Which Nebraska 16s Teams Have Been Early-Season Surprises?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who doesn't like a quick start?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sure, we still have a lot of the club season left. Teams will continue to improve and evolve, transforming the entire narrative around Great Plains Region competitors. Still, it's worth giving a nod to the squads storming out of the gates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 16s are a fascinating age group to examine for this theme. This is a formative year where fundamentals are cemented and the tempo quickens. Nebraska features several 16s teams that have found this groove in the 2025 season's early stages.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few of our picks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Club Legacy 16 Alpha</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one has to be on the list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've documented Club Legacy 16 Alpha's perfect 10-0 barnstorming at the President's Day Classic. It's a testament to the cohesive bonds this group has been building since we saw them as 15s last year. This breakthrough was coming.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Omaha Concordia standouts like [player_tooltip player_id='512869' first='Alyse' last='Moulton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='458125' first='Breckynn' last='Snyder'] have glued this team together through their year-round connection and chemistry. [player_tooltip player_id='575155' first='Addie' last='Stater'] has exhibited her multi-position flexibility, and [player_tooltip player_id='521300' first='Grace' last='Samuelson'] complements her physicality in the middle. Keep tabs on backcourt contributors like [player_tooltip player_id='728939' first='Mylee' last='Hadan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='773342' first='Claire' last='Ana Monjarez-Palermo'], too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Elite</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Elite needed to rotate in a new wave of athletes after last year's 15s group clinched an Open bid. That success of that transition lands 16 Elite in our group of surprise teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This squad's leadership core is still intact from the 2024 season. Guidance from star setter [player_tooltip player_id='458165' first='McKinley' last='Moser'] was key to getting 16 Elite into the final bracket at Triple Crown NIT. [player_tooltip player_id='458164' first='Kaelynn' last='Lottman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='737370' first='Averi' last='Bridges'] have also elevated their game in the back row to help Moser run her up-tempo offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A stout group of newcomers has helped, too. [player_tooltip player_id='521248' first='Livia' last='Drevo'] and Karissa VanKirk have reinforced 16 Elite's pin positions. [player_tooltip player_id='573382' first='Haleigh' last='Bauer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='774910' first='Emma' last='Rink'] add an extra dose of terminal ability from the Class of 2028. The new medley is already yielding results.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This was quite an experience to open Sunday's slate.<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> 16 Elite wins a dramatic match to reach the Elite bracket. Nebraska's 16s scene continues to write new storylines. <a href="https://t.co/60twhi21yO">pic.twitter.com/60twhi21yO</a></p>&mdash; Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1891133191823425950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Premier Nebraska 16 Red</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Premier Nebraska has given us plenty of excitement in the 16s age group, but 16 Red's gains have stood out through the first few weeks of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team made an early statement at January's Nebraska Elite Classic by splitting a pair of thrilling matches with Nebraska Elite 16 Apex. This set the stage for further breakthroughs as 16 Red earned a 5-2 record at last month's President's Day Classic in Omaha.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Balance and ball control are a winning formula for this Premier Nebraska group. 16 Red has plenty of frontcourt weapons with [player_tooltip player_id='521185' first='Brynn' last='Rasmussen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='521175' first='Ava' last='Johnson'] thriving on the pins. We've also enjoyed watching [player_tooltip player_id='521183' first='Lauren' last='Eck'] and [player_tooltip player_id='521161' first='Avery' last='Kelsay'] develop into game-wrecking middle blockers. Of course, the ball control phase is anchored by returning stars like [player_tooltip player_id='499010' first='Bailey' last='Ferguson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='521180' first='Drew' last='Schnabel'], who have formed a perfect tandem to help lock down first and second contacts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Premier Nebraska will field a deep group of 16s teams in 2025.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='521185' first='Brynn' last='Rasmussen'] dishes the out-of-system swing for <a href="https://twitter.com/premier16red?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@premier16red</a>. <a href="https://t.co/bxPzuiW75Y">pic.twitter.com/bxPzuiW75Y</a></p>&mdash; Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1878472130712502782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Black</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An incredible influx of talent has thrust [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Black into the regional spotlight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln North Star sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='458146' first='Alex' last='Kroll'] has looked incredibly comfortable while setting the offense for her new team. She is joined by a talented group of fellow Navigators with [player_tooltip player_id='458167' first='Delainey' last='Volkmer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='521266' first='Lauren' last='McKernan'] making waves along the net for 16 Black. [player_tooltip player_id='458130' first='Haleah' last='Schuerman'] has maintained her reign over the libero spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] group made early strides through the Midwest Power League and played up an age group at the President's Day Classic. 16 Black has made a habit of taking down older foes, so watch out for these athletes on the qualifier stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Nebraska Elite 16 Apex</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This 16 Apex squad faced a similar challenge to [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Elite heading into the 2025 season. New players needed to step up to fill some voids, and Nebraska Elite executed some brilliant roster moves to keep the momentum rolling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='773394' first='Brielle' last='Carmichael'] made a dramatic entrance at the Nebraska Elite Classic as 16 Apex debuted its new group of outside hitters. [player_tooltip player_id='508161' first='Nevaeh' last='Hilderbrand'] has added another layer of depth to the fray, and [player_tooltip player_id='521212' first='Kayla' last='Brown'] can play around the dial, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stability at other positions has helped a new group of attackers gel. [player_tooltip player_id='521204' first='Taylor' last='Barcel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='458183' first='Kherington' last='Snider'] run a seamless two-setter offense, and [player_tooltip player_id='458186' first='Trina' last='Schroeder'] remains the team's focal point in the back row. We've seen how this team can step up on big stages, and we have a few more coming up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Big early-season debut for Nebraska Elite 16-1, which qualified in GJNC's Open division last year.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='499001' first='Madison' last='Phillips'] going to work on the right side. <a href="https://t.co/1oSW4C34ux">pic.twitter.com/1oSW4C34ux</a></p>&mdash; Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1878469468789133634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></blockquote>