Setters Make Instant Impression at Midwest Power League #1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High-powered offenses ruled the day at 2025's first Midwest Power League, and setters helped tie it all together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Early-season events are always a fascinating test of setter-hitter connections. We can expect some rust, but Sunday's setter performances were far from shaky. This position group looks dialed in ahead of schedule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, let's give some credit to the signal-callers who showed some midseason form on a cold January morning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["189378"],"_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-678d92aaf1e92"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We're starting this feature with a fascinating wildcard pick. We haven't witnessed many setter reps from Hern throughout her prep career, but she showed us a new wrinkle at Sunday's Power League. The Omaha Marian athlete has primarily been a right-side hitter in the Nebraska Juniors gym. She still carries her frontcourt attacking role for 18 Black, but she earned some opportunities to set out of the back row, too. It's never too late to gain new perspectives on prep athletes.</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":"Lucy Backemeyer","_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":"5'8u0022","_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":"Elmwood-Murdock","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Nebraska Juniors 15 Black","_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-678d92aaf1fd5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Let's go down to the 15s for our next Nebraska Juniors entry. Backemeyer piloted the 15 Black offense Sunday morning and reminded us of so many other successful Nebraska Juniors setters. This Elmwood-Murdock freshman gets her feet to the ball quickly and can keep her hitters in rhythm while drifting off the net. Keep this name in mind for the 2025 high school season, as Backemeyer has already earned varsity starting experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["275901"],"_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-678d92aaf206e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Booth reminded us why she was one of the state's most statistically productive setters with Elkhorn North last fall. The 2026 athlete dished the ball with impressive pace and consistency, allowing Premier Nebraska 17 Gold's attackers to thrive. Booth is particularly adept at the 'go' set to give her left-side hitters a big seam to swing through. The qualifier season will be another important test of Booth's overall command of the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["349413"],"_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-678d92aaf2105"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Miller was a strong performer at the end of last year's club season, and the Gretna setter has picked up where she left off. She is an ideal fit for whichever system Premier Nebraska 17 Black decides to employ. Miller is physical enough to wall off attackers in the frontcourt, and she also knows when to be aggressive on the second contact. Look for 17 Black to build off its serious accolades from past seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["458146"],"_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-678d92aaf21a1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What a debut for the Lincoln North Star standout. Kroll has moved to [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Black for this year's spring campaign and has provided an instant spark to the team's stacked lineup. We were acquainted with Kroll's calm demeanor in high-pressure situations as her North Star team broke into last year's state tournament. That steady presence applied to her Power League appearance, even as Kroll was still getting her bearings with a new team. 16 Black should have postseason aspirations with this 2027 star leading the way.</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":"Taegan Weber","_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":"null","_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":"Seward","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 15 Black","_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-678d92aaf22c0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Here's another new 2028 athlete for our radar. Weber stood out as we got our first in-person look at [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 15 Black's roster. The Seward freshman already has a mature feel for varying tempo and location to suit her hitters. Weber is also an eager defender in the right-back area who is not afraid to take some crosscourt heat from opposing attackers. VCN's 15s depth will become clearer as we head into the qualifier gauntlet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["349470"],"_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-678d92aaf235d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] 17 Navy was a focal point of our Sunday morning coverage, and Frandson was one of the earliest standouts from this championship-winning group. The Millard West junior displayed scrappy play and steady leadership that won her team an AAU title last summer. Frandson handled the wide variety of crossing patterns deployed by 17 Navy at Sunday's event, making this a tough in-system squad to stop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["276192"],"_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-678d92aaf23e0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">North was highlighted as a 2026 setter to watch heading into this year's club season. She has shouldered an expanded role with Nebraska Elite 17 Phoenix and can adapt to several different lineups and situations. North knew when to ride the hot hand last weekend, especially as Nebraska Elite triumphed against a gritty Nebraska Juniors lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->