Nebraska’s Late-Season Stock Risers: 2027 Liberos
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Why not finish our run of liberos? Over the past few days, our late-season stock riser series has honed in on the backcourt. We’ve had 2025 and 2026 defenders in the spotlight as we look for Nebraska athletes who gained…
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Continue ReadingWhy not finish our run of liberos?
Over the past few days, our late-season stock riser series has honed in on the backcourt. We’ve had 2025 and 2026 defenders in the spotlight as we look for Nebraska athletes who gained momentum during the late-season. Let’s complete the trilogy with the 2027s.
Future defensive stars can be found below.
We’re used to seeing defensive stars suit up for VCNebraska . Lottman is the next in line from the Class of 2027, and her 15s season has been something to behold. She helped 15 Elite secure an early Open bid at MEQ. The fun didn’t stop there as Lottman’s lockdown defense was the key to another podium finish at the Show Me Qualifier. 15 Elite conquered these events through quick pace and precise offense, but none of that is possible without some help from the back row. Lottman takes care of those duties.
McLeay is part of Premier 15 Gold’s multi-talented defensive group that we’ve highlighted throughout the season. She has seen prior stints at the outside hitter spot but has primarily anchored the libero position for 15 Gold. This stacked Premier squad is “double qualified” in the Open division, and that feat doesn’t happen without some stellar first contacts along the end line. McLeay has done her part as the defensive commander and will keep progressing as we look toward Vegas.
Schroeder keeps staking her claim as one of Nebraska’s top defenders in the Class of 2027. She announced her presence right away as Nebraska Elite 15 Revolution claimed its Open bid through January’s Northern Lights Qualifier. This feature is about late-season surges, of course, and Schroeder hasn’t slowed down since that early triumph. The Bennington prep star makes tough defensive plays look effortless. It’s a sign of Schroeder’s ability to read opposing attackers and fill in any seams on the court. Nebraska’s Open-qualified trio in the 15s age group will be quite a spectacle at GJNC.
Highlights
Lindauer has backed up her recent addition to the Nebraska 2027 watch list. She pilots the River City Jrs 15 Navy defense and demonstrates the full array of defensive specialist skills. 15 Navy relies on Lindauer to deliver quality passes on the setter’s head, but that’s not the full extent of her impact. Look out for Lindauer’s secondary setting, which allows 15 Navy to be aggressive in out-of-system situations. The libero spot has been a wholesale strength for River City Jrs , and that’s the case with the 15s, too.
What hasn’t Schuerman done on a volleyball court? The Wilber-Clatonia standout has carried a lot of different roles between her high school and club careers. We’ve seen her attack in the front row, play stellar defense in the back, and even set the offense from time to time. Her primary niche with Nebraska ONE 15 Black has been in the contrasting jersey, and Schuerman dropped plenty of dimes in late-season action. We can’t wait to see what’s next on the positional agenda.
Highlights
Claire Ana Monjarez-Palermo
Claire Ana Monjarez-Palermo
Club Legacy’s defensive depth keeps expanding. Monjarez-Palermo has been a trendsetter for the club’s 2027 class and led the team’s back row for most of the 2024 campaign. Her soft platform can generate perfect transition digs on hard-driven balls, giving 15 Alpha a chance to capitalize. Keep an eye on Monjarez-Palermo even if she doesn’t get the first contact, as her bump setting has progressed into a reliable asset.
VCNebraska gets back on the board with another DS we’ll see in Vegas. Quinn can be a head-turning defensive player no matter where she slots into the VCNebraska 15 Black rotation. She readily dons the libero jersey and brings a stabilizing presence to VCN’s passing pattern. Even if Quinn is just playing three rotations across the end line, her relentless pursuit provides a huge boost to the rest of her team. Any role will do.
Premier Nebraska 15 Black’s dominance has been well documented. It started at NLQ and carried right into April’s Show Me Qualifier. That consistency requires a cohesive backcourt unit, and Hickey is usually part of that effort in the starting rotation. She’s an outside-DS hybrid player who is a natural fit for the middle-back area. Hickey can handle a ton of passing volume and has also developed a wicked serve to generate scoring runs. Her contributions will be vital as 15 Black hopes to remain a GJNC frontrunner this summer.
We might as well wrap up with one more versatile defensive star. Ward has a solid background as an outside attacker, but most of her recent highlights have been in the back row. Nebraska Juniors 15 Black puts this well-rounded defender in the libero jersey and allows her to direct traffic in all rotations. Ward will readily control a large chunk of the serve receive pattern and is also thriving in transition. This is a six-rotation mainstay no matter which position Ward plays.