New Faces We’d Like to See at 2024 State Tournament (Pt. 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've discussed potential returning stars at the upcoming state tournament, but what about the new additions?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 NSAA State Volleyball Championships will likely feature several teams that weren't in the postseason mix a season ago. Those squads are the focus of our latest feature series as we set you up for new names to watch this November.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's get some new faces in Lincoln.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["189375"],"_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-67132333ccd47"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fremont is not far removed from its last Class A tournament appearance, but a shot at this year's title would be a big breakthrough. The Tigers have ascended to No. 3 in the wildcard race and are led by a senior star at the setter spot. Denker has guided the Fremont offense for most of her prep career but is enjoying her best season yet in her final year. She has compiled nine assists per set en route to a 21-4 mark. The stars are aligning for a postseason return.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["276203"],"_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-67132333ccdc9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Watters has been a game-changer at Norfolk Catholic. The former Winside High School star has averaged two and a half kills per set this season while the Knights have soared to a 23-3 record. Like Fremont, Norfolk Catholic hopes to restore its postseason pedigree after a brief tournament hiatus. Watters is helping bring that high ceiling back to Norfolk Catholic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["462564"],"_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-67132333cce37"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">York High School has risen to a new level in 2024, but it's also been business as usual for Wilkinson. The senior outside hitter is hovering around four kills per set for the third consecutive season, and the positive results have been rolling in for the Dukes. York has clawed its way to eighth in a stacked Class B field, offering a pathway to this year's bracket. Wilkinson's consistent production will be the key.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["462595"],"_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-67132333ccea4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It's hard to ignore Vice's colossal production from the libero spot. She averages nearly six digs per set this year, ranking among Nebraska's top defenders in any class. Vice has been a key contributor since she arrived on the prep scene in 2021, so her career numbers are climbing to head-spinning levels. She could reach 1,500 total digs before her tenure wraps up--especially if Johnson-Brock breaks into the tournament. The Eagles are eighth on the Class C2 list with a 21-5 mark, so keep this squad in mind as districts heat up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["495097"],"_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-67132333ccf0f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Brueggemann name looms large at Thayer Central. Ella has done some of everything for the Titans, including putting down 4.3 kills per set on a colossal 0.364 hitting percentage. Brueggemann can also put on her setter hat and has averaged a few assists per set, too. This all-around effort has placed Thayer Central among the top championship competitors in Class C2, so a tournament bid is likely looming. We'll see what Brueggemann can accomplish against the state's most established volleyball powerhouses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["464898"],"_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-67132333cd04f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Garden County has been part of a wild push-pull battle in the Class D2 wildcard standings. The Eagles sit seventh in the latest list with many of its upperclassmen shining en route to a 20-3 record. Stanczyk has been a key piece of that puzzle and finds ways to rack up every stat imaginable. She leads Garden County in kills while also pitching in as a backcourt setter. Stanczyk has also surpassed triple-digit digs and can is a player who frequently ends up on triple-double watch. This electrifying junior is ushering in a new era for her small-town volleyball program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["458060"],"_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-67132333ccf7a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We're eager to welcome one of Nebraska's most prolific scorers to the tournament stage. Meyers, who has already proven her massive prowess on the club stage, is in the middle of a record-shattering sophomore season with Superior High School. Her 7.6 kill-per-set average is unparalleled. She is closing in on 600 kills for the season and could reach even higher through tournament play. The Wildcats are third in the Class D1 race and have every reason to lean on Meyers the rest of the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->