Savvy Setters from the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament
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This event always brings out its share of stars. Last weekend’s Great Plains Region Bid Tournament added nine more Nebraska teams to a stacked GJNC field. Any one of these talented squads could make a run to the Las Vegas…
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Continue ReadingThis event always brings out its share of stars.
Last weekend’s Great Plains Region Bid Tournament added nine more Nebraska teams to a stacked GJNC field. Any one of these talented squads could make a run to the Las Vegas podium. Even the teams that didn’t secure a bid have a wealth of standout athletes. Let’s cover all the bases this week.
Setters are in the spotlight today. We’re perusing the 15s, 16s, and 17s to find signal-callers who showed a ton of poise under pressure.
Solomon has kept showing that steady command we’ve come to expect from the Premier 17 Gold setter. This Jacksonville State commit has flourished in a variety of roles throughout her prep career. She’s been a setter-opposite, a setter in a 6-2, and has run the show herself in a 5-1. Solomon took the reins of 17 Gold’s offense en route to a championship run, so we couldn’t leave her out of this one.
McMains is emerging as a fixture in Premier 17 Red’s starting rotation. Her contributions are not limited to her setting, either. 17 Red sees so many impressive defensive performances from McMains, who is especially confident digging crosscourt shots. And, like many of the athletic setters on this feature, McMains can flex into a frontcourt opposite role at any time. Look out for Premier’s 2025s at GJNC.
Highlights
Faust knows what it takes to thrive in tense environments like the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament. The Premier 16 Black setter has kept rising ever since her 15 USA triumph in 2023. Faust can play all the way around the dial while using her length to shut down opposing left-side hitters. This continuity laid the foundation for 16 Black’s dominance at the bid tourney, and a similar story could be written in Las Vegas.
We had Torchia on our radar heading into the GPR Bid Tourney, and this Banzai VBC 16 Select setter delivered on the hype. Her stable influence helped 16 Select heat up while on the brink of elimination. Torchia spreads the ball around to all of her weapons and is not afraid to make a risky play in transition. Banzai VBC made a big impression last weekend.
Katelyn Hoefling
Katelyn Hoefling
We had a lot to learn about MVP United squads, and Hoefling stood out right away among the 16s. She’s a quick, dynamic setter who helped 16 Red back up its top seed in the age group. Hoefling can also wield her snappy arm in the front row, giving opposing blockers even more to think about. MVP United ‘s depth is skyrocketing.
VCNebraska 16 Elite asked a lot of Bearden last weekend, but she responded with one clutch performance after another. Despite a heartbreaking Round 1 loss in the double-elimination bracket, Bearden rallied her teammates and got back to business. 16 Elite thrives on up-tempo sets, and Bearden dished them out en route to a 16s bid.
Wiebelhaus made massive gains in 2024, especially during the late-season grind. Her Premier 16 Red squad saw a big uptick in efficiency as it pursued a 16 Liberty bid at the Show Me Qualifier. A dependable setter often makes this happen, and Wiebelhaus grew increasingly comfortable throughout the season.
Stevens has proven that she can mesh with anyone around her. She was a brilliant addition to the Premier 16 Silver lineup this year and guided the offense to several big performances throughout the qualifier season. That carried into another good showing at the GPR Bid Tourney, where Stevens dished out a balanced attack and locked down her defensive assignments.
Highlights
Tyka Hoos
Tyka Hoos
Nebraska ONE keeps piling up talented setters. Hoos is a reliable asset for Nebraska ONE 16 Lime and adds a lot of defensive grit in the right-back area. Her impressive footspeed helps Hoos track down errant passes and deliver hittable balls from pin to pin. A solid April run will have Hoos surging up the Class of 2026 hierarchy before long.
We paid special attention to Riggert, one of the few MVP United athletes who plays their prep ball in Nebraska. This Pierce High School standout showcased her strength as a setter while also bringing frontcourt physicality. Riggert can be a right-side hitter whenever needed and gives MVP 15 Red a ton of lineup flexibility for Nationals.
Highlights
Peighton Hinton
Peighton Hinton
Hinton had a knack for finding the hot hand at last weekend’s event–even if the tournament didn’t start the way South Central NE 15 Black had hoped. After suffering a loss in Sunday’s opening match, Hinton was able to reset and reclaim her setting groove. That helped South Central make an extraordinary run through the lower bracket and all the way to second place. This small-town club gets another representative for GJNC.
Stukenholtz’s aggressive style is rare for a setter coming out of the back row. She has a tricky set-over dump that takes defenses by surprise, and Stukenholtz can also read open gaps to become part of the offense. Of course, this Premier 15 Red setter also distributes well and brings a wicked serve from behind the line. We’re ready to see these traits show up again on the national stage.