Which Nebraska 2026s Surprised Us at NLQ?

We always love surprises.   Naturally, the Class of 2026 was a major focal point of our Northern Lights Qualifier coverage. We saw some of Nebraska's best 2026s vie for bids in the 17s and 18s age groups, ushering in an exciting club season for these seasoned veterans. Many 2026s are still available for collegiate recruitment, so our coverage of this talented group will persist.   And it's never too late to become a stock riser, either. During our stay in Minneapolis, we identified a few 2026s who rose above and beyond expectations when the lights were brightest.    Martin has soared onto our radar after piloting the [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Lime offense at NLQ. She proved she could spread the ball from pin to pin while also competing at the net in a 5-1 offense. 17 Lime earned a four-match winning streak in Minneapolis behind Martin's leadership, giving the team even more lineup possibilities throughout the 2025 season.     Scheef is already proving to be a high-impact addition to the Banzai VBC gym. Her qualifier debut with 17 Select was a success, and Scheef transformed her scouting report in the process. She has the range to be a setter and an attacker, which fits perfectly into 17 Select's aggressive brand of volleyball. Scheef was especially proficient when setting with tempo and giving her pin hitters large seams to hit through. This is an exciting new combo to watch on the regional stage.     Nebraska Elite 17 Phoenix brings some wicked firepower to the net, but stout ball control has allowed that frontcourt group to flourish. Freeman remains an unsung hero for this team and primarily operates as a defensive specialist in the middle-back area. Her vital role as a passer and floor defender has put this stock riser in the spotlight against elite competition. Freeman's rise into the rankings is due.     How about another dynamic setter-opposite hybrid for this feature? VanOverbeke is a multi-dimensional force for Nebraska Elite 17 Motion, and she elevated her game a step further in Minneapolis. This physical athlete was a go-to attacker whenever she rotated into the frontcourt, but VanOverbeke's influence was not limited to her swings. She can also dish the ball when needed and has a mature feel for tempo and location. Nebraska Elite has no shortage of do-everything athletes in its 17s stable.     We alluded to Vallinch's outstanding NLQ performance in our <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/02/nebraska-nlq-team-spotlight-premier-nebraska-17-silver/">team spotlight</a> of Premier Nebraska 17 Silver. The team wielded an unorthodox lineup throughout its stay in Minneapolis, but that didn't stop Vallinch from putting together an extraordinary weekend in the libero jersey. The Papio South standout dug heat in the crosscourt and relieved pressure from her fellow passer. Vallinch was also a stabilizing presence during 17 Silver's many dramatic matches in high-stakes moments. You can't ask for much more from a libero.     Like many other athletes listed here, Jasper demonstrated her incredible positional versatility through last weekend's qualifier. We've seen her thrive as a pin attacker in past seasons, but Jasper earned some reps in the middle when Club Legacy 17 Bravo traveled to Minneapolis. Her physicality and pin-to-pin quickness made her an ideal fit for the role, as Jasper could anchor any block put up by 17 Bravo's frontcourt. Look out for this Columbus Lakeview prospect on the small-town scene.     We have one more example of a player thriving in a new club gym. Talbott moved to [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] this year and is finding various ways to contribute to the club's top 17s squad. She's primarily a right-side hitter who brings an impressive combination of attacking power and blocking prowess. However, Talbott can also anchor a backcourt position when her number is called. 17 Elite experimented with plenty of lineup combinations last weekend, and Talbott can be a focal point in many of them.

We always love surprises.

Naturally, the Class of 2026 was a major focal point of our Northern Lights Qualifier coverage. We saw some of Nebraska's best 2026s vie for bids in the 17s and 18s age groups, ushering in an exciting club season for these seasoned veterans. Many 2026s are still available for collegiate recruitment, so our coverage of this talented group will persist.

And it's never too late to become a stock riser, either. During our stay in Minneapolis, we identified a few 2026s who rose above and beyond expectations when the lights were brightest.