Nebraska 16s Teams Gaining Momentum after Show Me Qualifier

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's give a nod to the 16s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, we covered a handful of <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/04/nebraska-17s-teams-gaining-momentum-after-show-me-qualifier/">Nebraska 17s teams</a> that brought their best to Kansas City for the Show Me Qualifier. The list of breakout squads expands further as we look down at the 16s, as several groups were on the cusp of bids in their respective divisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our Show Me coverage is in full swing, and we still have a long way to go. This weekend had it all.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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>We nearly had a bid "upgrade" in Kansas City.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Black has enjoyed a late-season surge, culminating in a 16 American bid triumph through the Great Plains Region. The team rejoined the 16 USA race at Show Me and came within one position of locking up another bid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Black split its opening-round matchups but found another gear on Day 2. A perfect pool record clinched [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE']'s spot in the Gold quarterfinals, where chaos ensued.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Great Plains crew fell in Monday's opener against OK Charge, but the journey wasn't over. Two of the top four in 16 USA were previously qualified, so a fifth-place bracket was needed to determine the final bid. [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] notched another dramatic win over HP Illinois to come within one match of the 16 USA bid. The finale did not go as planned, but 16 Black put its stamp on this division with a sixth-place finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='458146' first='Alex' last='Kroll'] has commanded a balanced, lethal offense for 16 Black. The left-side hitters were clutch last weekend with [player_tooltip player_id='458167' first='Delainey' last='Volkmer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='521253' first='Elsie' last='Schmidt'] paving the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We also have to commend the platoon of defensive specialists. [player_tooltip player_id='458130' first='Haleah' last='Schuerman'], [player_tooltip player_id='499009' first='Kira' last='Schweitzer'], and [player_tooltip player_id='774919' first='Marie' last='Paneitz'] have upgraded [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE']'s ball control and given its offensive weapons a chance to succeed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My “curtain call” match of the tournament.<br><br>Hanging out for the fifth-place contest in 16 USA as [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Black looks to upgrade its bid. <a href="https://t.co/vUCS8Ru3T0">pic.twitter.com/vUCS8Ru3T0</a></p>&mdash; Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1911866573796901256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- 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>How much more momentum can this team gain?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Club Legacy 16 Alpha has thrived on big stages this year. We discovered this team's high ceiling after a 10-0 blitz through the President's Day Classic in Omaha. 16 Alpha reached the final 16 Liberty group at NLQ and repeated that feat last weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Alpha did not drop a set through its first five contests at Show Me. The team won a dramatic bracket opener against Mizuno Club North to reach the division's top five.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dynamic hitters like [player_tooltip player_id='521300' first='Grace' last='Samuelson'], [player_tooltip player_id='458125' first='Breckynn' last='Snyder'], and [player_tooltip player_id='575155' first='Addie' last='Stater'] remain pivotal tone-setters for 16 Alpha. [player_tooltip player_id='512869' first='Alyse' last='Moulton'] has also maintained her versatile setter-hitter role to become 16 Alpha's all-around weapon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Club Legacy will carry the Great Plains banner into the next round.<a href="https://twitter.com/LegacyVBOmaha?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LegacyVBOmaha</a> 16 Alpha advances after a dramatic three-set effort. On to the 16 Liberty quarterfinals. <a href="https://t.co/rFfXNmRwYe">pic.twitter.com/rFfXNmRwYe</a></p>&mdash; Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1911801156990366205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Black</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's venture further through the 16 Liberty field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Black was a must-see team at NLQ and swiped a GJNC berth through the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament. Momentum was already peaking before Show Me.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Club Legacy, VCN 16 Black steamrolled through its first five matches of Show Me competition. This resulted in another bracket appearance, where 16 Black was narrowly defeated by eventual runner-up Platform.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has reinvented itself through high-impact additions at the pins. [player_tooltip player_id='498977' first='Jackie' last='Eberspacher'] and [player_tooltip player_id='452566' first='Elaina' last='Roger'] have been revelations at the net, allowing 16 Black to earn some key sideouts in tense situations. [player_tooltip player_id='521254' first='Kolbee' last='Kroemer'] keeps commanding the setter spot while [player_tooltip player_id='521233' first='Ella' last='Twarling'] and [player_tooltip player_id='521256' first='Emmalyn' last='Quinn'] handle the defensive duties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">South Central NE 16 Black</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Liberty storylines abound.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Central NE 16 Black joined Club Legacy and [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] in Show Me's final 16 Liberty bracket. This Kansas City trek started with three sweeps on Day 1, but the drama mounted in the second round. South Central played three-set marathons in all of its Sunday contests, winning two out of three to reach Gold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The small-town crew has it all. [player_tooltip player_id='767053' first='Zaya' last='Lewis'] patrols the floor as a backcourt setter and frontcourt attacker. [player_tooltip player_id='591554' first='Cayle' last='Grossart'] and [player_tooltip player_id='591588' first='Ava' last='Katzberg'] had stout offensive efforts in Kansas City, while [player_tooltip player_id='591602' first='Kamryn' last='Steinhauer'] showed her familiar dominance in the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Nebraska Elite 16 Surge</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Add another brilliant qualifier performance to the Nebraska Elite tally.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska Elite 16 Surge jumped onto our radar after soaring into NLQ's 16 American bracket. The team nearly struck again in Kansas City after opening the event with five consecutive sweeps. Unfortunately, 16 Surge tripped up in the pesky challenge round to miss out on the final group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Still, we have a wealth of standouts to see on this roster. [player_tooltip player_id='521215' first='Mary' last='Bahle'] and [player_tooltip player_id='510078' first='Addison' last='Keller'] have formed an excellent tandem to handle first and second contacts. [player_tooltip player_id='521244' first='Quinn' last='Sanmann'] is a focal point of the left-side hitter spot, and [player_tooltip player_id='521242' first='Alexis' last='Hewitt'] is finding her groove on the other side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Perhaps a little NLQ magic can carry over to Show Me.<a href="https://twitter.com/NebraskaElite?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NebraskaElite</a> 16 Surge reached the Gold bracket in Minneapolis and hopes to repeat that feat in KC. <a href="https://t.co/6bNZeFWe7L">pic.twitter.com/6bNZeFWe7L</a></p>&mdash; Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1911160852918546797?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Club Legacy 16 Bravo</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have fond memories of Club Legacy bringing two 16s squads into Gold contention at NLQ. Show Me nearly gave us more of the same.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Bravo's Kansas City stay was highlighted by a three-match winning streak from the end of Day 1 to the start of Day 2. Like Nebraska Elite, Club Legacy was in Gold contention up until the challenge round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ball-control excellence has pushed 16 Bravo forward. [player_tooltip player_id='521299' first='Brecken' last='Case'] and [player_tooltip player_id='575171' first='Parker' last='Steskal'] make up an exceptional backcourt tandem that has only improved with more high-level reps. [player_tooltip player_id='591608' first='Emma' last='Nadgwick'] and [player_tooltip player_id='591567' first='Kennedy' last='Hochstein'] are thriving on the pins, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->