Revisiting Nebraska's 2026 Libero Rankings

Another one for the 2026s.   We've been ramping up our coverage of Nebraska's Class of 2026 as we've crossed the open recruitment threshold for this group. This is just the beginning of the journey, and we're committed to putting as many athletes in the spotlight as possible. Let's enjoy the ride.   Recent features have covered <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/06/road-to-june-15-the-latest-on-nebraskas-2026-pin-hitters/">pin hitters</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/06/road-to-june-15-our-favorite-2026-stories-so-far-this-year/">past storylines</a>, but we can go deeper. This momentous time has allowed us to reassess our rankings and look ahead to potential changes for our upcoming update.   The libero position will be a focal point of these changes, so we're honing in on the backcourt today. As you assemble your recruiting radar, keep these names in mind.     Core Groups at Powerhouse Clubs   We can use a club-by-club approach here. The usual suspects have built extraordinary defensive units in the Class of 2026.   Premier Nebraska wasn't afraid to shuffle the deck to snag another Open bid. Premier 16 Gold still wielded [player_tooltip player_id='275896' first='Kami' last='Dyrstad'] as the leader of the defense, and the Papio South standout still sits atop our 2026 libero hierarchy. However, the addition of [player_tooltip player_id='349404' first='Lily' last='Zimmerman'] added a new wrinkle that took 16 Gold's defense to the next level. The Gretna High School prospect used a breakout sophomore campaign as the launching point for something special in 2024. Look out for this duo at GJNC.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/655-Piper-Peterson.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-442792" style="width:297px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Petersen</figcaption></figure>   Depth shows up down the entire line at Premier Nebraska. [player_tooltip player_id='187703' first='Evynn' last='Olsen'] is a fascinating dual-role player who could be characterized as a libero and an outside hitter. Her importance in the Premier 16 Black lineup cannot be overstated. Likewise, [player_tooltip player_id='349406' first='Stella' last='Neal'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349411' first='Kailynn' last='Melendez'] are coming off outstanding qualifier performances that set them apart among their 2026 peers.   What about [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']? This club is frequently heralded for its backcourt talent, and we see this play out in the Class of 2026. [player_tooltip player_id='349487' first='Alaina' last='Kopf'] has garnered recent mention here, and the Tri-County athlete is still the ringleader for 16 Elite. However, players like [player_tooltip player_id='349483' first='Kamrynn' last='Wemhoff'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349482' first='Piper' last='Petersen'] are also stepping up in the VCN gym and have brought their best on the biggest stages.   Nebraska Elite checks in with its stacked group of 16s defenders. [player_tooltip player_id='276191' first='Elena' last='Estudillo'] has been on our radar for a while after becoming a first-year contributor with Fremont High School. Perhaps the most prominent storyline for Nebraska Elite has been the emergence of [player_tooltip player_id='349420' first='McKinzie' last='Brandt'], another Fremont representative who has shown some fearless floor defense throughout the 2024 club season.   We'll also throw Nebraska Juniors into this conversation, especially with [player_tooltip player_id='518612' first='Trinity' last='Uhrmacher'] and [player_tooltip player_id='518609' first='Nadia' last='Zuhairi'] making considerable gains during the late-season grind. This club has never been afraid to challenge itself at the Open level, and that's producing some can't-miss performers in the back row.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/IMG_0998-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-552292" style="width:308px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Brandt</figcaption></figure>     Spreading the Wealth   Nebraska's 2026 libero class might be a sign of things to come. It's hard to remember such a strong group of athletes spread out across so many clubs.   Let's address the backcourt talent that Banzai VBC has assembled. [player_tooltip player_id='464932' first='Angela' last='Berger'] emerged as a prep star with Bellevue West last fall and was an unstoppable force with Banzai VBC 16 Select. She is accompanied by [player_tooltip player_id='396752' first='Tyler' last='Torpy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='396749' first='Genesis' last='DeLeon'], two more athletes with a lot to gain in the approaching fall season.   Club Legacy is another key factor in this evolving trend. Like Berger, [player_tooltip player_id='396746' first='Jane' last='Kubat'] soared as a sophomore and finished 2023 with an appearance in the state tournament. Now, 16 Alpha is leaning on Kubat to provide the same game-changing defense she wielded at Omaha Westside. It's working, too.   Don't forget about [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs']. [player_tooltip player_id='349472' first='Emeline' last='Myers'] recently soared up our 2026 leaderboards and hasn't yielded during the club campaign. 16 Navy scrapped through qualifiers behind Myers' consistent first contacts, and we're looking forward to a reprise at AAU Nationals.     More Prep Contenders   Let's finish with a few more names to keep an eye on during this fall's high school season.   [player_tooltip player_id='396734' first='Kyla' last='Griess'] is always a name to know on the small-town scene. The Sutton libero frequently puts up big prep numbers, but she has unfinished business on the club side. South Central NE 16 Black is preparing for USAV Nationals and will rely on Griess's prowess in the contrasting jersey.   The Papio schools will rotate new libero talent into the mix. [player_tooltip player_id='349471' first='Elsie' last='Ryan'], who competes under the [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] banner, could be a vital libero addition for the Monarchs. On the other side of the street, we're anxious to see [player_tooltip player_id='396737' first='Danielle' last='Vallinch'] carry on the family tradition at Papio South.   Lincoln should have some interesting prep contributors. [player_tooltip player_id='497360' first='Haidyn' last='Case'] does a little of everything for Lincoln High. [player_tooltip player_id='396765' first='Maci' last='Pittenger'] has thrived in the club gauntlet with Nebraska Juniors and has vast experience with Lincoln Christian. Lastly, we can't leave out [player_tooltip player_id='396741' first='Brenly' last='Noerrlinger']'s multi-sport impact at Lincoln Southwest.

Another one for the 2026s.