Nebraska Storylines and Instant Impressions from NLQ #3

What a stay in Minneapolis.   The Northern Lights Qualifier is an important yearly barometer for teams across the Great Plains Region. This is especially true when the 15s and 16s enter the mix, as we're still learning a lot about how these age groups stack up on the national scene. It's time to share an overview of what we learned.   While the entire weekend is still fresh in our minds, here are a few storylines and impressions we've taken from NLQ #3.     Our 2027 Database Needs an Overhaul   Nebraska's 2027 rankings and watch list will end up being bigger than we thought.   As we got to the final rounds of NLQ, a large group of Nebraska 16s teams remained in Gold contention until the bitter end. Club Legacy, [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''], and Nebraska Elite each brought two of their 16s squads into the bid hunt heading into Sunday. Premier Nebraska brought another one in 16 USA.   This list of teams presents numerous opportunities to add names to our 2027 watch list. And, even if an athlete is already on the watch list, we watched several players who deserve to make the jump into our rankings. Class of 2027 narratives shifted dramatically in Minneapolis.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/03/IMG_7545.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-764493" style="width:463px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Elite competes at the 2025 Northern Lights Qualifier.</figcaption></figure>   So, when can we expect these changes? We're still looking at a busy qualifier stretch ahead with Windy City and Show Me on the horizon. After that, we have a considerable window to crank out these updates and go into more detail about 2027 stock risers and new additions. Expect more next month.     Bid Breakthroughs are Coming   We were so close to adding several Bid Tracker entries at NLQ. Expect some squads to seal the deal in the coming weeks.   NLQ was a reminder of the razor-thin margins that characterize club volleyball. Some of our Sunday bid contenders were ousted by a deuce third set. Others lost out on triple tiebreakers. Whatever the case, we saw how unforgiving these qualifier formats can be, and Nebraska squads were right on the cusp of GJNC breakthroughs.   Keep a close eye on the Show Me Qualifier in Kansas City. Many of the same competitors will join us there and seek retribution for NLQ's close calls. We'll have a new group of challengers in each division, giving us a different view of the national scene. This is a big one.     Assessing the 15s Will Take Time   NLQ has the unique quirk of splitting the 15s divisions into two weekends. This has presented additional challenges in taking stock in the 15s.   Luckily, we have plenty of time and highlights to reach a complete assessment. 15 Open and 15 Liberty had a fascinating medley of Nebraska athletes at NLQ #3, and we got some bid contenders along the way. At the same time, we have to remember that this wasn't the full picture.   Our Class of 2028 watch list is still in its infancy. NLQ will help us fill in the gaps, but it will take a bit more effort. Several high-impact 2028s are playing up an age group, too. Our next 2028 watch list update will drop immediately after the 2027s. It's sure to be a busy time on the site.     How Many Features Can We Churn Out? A Lot.   You don't have to wait until rankings updates to hear more about NLQ's top-performing athletes and teams. We'll have the full scoop over the next week.   This action-packed weekend has given us an infinite number of series ideas and new angles to cover. Prepare for the full perspective as we look ahead to the next tranche of qualifiers. These features are bound to feature several names we haven't discussed before, so it will be a special time for the site. Join us.

What a stay in Minneapolis.