Nebraska Preview for Northern Lights Qualifier #1: The 17s

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On to the 17s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're anxious to travel to Minneapolis for the first wave of this year's Northern Lights Qualifier. This weekend's event will put a massive spotlight on the 17s and 18s, and Nebraska teams will be in the middle of it all. We've already previewed the <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/01/nebraska-preview-for-northern-lights-qualifier-1-the-18s/">18s</a>, so let's bring the 17s into the mix.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">17 Open</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A familiar trio of clubs gets us started in 17 Open. Nebraska Elite, Premier Nebraska, and [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] are all going bid-hunting in NLQ's highest division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nebraska Elite 17 Phoenix</strong> has exhibited its high ceiling through this month's regional tournaments in its home gym. Multiple pin hitters, including [player_tooltip player_id='486917' first='Jamison' last='Badje'], [player_tooltip player_id='276203' first='Anslee' last='Watters'], and [player_tooltip player_id='349418' first='Chloe' last='Rauner'], have takeover potential for this group. Rauner may also help set the 17 Phoenix offense from the back row, making her one of the team's x-factors at NLQ.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prior Open experience at GJNC might help <strong>Premier Nebraska 17 Gold</strong> navigate a talented NLQ field. 17 Gold punched its Nationals ticket through last year's Show Me Qualifier and could make an earlier triumph in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Carolina commit [player_tooltip player_id='275935' first='Addison' last='West'] remains the focal point of 17 Gold's attack. Fellow Skutt Catholic SkyHawk [player_tooltip player_id='253907' first='Avery' last='White'] has established herself as a force on the right pin, too. Premier Nebraska's success might also hinge on new additions to the lineup, like middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='253934' first='Scotlyn' last='Erwin'] and pin attacker [player_tooltip player_id='276202' first='Ashley' last='Beethe'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of new-look lineups, [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] <strong>17 Elite</strong> is bringing in a completely revamped group to vie for an Open bid. [player_tooltip player_id='349479' first='Kamryn' last='Behrns'] and [player_tooltip player_id='253933' first='Peyton' last='Svendsen'] are a pair of returning stars, but many of 17 Elite's other standouts played for different teams last year. [player_tooltip player_id='253928' first='Madeline' last='Lamb'] and Colette Bartling are key additions on the pins, while [player_tooltip player_id='275902' first='Siena' last='Sumner'] is looking for a big VCN debut in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":576632,"width":"227px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/98-Finley-Moone.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-576632" style="width:227px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Moone</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">17 USA</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's another chance to catch up with Banzai VBC. This club has seen plenty of recent success at NLQ, and <strong>Banzai VBC 17 Select</strong> hopes to carry on that tradition in the 17 USA division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17 Select's frontcourt talent stands out right away. Class of 2027 outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='396751' first='Finley' last='Moone'] remains the go-to terminator after a strong conclusion to last year's club season. A dose of physicality will be provided by [player_tooltip player_id='534457' first='Aubrie' last='Walz'], [player_tooltip player_id='396748' first='Hunter' last='MacLeod'], and [player_tooltip player_id='541584' first='Ella' last='Waters']. We also can't forget about the lockdown defense provided by players like [player_tooltip player_id='396752' first='Tyler' last='Torpy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='396749' first='Genesis' last='DeLeon'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Banzai's journey starts with matches against MN Select, PowerPlex, and VVA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">17 Liberty</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have another Great Plains triple threat in the 17 Liberty division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] <strong>17 Lime</strong> enters the conversation with a fascinating medley of 2026s and 2027s. [player_tooltip player_id='518590' first='Ellie' last='Blomstedt'] has paved the way for this group on the outside and will be a six-rotation force in Minneapolis. Look out for 2027s like middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='575158' first='Aubree' last='Real'] and defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='510822' first='Samantha' last='Hagaman'], both of which bring some Waverly representation to this stacked roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have fond memories of <strong>Premier Nebraska 17 Silver</strong>'s 2024 qualifier stints. The team's core group has remained relatively unchanged from the 16s campaign, so continuity could pay off at NLQ. [player_tooltip player_id='349417' first='Halle' last='Nienaber'] will get her share of swings on the left side and is an all-around asset in the middle-back area. [player_tooltip player_id='389408' first='Anya' last='Kolli'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349410' first='Mia' last='Stevens'] will share setting duties. Ball control should remain strong with players like [player_tooltip player_id='349411' first='Kailynn' last='Melendez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='396737' first='Danielle' last='Vallinch'] anchoring the end line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] <strong>17 Black</strong> is fresh off a division championship at the Midwest Power League, putting it high on the Great Plains hierarchy before NLQ. This lineup has many familiar VCN standouts, including outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='349484' first='Piper' last='Bellamy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='231947' first='Kaydence' last='Haase']. Northwestern commit [player_tooltip player_id='278995' first='Kaitlyn' last='Bodnar'] distributes a balanced offense that has become even more lethal with the addition of Lincoln Southwest pin hitter Alicia Gustafson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":731219,"width":"233px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/4-Ellie-Blomstedt.jpg?w=995" alt="" class="wp-image-731219" style="width:233px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Blomstedt</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">17 American</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have some Great Plains “wildcards” to discuss in this division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NLQ will offer our first look at <strong>Club Legacy 17 Bravo</strong> this year. Several long-time contributors in the Club Legacy gym will be eager to take the next step on the national stage. [player_tooltip player_id='349465' first='Stella' last='Cox'] and [player_tooltip player_id='582858' first='Claire' last='Pavlish'] make up a strong frontcourt duo for 17 Alpha. [player_tooltip player_id='521231' first='Zuri' last='Link'] carries the banner for the Class of 2027 and will help set the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then, there's the Great Plains challenger from up north.<strong> Midwest Elite 17's</strong> makes its entrance. This club is the new iteration of [program_tooltip program_id='429192' first='MVP' last='United'] stationed between the South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska borders. These athletes have GJNC accolades and were part of last spring's GPR Bid Tournament in Omaha. We look forward to catching up with high-flying attackers like Claire Munch and Breanna Van Den Top, both of whom could make some serious noise in Minneapolis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Look out for <strong>Nebraska Elite 17 Motion</strong> in this group, too. Nebraska Elite's 17s have historically broken out in Minneapolis, and 17 Motion's athletes have been here before. Margaret McMahon and Sadie Menicucci anchor an extraordinary ball-control unit that will operate a balanced offense across the board. Halle Mason is a good candidate to lead the kill category.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->