GJNC bid in the coming weeks.
Meyer is one of several new additions from the Fremont-Nebraska Elite pipeline. This rangy left-side hitter had several breakout performances for the Tigers last fall. She’s now making similar strides with Nebraska Elite 17 Apex and is taking over matches in the front row.
Banzai VBC is getting on the board after an impressive Presidents’ Day outing in Omaha. Cole’s versatility made her a surefire addition to the rankings, as she can be a leading terminator on either pin. We’ll likely see Cole’s role expand with Gretna East this fall as the Griffins look for another tournament appearance in Year 2.
Nebraska Juniors 17 Red was a common talking point in yesterday’s middle blocker feature. Let’s keep that rolling with the pin hitters. Schafer has some experience in the middle but has recently thrived as a left-side hitter for 17 Red. Her out-of-system prowess makes this a worthy move, and we’re seeing a new level of play from the Beatrice native.
Perju adds to the list of middle-opposite hybrids who have found a ton of success at Nebraska Elite. We’ve tabbed Perju as a right-side hitter based on her past dominance at the position. However, don’t be surprised to see Perju at middle blocker for Nebraska Elite 17 Prime. This physical athlete can do it all.
While we’re discussing club-high school pipelines, how about River City Jrs and its collection of Bellevue West stars? Burgess adds to the list following several standout performances with River City Jrs 17 Navy. Her fluid approach and quick arm made her an ideal choice for the outside hitter spot, but Burgess can also take on a backcourt role whenever needed. Her six-rotation potential should be a game-changer through the 2024 campaign.
Reade is one of Nebraska Elite 17 Apex’s small-town gems. She captured our attention last fall by having career-best production with Cedar Bluffs High School. Reade’s latest stop is with this year’s Nebraska Elite 17 Apex squad, where she can thrive on the pin or as a DS. Depth is clearly not a problem among Nebraska Elite’s 17s programs, as this club goes four-deep in the age group.
We’re about to go on a long run of 17 Apex athletes. Brittenham carries the torch for Columbus High School, where she had a breakout junior season on the pin. Her favorite shot is the sharp crosscourt angle in front of opposing defenders. That’s the case whether Brittenham is playing on the left side or as an opposite. She can do both.
Here’s that Fremont pipeline again. Janssen was a vital upperclassman leader for the Tigers last fall. She developed a quick arm swing that could score in almost any situation. Janssen is particularly good at working off opposing hands to overpower a physical block. This outside hitter has seen tough defenses throughout her prep career but still finds a way to terminate.
Elkhorn High School recently brought some new names into the spotlight after fielding a young 2023 squad. This allowed Zegers to emerge as a reliable attacking threat on the left side. It’s a perfect launching point to the 2024 season, where Zegers continues her all-around development with Nebraska Elite 17 Apex.
One more for the 17 Apex tally. Stoebner is battle-tested after playing a rigorous Class A schedule with Lincoln High last fall. She locked down the net with her length and was a lethal transition hitter for the Links. We’ve seen the same storylines play out with Nebraska Elite as Stoebner becomes another Lincoln-area middle blocker worth following.
Highlights
Showers is on the comeback trail. She has returned to the Nebraska Juniors lineup after a knee injury and is back to making a multi-faceted impact. Her primary frontcourt role is on the right side, but that’s not the only place where Showers has shined. She also flexes into a DS role and can anchor the middle-back or right-back areas of the court. This is a “glue” player that 17 Red is happy to have back on its side.
Highlights
Broekemeier is looking to build off some impressive numbers at last month’s Presidents’ Day Classic. Nebraska Juniors 17 Red lofted several out-of-system balls in her direction, and Broekemeier always found a way to better the ball. It’s a rare trait for a right-side hitter, but Broekemeier is defying trends with ease.