Nebraska’s Late-Season Stock Risers: 2025 Setters
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2025s are still raising the bar this year. We’ve been on a run of setters as our late-season stock riser series continues. 2026s and 2027s have already been in the spotlight, but we can’t forget about the 2025s locking things…
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Continue Reading2025s are still raising the bar this year.
We’ve been on a run of setters as our late-season stock riser series continues. 2026s and 2027s have already been in the spotlight, but we can’t forget about the 2025s locking things down in the 17s age group. This class has exhibited a ton of growth against tough competition, and a lot of that stems from stellar setter play.
Let’s give you the latest names to know.
Johnson has been on an upward trajectory since the 2023 fall season and has taken another step forward with Nebraska Juniors. This Lincoln East prep athlete is a crucial component of 17 Black’s high-flying offense, which found a ton of success against Great Plains opponents. Johnson’s ability to adapt to different lineups makes her the ideal teammate that will lift up everyone around her.
Highlights
Here’s another setter who began her rapid rise during last year’s fall season. Anderson helped engineer Omaha Skutt Catholic’s latest state championship with her steady hands and precise location. She’s now seeing a similar breakthrough with VCNebraska 17 Elite. Even as 17 Elite experimented with new late-season lineups, Anderson remained consistent as her team achieved the ultimate goal: an Open bid. The Salt Lake City Showdown served as the latest reminder of Anderson’s extraordinary impact at the highest level.
Craven has long been the centerpiece of so many Banzai VBC triumphs. We gave this Ashland-Greenwood setter a few shoutouts during the 2023 season as her team clinched a GJNC bid through the Great Plains Region. This year, Craven and 17 Select decided to take care of “bid-ness” outside of the region. A runner-up finish at the Windy City Qualifier has put Craven back in the spotlight, and 17 Select followed that up with a strong showing at the Great Plains Regional Championships. Vegas is next on the agenda.
Nelsen has been a do-everything athlete for Nebraska Elite 17 Koa. Her smooth setting has generated headlines throughout her prep career, but Nelsen brings a lot more than that to the Nebraska Elite gym. She got plenty of reps as a frontcourt opposite throughout 2024 and was even in the passing pattern for many of those rotations. Nelsen also thrived as a floor defender and was quick to react to hard-driven balls. An important senior season is on deck.
Keep adding more setter-opposites to your list. McMains has carried this dual role for Premier 17 Red and was particularly effective during the team’s stint at the GPR Bid Tournament. 17 Red’s attack operates well with McMains at the helm and gets a boost of firepower when she becomes a right-side hitter. This versatility should flourish at GJNC as 17 Red prepares to battle in the 17 Freedom division.
Highlights
This is an obvious choice. VCNebraska 17 Black soared to a 17 American championship at the Show Me Qualifier, and Waido constantly stood out during this triumphant march. The Wahoo prep star offered stability and confidence during all the dramatic three-set contests that 17 Black encountered. Waido kept her hitters in rhythm while taking enough risks to keep opposing teams guessing. It was a perfect performance that has VCNebraska “seeing double” in GJNC’s 17s age group.
Like Waido, Donovan has a prep resume that speaks for itself. She led Lincoln Lutheran to another state title last year and looked to keep the momentum rolling into 2024. That eventually yielded a 17 USA bid through the Windy City Qualifier, one of the toughest venues on the club circuit. Donovan brings all the skills and physicality needed to lead a 5-1 offense, and that continuity has paid huge dividends for Nebraska ONE 17 Black. Expect more highlight moments at Nationals.