Nebraska NLQ Team Spotlight: VCNebraska 17 Black

Let's keep rolling with the team-based highlights from the Northern Lights Qualifier.   NLQ gave us a <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/02/nebraska-bid-tracker-premier-17-gold-survives-nlq-gauntlet/">dramatic bid triumph</a>, but several more squads are building off exceptional weekends in Minneapolis. One of those teams is [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 17 Black, a seasoned Lincoln-area group that broke into NLQ's final 17 Liberty bracket. We were lucky enough to follow this journey, and we have some takeaways and top performers to discuss.   This one's all about VCN 17 Black.     Drama Aplenty   17 Black's NLQ results prove you can never count this team out.   [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] started its Minneapolis stay with a four-match winning streak. This included a dramatic comeback bid against Iowa Impact 171 Elite in which 17 Black started with a 0-1 deficit. The contest reached Set 3, where [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] pulled out a 15-13 victory to wrap up a perfect opening round.   NLQ also came with regional bragging rights. 17 Black started Round 2 by taking down Premier Nebraska 17 Silver in a gritty Great Plains showdown. However, a three-set loss to Jet 17 Carr put [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] in a must-win showdown with 417 MoJrs to reach the final Liberty bracket.   17 Black played some of its best volleyball of the weekend, winning 2-0. Now, on to Sunday.   The weekend finale fully encompassed the highs and lows of 17 Black's NLQ path. The team recovered from a deuce set loss against Fieldhouse to win in three and reach the quarterfinals.   Then, [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] rallied from a 24-20 deficit against Temecula to keep its tournament alive. Even though that match didn't end in VCN's favor, 17 Black still proved its readiness to compete for a bid on the national stage. More opportunities await.  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Wow. Back from the brink.<a href="https://twitter.com/[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']</a> 17 Black rallies from a 24-20 deficit to win 27-25 and stay alive in the 17 Liberty quarterfinals. It's already been a grind today. <a href="https://t.co/O9nDuUBJ7b">pic.twitter.com/O9nDuUBJ7b</a>— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1886104208509682064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a></blockquote>    Stars of the Show   Everyone contributed to 17 Black's NLQ efforts. It's a big roster, which makes the distribution of excellence even more impressive.   Northwestern commit [player_tooltip player_id='278995' first='Kaitlyn' last='Bodnar'] showed her uncanny skill and finesse when guiding the offense. She consistently opened up seams for her outside hitters while holding middle blockers on the other side of the net. 17 Black never skipped a beat as [player_tooltip player_id='253922' first='Jadyn' last='Hazzard'] checked in to run the show or turn the tides as a serving specialist. Few Great Plains teams have such exceptional setter depth.  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On to Sunday.<a href="https://twitter.com/[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']</a> 17 Black secures a spot in the 17 Liberty Gold bracket with a win in the Round 2 finale. [player_tooltip player_id='253922' first='Jadyn' last='Hazzard'] finds the open spot for the clincher. <a href="https://t.co/NOAw1gzhJC">pic.twitter.com/NOAw1gzhJC</a>— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1885792851268645214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a></blockquote>  [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] seemingly has infinite pin combinations to wield on this roster. The addition of Lincoln Southwest standout [player_tooltip player_id='349455' first='Alivia' last='Gustafson'] has revolutionized 17 Black's approach. Gustafson has developed into a game-changing left-side hitter who can also absorb passing volume in the back row. Her versatility is astounding.  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">So far, so good.<a href="https://twitter.com/[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']</a> 17 Black claims Set 1 with [player_tooltip player_id='349455' first='Alivia' last='Gustafson'] working off hands. <a href="https://t.co/DvYNS3BPGD">pic.twitter.com/DvYNS3BPGD</a>— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1886056942977548329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a></blockquote>  This group has also benefitted from the meteoric rise of [player_tooltip player_id='231947' first='Kaydence' last='Haase'], who reached the state championship match with Exeter-Milligan/Friend. Her quick arm and high contact point presented matchup nightmares on the left side throughout NLQ.   17 Black has the liberty of platooning its opposite position to find the hot hand. We saw a steady dose of [player_tooltip player_id='349484' first='Piper' last='Bellamy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='257188' first='Brooklyn' last='Stehlik'] on the right side in Minneapolis. This duo has exhibited multi-pin flexibility throughout their prep careers, so it's only fitting to see them both on the right side. Either one can provide a spark at any moment.   The middle blocker spot has similar depth. Over the past few seasons, [player_tooltip player_id='518588' first='McKenzie' last='Becker'] has rotated between middle blocker and right-side hitter. She has recently offered her services in the middle, where her physicality and natural blocking skills can take over. We're also seeing [player_tooltip player_id='349476' first='Lauren' last='Eggerling'] transition from a pin-hitting role to the middle blocker position, and this seamless move is already paying dividends. And, like Becker, [player_tooltip player_id='349488' first='Jaycee' last='King'] has experience at opposite and middle. We're starting to get a sense of the wide range of lineups we can see from 17 Black as the season progresses. NLQ was a microcosm of this malleability.   Finally, we have the defensive duo. [player_tooltip player_id='349483' first='Kamrynn' last='Wemhoff'] locked down the libero position in Minneapolis. If you subscribe to "justice for liberos," you'd have a strong case for naming Wemhoff as 17 Black's MVP at NLQ. Her uncanny ability to read opposing attackers and put herself in the right spots was revolutionary for 17 Black's transition offense. She formed a perfect tandem with [player_tooltip player_id='486916' first='Haylee' last='Macke'], who frequently subbed in to relieve any one of [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']'s pin hitters. Macke wasn't afraid to pass her share of wicked serves from the middle-back area and support the ball-control cause.

Let's keep rolling with the team-based highlights from the Northern Lights Qualifier.