More Surging Nebraska Teams after President’s Day Classic (Pt. 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We still have a lot more team shoutouts from last weekend's Omaha outing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, we highlighted a pair of Nebraska teams that <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/02/nebraskas-division-champions-from-asics-presidents-day-classic/">won their respective divisions</a> at the ASICS President's Day Classic. However, as we peruse the long list of Great Plains representatives in Omaha, we find several other successful squads worthy of mention after last weekend's event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Early-season momentum is building, and these groups found some while competing close to home. This is Part 1 of our new series, and we're honing in on the 17s and 18s first.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 18 Black</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've had glowing reviews of this [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 18 Black team since it made the second round of last month's Northern Lights Qualifier. 18 Black has now added a podium finish to its resume.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":488078,"width":"299px","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/5/2023/12/414-Bryleigh-Hofer.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-488078" style="width:299px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hofer</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] opened the event with a five-match winning streak, eventually propelling the group to the final four-team Gold bracket. [player_tooltip player_id='342613' first='Jillian' last='Donovan'] piloted a diverse attack featuring a steady dose of [player_tooltip player_id='342612' first='Sierra' last='Crist'] and [player_tooltip player_id='342615' first='Shelby' last='Harding'] on the outside. Small-town stars like [player_tooltip player_id='269961' first='Abby' last='Covalt'] have also been vital to the team's success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Club Legacy 18 Alpha</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska's 18s are making big parting statements during this year's club season. While Banzai VBC 18 Select soared to the 18 Club championship, Club Legacy 18 Alpha wasn't far behind.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18 Alpha claimed a podium finish after a 6-2 overall record in Omaha. This triumph included a 4-0 start with zero set losses in that span. [player_tooltip player_id='173518' first='Rilyn' last='Gish'] remains a high-impact addition to the Club Legacy gym. She is backed up by an outstanding group of defenders led by [player_tooltip player_id='213983' first='Bryleigh' last='Hofer'], [player_tooltip player_id='253921' first='Izabella' last='Vlasek'], and [player_tooltip player_id='253929' first='Maya' last='Porter'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Nebraska Elite 18 Moana</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Omaha's 18 Open division was a gauntlet, but Nebraska Elite 18 Moana was up to the task.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The division featured two gigantic pools featuring eight teams each, and it was a full round-robin to determine final seeding. Nebraska Elite slugged its way through the opening round en route to a 5-2 record--good enough for a three-way tie for the lead. Unfortunately, 18 Moana was ousted from the Gold bracket by a set percentage tiebreaker. Margins were slim, but 18 Moana finished on a high note by taking down [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 17 Black in an in-state bout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='173523' first='Elizabeth' last='Layson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='173525' first='Sky' last='Miller'] are thriving at 18 Moana's left-side hitter spot. This has also allowed [player_tooltip player_id='173520' first='Ava' last='Stone'] and [player_tooltip player_id='189372' first='Liv' last='Odvody'] to capitalize on some open seams at the net, giving this Nebraska Elite squad another tough layer to defend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] 17 Navy</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We can always count on [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] 17 Navy to show up when the lights are brightest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year's AAU champs show a little more elite form through last weekend's President's Day Classic. After dropping the event's opening match, 17 Navy went on a four-match winning streak that would propel it to the final 17 Open bracket. All of those wins came in straight sets, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] group is still flexing its offensive balance. [player_tooltip player_id='518569' first='Emma' last='Ammon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='458181' first='Faith' last='Wiechman'] are a wicked frontcourt duo that can slot into several different positions. [player_tooltip player_id='349472' first='Emeline' last='Myers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349470' first='Ella' last='Frandson'] are two key ball-control contributors who help the front-row firepower flourish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hanging out with the AAU champs.<a href="https://twitter.com/RCJRSOmaha?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RCJRSOmaha</a> 17 Navy set a high bar last summer after winning the 16 Club crown in Orlando. Back for more in 2025.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='458181' first='Faith' last='Wiechman'] is already going to work in the frontcourt. <a href="https://t.co/m82WZLLnQQ">pic.twitter.com/m82WZLLnQQ</a></p>&mdash; Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1880987873522131352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Premier Nebraska 17 Red</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both third-place finishers in the 17 Club division are Premier Nebraska squads. What a feat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll start with Premier Nebraska 17 Red, a team with plenty of balance and firepower across its lineup. Versatile attackers like [player_tooltip player_id='349414' first='Reagan' last='Siebler'] and Jocelyn O'Neal have anchored this group for a while. The team is now aided by the emergence of physically dominant athletes like [player_tooltip player_id='518585' first='Aerrianna' last='Quattrocchi'] and [player_tooltip player_id='582303' first='Hannah' last='Ehrenberg'], who help the offensive and defensive phases.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17 Red put together one of Omaha's most compelling displays of superiority last weekend. The team did not drop a single set through pool play and maintained that sweep streak through two rounds of the Gold bracket. The only defeat for this squad came in the semifinals against Midwest Elite, the eventual 17 Club runner-up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Premier Nebraska 17 Silver</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How about Premier Nebraska's depth in the 17s age group?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our earlier Minneapolis visit for the Northern Lights Qualifier showed us how exciting this Premier Nebraska 17 Silver group can be. Even with [player_tooltip player_id='349410' first='Mia' last='Stevens'] and [player_tooltip player_id='389408' first='Anya' last='Kolli'] oscillating between playing setter and middle blocker, 17 Silver keeps piling up wins. [player_tooltip player_id='396737' first='Danielle' last='Vallinch'] has flourished as an elite backcourt defender, and we're still seeing the familiar domination from [player_tooltip player_id='396738' first='Hayden' last='Sliva'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349417' first='Halle' last='Nienaber'] on the pins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17 Silver roared out of the gates with two perfect rounds of pool play to notch a 6-0 record heading into the Gold bracket. That winning streak grew to eight with wins over Mizuno M1 and Mizuno Northern Lights. It took a red-hot Shockwave team to finally topple 17 Silver, placing this incredible group in third place among its 17 Club competitors. It's an identical journey to 17 Red, bringing Premier Nebraska's 17s excellence to a new level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->