Middles Climbing Nebraska’s Efficiency Leaderboard in 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're all about efficiency for today's feature.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the past few days, we've examined some early box scores from Nebraska's first several days of the 2024 season. Our most recent feature discussed <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/09/liberos-rising-nebraskas-digs-leaderboard-in-early-season-action/">liberos</a> already racking up digs for their respective teams. It's only fair that we move into the frontcourt for this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middle blockers are typically the most efficient attackers on the floor, so we're honing in on this position group for our glimpse at attacking percentages. These middles are putting the ball away at an incredible clip to kick off the fall season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["395100"],"_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-66ddb20a8332f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Adams Central has a history of dominant middle blockers. Fiala is staking her claim as the next in line after hitting at a 0.375 percentage through the team's first five matches. She has also embraced a bigger role in the offense with a one kill-per-set improvement over her 2023 output. The Patriots have been a perennial contender in the small-town scene and are out to a 4-1 start in 2024. Fiala's resurgence should put Adams Central back in the postseason hunt, especially after high-profile wins over teams like Sutton and Nebraska Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["269908"],"_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-66ddb20a83373"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Miller is a familiar name on Nebraska's efficiency charts. Her remarkable junior season ended with a 0.350 hitting efficiency on nearly four kills per set. The Seward star has matched her attacking percentage from last year and remains a go-to option in the front row. Miller's pin-to-pin quickness makes her an ideal choice behind the setter. She often attacks before opposing blockers can set up to defend her, leading to Miller's eye-popping percentages. Seward will need more of that to repeat last year's tournament breakthrough.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Baylee Settje","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Clarkson/Leigh","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ddb20a832b6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clarkson/Leigh had big shoes to fill in the middle following the graduation of do-everything attacker Chloe Hanel. Fortunately, Settje brings a veteran presence to the position group and has elevated her play this fall. The senior has started her 2024 campaign with a career-best 0.358 hitting clip and is putting down three kills per set. Settje's high-volume scoring has catalyzed a 7-0 start for the Patriots, so Clarkson/Leigh might build off last year's runner-up finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Gracen Hughes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Overton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ddb20a834ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Overton is another team that has to replace revolutionary middle blockers from last year's squad. JoLee Ryan and Natalie Wood can't necessarily be "replaced," but Hughes is making the transition a lot easier. She has entered the starting lineup this year and is putting up over three kills per set on a 0.252 clip. This is a colossal development for Hughes after notching 18 kills as a sophomore. She's already halfway to triple digits this year and has become a new leader for the defending D2 champs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["276195"],"_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-66ddb20a833b0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wingett is a new addition to the Omaha Westside lineup, but her typical offensive output has persisted. She is currently leading all Nebraska attackers with a show-stopping 0.436 hitting percentage through eight matches. Wingett exceeded a 0.700 efficiency in recent showdowns with Papillion-La Vista and Millard North. Not many players bring the physicality and high contact point that Wingett provides, so she's bound to keep ascending Nebraska's leaderboards this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["275970"],"_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-66ddb20a833ee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gegg's terminal arm was a big reason we picked Shelton as the Class D2 preseason favorite. She is backing up her impressive 2023 season with a colossal uptick in production as a junior. Gegg is putting down over six kills per set on an equally astonishing 0.396 hitting percentage. This is the kind of middle blocker who can take sideout swings on the left side to get Shelton out of tough situations. That accounts for Gegg's exceptional scoring volume, which will likely soar past her 300-kill mark from last year. The Bulldogs are building something special in the frontcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["458153"],"_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-66ddb20a8342b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We aren't surprised to find Judson near the top of the list. She had an outstanding debut season with Papillion-La Vista South last season and is only getting stronger in Year 2. Judson has averaged a 0.391 hitting percentage through 16 sets of play, but her positional adaptability has been even more impressive. This dynamic athlete has demonstrated her effectiveness as a middle blocker and a pin hitter, giving Papio South plenty of lineup options to explore this year. Regardless of position, Judson will be a major factor in keeping the Titans at the top of Class A's hierarchy this year and beyond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Soso Marin","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Millard North","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ddb20a834a7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Keep an eye on the new wave of talent at Millard North. Marin has burst onto the scene with a 0.354 hitting percentage for the Mustangs--all while competing against some of Class A's top competitors. This electrifying sophomore gets off the floor quickly and has demonstrated her range on the slide in two-hitter rotations. Millard North looks slightly different in 2024 but has all the necessary pieces for a strong future. It starts with Marin in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->