TC NIT Preview: Nebraska’s Power Pool Contenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Few club stages are bigger than this.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>America's entire club volleyball community will converge on Kansas City for this weekend's annual Triple Crown NIT. This high-profile event features elite competition, recruiting buzz, and endless early-season drama. Nebraska teams will be there, and so will we.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>TC NIT's power pools have become a hallmark of the event's unique format. These groups are intended to recognize the nation's best teams and give them “immunity” from early elimination. Power pool teams are guaranteed a spot in the Elite bracket's Round of 64 regardless of results from opening group play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska brings a few of these power pool honorees to Kansas City. Let's give a nod to the 15U-18U power poolers carrying the Great Plains Region banner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">18U</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one's all about <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 18 Elite</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's hard not to include this group after the slew of early-season headlines 18 Elite has already generated. [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] earned a quick 18 Open bid through its runner-up finish at Kansas City's MLK Tournament. 18 Elite then backed that up with another second-place run at the Northern Lights Qualifier to usher in February. This team has battled its way to power pools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] also gets this distinction despite fielding a very unfamiliar 18s group this year. New additions to 18 Elite include [player_tooltip player_id='189320' first='Natalie' last='Wardlow'], [player_tooltip player_id='155052' first='Kiera' last='Link'], and [player_tooltip player_id='173527' first='Abbie' last='Hagedorn'], all of whom moved in from the vaunted [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] Synergy squad. Omaha commit [player_tooltip player_id='189362' first='Faith' last='Venable'] is a returning veteran who leads the way on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday's slate starts with showdowns against Madfrog, Houston Skyline, and North Pacific Juniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Double qualification sounds pretty good, doesn't it?<a href="https://twitter.com/VCNebraska?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VCNebraska</a> 18 Elite follows up its MLK bid triumph with a trip to the NLQ 18 Open championship.<br><br>Locked in. <a href="https://t.co/DCAvqJxrBD">pic.twitter.com/DCAvqJxrBD</a></p>&mdash; Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1886140175752806833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">17U</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's another team with recent qualifier success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Premier Nebraska 17 Gold is fresh off its dramatic march to a third-place finish at the Northern Lights Qualifier. If there were any doubts about this group's power pool worthiness, a 9-1 run in NLQ's 17 Open division certainly quelled any concerns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top-ranked 2026 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='275935' first='Addison' last='West'] leads the way for 17 Gold's offense. The North Carolina commit exhibited increasing range and terminal ability while taking a ton of attacking volume in Minneapolis. Likewise, right-side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='253907' first='Avery' last='White'] is playing some of her best volleyball and provides a multi-dimensional scoring threat along the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ball control could be another separating factor for this Premier Nebraska team. [player_tooltip player_id='275937' first='Ella' last='Eymann'] and [player_tooltip player_id='275901' first='Hayden' last='Booth'] run a quick offense from the back row and are aided by the stout backcourt play of Rutgers commit [player_tooltip player_id='275896' first='Kami' last='Dyrstad']. Another thrilling weekend begins with contests against Houston Skyline, Wave, and WPVC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">They did it!<a href="https://twitter.com/premier17gold?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@premier17gold</a> wins another three-set thriller to clinch a 17 Open bid! <a href="https://t.co/lD3fNUwoss">pic.twitter.com/lD3fNUwoss</a></p>&mdash; Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1886168748312220136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">16U</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, we get to double-dip with Premier Nebraska 16 Gold and [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Elite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lot of eyes will be on this age group. There are recruiting implications for these athletes heading into the summer, and we also haven't seen such a high-profile event for the 16s yet. We're about to learn a lot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two Great Plains squads recently produced a three-set thriller at last weekend's Midwest Power League with VCN coming out on top. 16 Elite boasts an incredible backcourt unit with [player_tooltip player_id='458164' first='Kaelynn' last='Lottman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='737370' first='Averi' last='Bridges'] running the show. The team has called in reinforcements from players like [player_tooltip player_id='521248' first='Livia' last='Drevo'], [player_tooltip player_id='575237' first='Madison' last='Zajicek'], and [player_tooltip player_id='443108' first='Reese' last='Eilenstine']. All three played for different teams last year but bring a new layer of hard-hitting potential to the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Gold wields similar strengths. First contacts are anchored by emerging stars like [player_tooltip player_id='458162' first='Taylor' last='McLeay'] and [player_tooltip player_id='458362' first='Campbell' last='Capece']. The big storyline here is the addition of [player_tooltip player_id='458124' first='Gracie' last='Lauenstein'] and [player_tooltip player_id='458123' first='Hallie' last='Lauenstein'] from last year's top VCN squad. They've already connected well with [player_tooltip player_id='458126' first='Ava' last='Waters'], one of Nebraska's most dynamic 2027 setters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">15U</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We now venture into the great unknown of the 15s. This is a notoriously unpredictable age group, but <strong>Premier Nebraska 15 Gold</strong> will look to navigate an elite field of future stars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like the teams mentioned above, 15 Gold performed admirably at last weekend's Midwest Power League. This squad uses a pin-heavy attack that can use [player_tooltip player_id='737386' first='Adara' last='Fowlkes'], [player_tooltip player_id='566265' first='Leighton' last='Froehlich'], and [player_tooltip player_id='575232' first='Katie' last='Callahan'] in various positions and situations. [player_tooltip player_id='567542' first='Ava' last='Nowling'] and [player_tooltip player_id='572680' first='Brooklyn' last='Beethe'] take care of the defensive duties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday's schedule is stacked with top-tier competitors like 1st Alliance, Adversity, and Elevation. 15 Gold will embrace the challenge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Finally getting an in-person look at <a href="https://twitter.com/Premier_15Gold?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Premier_15Gold</a>.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='737386' first='Adara' last='Fowlkes'] getting active at the net and can make an impact on either pin. <a href="https://t.co/DnAzXCM2sU">pic.twitter.com/DnAzXCM2sU</a></p>&mdash; Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1888595141952434623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote>