Nebraska’s Trendsetting Assist Leaders Early in 2024 Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every high-powered offense needs its steady setter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska's best setters tend to reach the top of the state's assist leaderboard every fall. These signal-callers have a knack for finding the hot hitter, locating the ball well, and pushing tempo to negate the opposing block. That translates to high assist numbers, and these athletes are setting the bar already.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're perusing the state's assist leaderboard to find some under-the-radar talent breaking through in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"[player_tooltip player_id='728405' first='Faith' last='Butler']","_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":"5'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Superior","_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-66e5b7f38cf7b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Let's start with a senior whose assist output has skyrocketed. Butler was a persistent starter in 2023 but has taken her game to the next level in her final prep campaign. She is racking up 10.5 assists per set during Superior's exceptional 8-2 start. This savvy veteran is playing all the way around the starting rotation and has 3.3 digs per set to her credit. We've been waiting for the Wildcats to break back into the postseason hunt, and this might be the year to get it done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["155049"],"_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-66e5b7f38cfe2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Welcome back! Meyer's 2023 season was cut short due to injury, but the Towson commit is showing no ill effects from this setback. She is as strong as ever in her senior season and leads Omaha Westside with a whopping 10.3 assists per set. The Warriors have strung together three consecutive seasons of reaching the Class A semifinals, and that should be a reachable threshold again this fall. Meyer will make sure of it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["269958"],"_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-66e5b7f38d024"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Emery helped engineer Bellevue West's breakout 2023 season that ended in the Class A tournament. She's back near the top of Nebraska's assist hierarchy with nearly ten per set so far in 2024. This statistical output has come against some of the state's most formidable opponents, proving Emery's consistency during adversity. The Thunderbirds will know the value of a senior setter before the year is done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["253935"],"_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-66e5b7f38d061"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gleason's versatility is a cornerstone of the Beatrice lineup. She's listed as an outside hitter in our database and still racks up about a kill per set for the Orangemen. However, Gleason has suddenly seized a starting setter role for her new-look Beatrice squad and is performing well as an upperclassman leader. Her 7.8 assists per set is among the state's top tier--an impressive feat for someone just getting acclimated to the position. Expect further development as Gleason gains more experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["458165"],"_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-66e5b7f38d09c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Moser is clearly ready for the big stage. We watched her pilot Waverly's electric offense on opening day as the Vikings took down Lincoln Lutheran on the road. The [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] star pushes an up-tempo offense predicated on finding seams in the block on the outside. Moser's willingness to take risks and be creative has yielded nine assists per set during Waverly's successful start. She remains a name to know in Nebraska's Class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["499007"],"_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-66e5b7f38d0d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Don't forget about the emerging stars in Class D2. Licking carried a vital role as a freshman last fall and has gone a step further in Year 2. She has averaged about eight assists per set during Mullen's 3-1 start, putting the Broncos in a solid spot on the early wildcard leaderboard. We've also watched Licking turn into an extraordinary defensive asset with three digs per set in early action. This sophomore is well-equipped for her six-rotation responsibilities and will put Mullen High School in the small-town conversation.</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":"[player_tooltip player_id='737401' first='Emma' last='Cohee']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Guardian Angels Central Catholic","_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-66e5b7f38d153"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've given some recent shoutouts to Guardian Angels Central Catholic's dynamic attackers, but who's running the show at the setter spot? Last year's No. 1 seed in Class D1 has brought in a freshman to lead proceedings. Cohee has amassed 8.8 assists per set as GACC embarks on its transition to Class C2. All these changes have not stopped the team from churning out big offensive numbers, so don't count out this group in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->