Small-Town 2026s Ready to Take Over Nebraska High School Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The season is finally here! Let's use this momentous occasion to return to our small-town roots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the past several days, we've given you several players and teams to look out for during the 2024 high school season. Now that we've reached opening day, we want to give a shoutout to the small-town stars who make Nebraska's prep scene so unique and special.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class of 2026 has been an extraordinary torchbearer for the rise of small-town athletes and teams. So, we're honing in on the rising juniors for this Day 1 feature.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["349479"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cfde10a0f65"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What better way to start than with our second-ranked athlete in the 2026 rankings? Behrns has produced some of the wildest offensive numbers we've seen among Nebraska's rising juniors. Her 5.6 kills per set last year was among the best in the state regardless of class. Behrns is a lefty attacker who will embrace heavy attacking volume, as indicated by her 1,100-plus swings in 2023. David City could be ready for a breakout season with this high-impact attacker finding her stride.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["275894"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cfde10a0fc2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dolliver's kill totals with Malcolm High School are almost difficult to fathom. Her 2022 freshman campaign provided an immediate glimpse of Dolliver's unmatched impact. She finished that year with 5.9 kills per set, creating an incredibly high bar for Year 2. Dolliver somehow cleared that mark last year with 6.6 kills per set on a 0.289 clip. This small-town gem is soaring toward stunning career numbers with two years left on the prep scene.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["275967"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cfde10a1002"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Arbuthnot is ready to become the new top attacker with Sumner-Eddyville-Miller. This versatile middle blocker can take swings on the left side, allowing the Mustangs to harness Arbuthnot's quick arm as much as possible. This tactic was extraordinarily effective last year as S-E-M marched to a historic Class D1 title. Arbuthnot had over three kills per set as a sophomore and will only reach higher as the new go-to hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["276204"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cfde10a103c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dahlberg's reliable, unrelenting attacks have made her a huge commodity at Sandhills/Thedford High School. She reached three kills per set as a sophomore while placing herself near the top of the efficiency leaderboards. Dahlberg finished just shy of a 0.300 average on the year--a notable improvement over her freshman year. The Knights are building off a 25-7 season last year and could make that final tournament push this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["396764"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cfde10a1074"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Backemeyer is one of small-town Nebraska's most exciting middle blockers. She was a workhorse last season with nearly three kills per set, but the box score only shows part of Backemeyer's appeal. This rangy athlete is the ideal M1 who can score behind the setter with authority. Backemeyer has demonstrated her versatility in the Nebraska Juniors gym and brings the same presence to Elmwood-Murdock. A repeat postseason appearance could be looming, and Backemeyer's influence will keep expanding.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["464903"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cfde10a10aa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've hyped up Oakland-Craig's senior class lately, but we can't forget about the star attacker emerging from the Class of 2026. Ray earned some reps as a freshman but absolutely exploded in her second year with the Knights. She hammered down nearly 400 total kills as O-C extended its multi-year streak as a tournament participant. Ray and her orange-clad group of veterans will have no problems lighting up the scoreboard for another year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["497413"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cfde10a10df"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Last year's tournament was our wake-up call on Janssen. She surged onto our radar after dominating at the net for Crofton High School, producing several highlight moments at the event. Janssen improved her output in every statistical category from Year 1 to Year 2. She ended 2023 with nearly two kills per set from the middle and about 0.7 blocks per set, too. The Warriors are eager to prove that their 2023 triumph wasn't a fluke, and it all starts with the physical weapons at the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["396733"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cfde10a1114"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Here's one for the South Central NE crew. We've repeatedly touted Bauer's ability to play any position across the front row, particularly for her 16 Black club team. This Deshler standout has earned multiple years of valuable experience on the GJNC stage, preparing Bauer for whatever this year's junior season could bring. Her two kills per set last season could be the springboard for even more success in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["497421"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cfde10a1149"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Oligmueller used last year's state tournament to showcase her terminal arm to a wider audience. This efficient middle blocker easily reached triple-digit kills while also anchoring a strong Wynot block. Oligmueller is also a multi-sport athlete who has already given so much to the Blue Devils after two seasons. That legacy will grow as Oligmueller becomes an upperclassman this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->