Nebraska Bid Tracker: VCNebraska 15 Elite Soars at NLQ

VCNebraska has another bid breakthrough.   The Northern Lights Qualifier has often been a venue for Nebraska triumphs on the USAV front. Another GJNC-qualified team, VCNebraska 18 Elite, claimed a runner-up finish in Minneapolis earlier this year. In the second edition of NLQ, it was all about the 15s.   We set the stage for VCNebraska 15 Elite's final push when we previewed Nebraska's Sunday Gold contenders at NLQ. 15 Elite did precisely what was needed to lock up a 15 USA bid, and this group is heading to Dallas.   Here's how it went down as we add another team to the Nebraska Bid Tracker.     A Perfect Pursuit   The feature linked above touched on 15 Elite's red-hot NLQ streak. Let's relive it.   Day 1 ended in three consecutive sweeps, propelling VCNebraska into the next round. 15 Elite dropped a set in the Day 2 opener but was otherwise victorious in the next three contests. 6-0.   This placed 15 Elite in the quarterfinals of the 15 USA bracket. The Great Plains challenger was two wins away from a bid with three GJNC berths available in this division.   However, that journey needed to start with a Sunday victory. The opponent was MKE Sting 15 Black, and the contest started with a thrilling 27-25 win for VCN. Positive momentum built in Set 2, sending 15 Elite to the semifinals.   One more win would get the job done, and 15 Elite played its best volleyball with the finish line in sight. VCNebraska rolled past Houston Skyline 15 Black to reach the title match and lock up a GJNC bid. A runner-up finish at NLQ has placed VCNebraska among the nation's early USAV Nationals contenders. See you in Dallas.     A Unique Medley   This is one of the most unique 15s rosters in the Great Plains Region. VCNebraska 15 Elite features a wide geographical reach, a large group of 2029s, and exceptional depth at every position.   The Class of 2029 is not quite in our jurisdiction yet, but this group is too plentiful and talented to pass up.   Ball control positions glean a lot of strength from the 2029s. Karsyn Vejraska ran an outstanding pace at the setter spot for 15 Elite, but that was just the start of her NLQ influence. She also played stingy defense in the right-back area and set the tone for the rest of VCN's defenders.   Speaking of defenders, 2029 standout Makinley Ramsey was a game-changer in the back row. This versatile athlete could don the libero jersey or come off the bench as a DS. Ramsey also delivered several clutch serving runs for 15 Elite to maintain the team's winning streak.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/41-Violet-Sumner.jpg?w=934" alt="" class="wp-image-576576" style="width:305px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sumner</figcaption></figure>   The final 2029 entry provides firepower in the middle. [player_tooltip player_id='738511' first='Anna' last='Bauer'] is quick off the floor and dishes impressive angles in front of the setter. Our 2029 watch list has some early names for the first release.   2028s anchor the rest of the roster, and we have a lot of future stars to watch.   15 Elite has no shortage of options at the setter spot. In addition to Vejraska, VCNebraska also has standouts like [player_tooltip player_id='571950' first='Adeline' last='Hunnicutt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='575244' first='Violet' last='Sumner'] at the position. This creates so many lineup options for 15 Elite, and we haven't even ventured into the front row yet.   This squad's left-side hitters shoulder a ton of attacking volume. 15 Elite pulls [player_tooltip player_id='593775' first='Ava' last='Janulewicz'] from Grand Island Northwest High School and [player_tooltip player_id='568816' first='Kyler' last='Cada'] from Bishop Neumann. It's an unexpected tandem with a ton of range and six-rotation prowess. Both proved their elite status yet again at NLQ.   The right pin is loaded, too. 15 Elite leans on [player_tooltip player_id='702898' first='Elizabeth' last='Luebbe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='737394' first='Sydnie' last='Cain'] to produce behind the setter in the 6-2 system. This pair can go over the top of opposing blockers and capitalize on seams down the line.   Ofeleia Ramirez-Rousseau has been featured here before, and her reign continues at the middle blocker spot. She elevates well, has a large hitting window, and gives 15 Elite a clear option for in-system offense. Keep an eye on this Lincoln-area talent.   Finally, we have the perfect complement to Ramsey on the defensive end. [player_tooltip player_id='774597' first='Reese' last='Pedersen'] earned a wealth of libero reps in Minneapolis and performed best in high-pressure situations. Her pinpoint passes set up many of the attackers we've mentioned, and Pedersen is surely an unsung hero of 15 Elite's efforts. Expect that to continue through the road to GJNC.     The Tracker     18 Open   [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 18 Elite - KC MLK     18 USA   [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 18 Black - NLQ     17 Open   Premier Nebraska 17 Gold - NLQ     15 USA   VCNebraska 15 Elite - NLQ

VCNebraska has another bid breakthrough.