Ball-Control Gems from Allison Weston Invite Championship Bracket

In-system offense was a prevailing theme of Saturday's action.   We're forging ahead with more coverage of the Allison Weston Invitational's championship group featuring Omaha Westside, Papillion-La Vista South, and Lincoln Southwest. <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/09/star-seniors-dominate-allison-weston-invite-championship-bracket/">Star seniors</a> have already been in the spotlight, but we have more ball-control standouts to add to the mix.   High-flying attackers often get much of the praise, especially among these three Class A dynasties. However, we ought to credit the athletes who played a significant role in locking down first and second contacts. Let's do that here.    Last year's championship-winning Lincoln Southwest squad was predicated on fast, precise offense. That theme holds in 2024, but there's a new setter leading the charge. Eckman soared up our 2026 rankings after her successful club season with [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''], and her positive momentum hasn't slowed since then. She is leading a 5-1 offense at LSW and shows a brilliant knack for pushing a quick pace to the outside. Eckman also plays lockdown defense in the right-back area and is second on the Silver Hawk roster in total digs. The setter pipeline continues at Southwest.     Lincoln Southwest has also been known for its deep core of defensive specialists who can provide an instant backcourt boost. Lienemann is one of those contributors in 2024 and makes a positive impact through her serving and multi-zone defense. The veteran libero works well in tandem with whoever is in the LSW backcourt. Lienemann delivered some clutch digs in the crosscourt to set up her high-powered offense for transition attacks. The Silver Hawks will keep using this ball-control depth to make its bid toward repeat titles.     Kubat burst onto the scene with some wicked defensive numbers during the 2023 fall season. She has retained her spot in the libero jersey as a junior and has taken her game to another level. Kubat was eager to absorb passing volume last weekend and took heavy burdens away from her fellow attackers. She is also a skilled secondary setter who can maintain Westside's rhythm in out-of-system situations. Players like Kubat deserve a lot of credit for the Warriors' sky-high offensive numbers--even if Kubat isn't the one putting the ball away.     Think back to this year's club season when Snider competed with Nebraska Elite 15 Revolution. If there was one player on that roster who could change a match through her serving, it was Snider. She brought the same influential role to Omaha Westside and made full use of her serving opportunities at Saturday's event. Snider's flat, driving serves gave passers troubles throughout the day, making this sophomore setter a permanent fixture in the starting rotation. We're just scratching the surface of what Snider can accomplish with the Warriors, and last weekend's action was another step forward.     Dyrstad's reign over the back row continues. The Rutgers commit was all over the floor for Papio South and made some of the most eye-popping digs of the Allison Weston Invite. Of course, Dyrstad's value is also measured by her ability to make serve-receive look ordinary and routine. She's the kind of athlete who knows how to make business-like plays while also injecting energy into her team whenever needed. Papio South's rich history of game-changing liberos is bound to persist through next year.     Papio South deployed a unique two-setter system that brought Eymann into the mix across the back row. This sophomore setter was one of our biggest stock risers from the 2024 club campaign, so her influential presence with the Titans is no surprise. Eymann knows how to spread the ball from pin to pin while also executing Papio South's wide array of combination plays. The Titan offense features some unique patterns in its three-hitter rotations, but Eymann handles it all with poise and precision. She's earned her spot with the Class A frontrunner.

In-system offense was a prevailing theme of Saturday's action.

We're forging ahead with more coverage of the Allison Weston Invitational's championship group featuring Omaha Westside, Papillion-La Vista South, and Lincoln Southwest. Star seniors have already been in the spotlight, but we have more ball-control standouts to add to the mix.

High-flying attackers often get much of the praise, especially among these three Class A dynasties. However, we ought to credit the athletes who played a significant role in locking down first and second contacts. Let's do that here.

Ellie Eckman

NE #9

S #1

HEIGHT 5'10"

POS S

CLASS 2026

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Ellie Eckman

State: Nebraska

School: Lincoln Southwest

Club: VCNebraska

Last year's championship-winning Lincoln Southwest squad was predicated on fast, precise offense. That theme holds in 2024, but there's a new setter leading the charge. Eckman soared up our 2026 rankings after her successful club season with VCNebraska , and her positive momentum hasn't slowed since then. She is leading a 5-1 offense at LSW and shows a brilliant knack for pushing a quick pace to the outside. Eckman also plays lockdown defense in the right-back area and is second on the Silver Hawk roster in total digs. The setter pipeline continues at Southwest.