Nebraska 2027s Playing Up at Northern Lights Qualifier #1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You might have to look harder to find 2027s at the year's first Northern Lights Qualifier, but we'll have some good ones in Minneapolis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 18s and 17s are hunting for early-season GJNC bids at Minneapolis' first NLQ wave. That might not seem like an ideal setup to find 2027s, which are primarily concentrated in this year's 16s age group. However, the Great Plains Region will feature an impressive group of 2027s "playing up" to help their older peers reach that qualifier glory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We can't lose sight of these overachievers as they embark on one of the first big pressure tests of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["458134"],"_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-679ac404e2b9e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mauch is accustomed to playing up an age group, but now she's doing it with a new club. The Elkhorn North sophomore joins [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 17 Elite, a team with several new faces on the roster. We're eager to see how Mauch meshes with her teammates while battling in a tough 17 Open crowd in Minneapolis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["396751"],"_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-679ac404e2bf6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Moone has unfinished business with Banzai VBC 17 Select. She was a persistent impact player when last year's 16 Select team competed at the Great Plain Region Bid Tournament. This athletic outside attacker wielded that momentum en route to a state title with Papio South. Moone's development will continue as 17 Select challenges itself in a stacked 17 USA field in Minneapolis.</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":"Banzai VBC","_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-679ac404e2c92"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Here's an eye-catching addition to the Banzai VBC 17 Select lineup. Marin exploded onto the prep scene last fall by putting down nearly 200 kills on a 0.324 clip for Millard North. This explosive middle blocker gets off the floor quickly and gives opposing defenders little time to react. Marin has also expanded her range behind the setter and can be a go-to 'M1' in the 17 Select offense. Frontcourt firepower will be a strength for this Banzai group, and the 2027s have a lot to do with it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["521231"],"_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-679ac404e2cdd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">As mentioned in our 17s preview, Link is a new addition to the Club Legacy gym who will help set the 17 Bravo offense in 2025. Her savvy distribution skills were apparent when she competed with Nebraska Elite last spring, and Link already has ample high-level experience at qualifier events. In fact, she had a strong 2024 stay in Minneapolis and will be eager to replicate that success with a new team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["521207"],"_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-679ac75eb1313"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What about Nebraska Elite? This club is ready to flex its 17s depth with two squads traveling to Minneapolis in this age group. Gilbert will represent 17 Motion and bring a ton of high-level experience to the front row. The Elkhorn High School standout can play on either pin and has made recent gains on the left side for 17 Motion. This is a change from her prior reps on the right side, but Gilbert's athleticism and accuracy allow her to be successful at any spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["521209"],"_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-679ac75eb1378"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've documented the big changes for Shaw heading into the 2025 club season. She was a star on Nebraska Elite's top 15s squad last year, helping her team clinch an early Open bid through the Northern Lights Qualifier. This dynamic middle blocker returns to NLQ's January stage, but Shaw is skipping ahead to play with the 17s. Her high contact point from the middle will make her a persistent setting target when 17 Phoenix remains in system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["591574"],"_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-679ac75eb13be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] receives a few 2027 reinforcements for its 17 Lime squad. Hoos is one of those headlining additions and has separated herself as a top-tier distributor. She gets her feet to the ball quickly, allowing Hoos to keep her hitters in a rhythm when passes drift off the net. 17 Lime's gritty identity also gets a boost with Hoos' relentless defense in the right-back area. It's a perfect fit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["575158"],"_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-679ac75eb1403"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Waverly's Class of 2027 gives a lot to [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE']'s gym. Real fortifies 17 Lime's middle blocker position and is among the most physical athletes in the team's frontcourt. She captured our attention by appearing on the Prep Dig Circuit last year, but her breakout performances haven't been limited to those showcases. Real has serious breakout potential heading into NLQ.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["510822"],"_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-679ac75eb1444"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Let's complete the trio. Hagaman joins Hoos to form a cohesive ball-control unit full of 2027 influence. This Waverly standout is often tasked with patrolling the middle-back area and provides an instant spark off the [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Lime bench. Her serving was also a major bonus during 17 Lime's recent performance at the Midwest Power League, making Hagaman a serve-receive weapon on both sides of the equation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->