Nebraska’s Standout 2027 Middle Blockers at Show Me Qualifier

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's about time we highlight the middles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, we covered a handful of 2027 liberos who captured our attention among Nebraska's contenders at the Show Me Qualifier. Our post-Kansas City features keep rolling along as more names appear on the highlight tape. This is where the middle blockers loom large.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Great Plains Region delivered plenty of noteworthy middle performances, from MVP-caliber efforts to surprise breakouts on the national stage. We'll try to cover the full spectrum here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["521226"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6809d3da7bd28"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nebraska Elite 16 Apex always finds a way to distribute its offense and get everyone involved. Despite this balance, you can expect Petersen to receive plenty of attacking volume when 16 Apex is in system. The Elkhorn standout has been trending upward in the efficiency category and has experience at multiple frontcourt positions. Petersen's recent reps in the middle have reminded us of her game-changing potential along the net, and Nebraska Elite has taken full advantage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Natalie Skaggs","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Nebraska Juniors","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6809d3da7bdde"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Show Me Qualifier offered one of our longest looks at this year's Nebraska Juniors 16 Red squad. Skaggs immediately distinguished herself as a frontcourt force who could influence matches in various ways. She produced several quality block touches for 16 Red, allowing her teammates to convert on favorable transition opportunities. Skaggs also exhibited quick lateral movement to close any seams in the team's defense. Nebraska Juniors' middle blockers have consistently impressed us this year, and the 2027s are leading the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["521266"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6809d3da7be2d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Black's new collection of stars is heading to GJNC, and it's a perfect opportunity for McKernan to keep raising her stock. The Lincoln North Star sophomore is building off a brilliant fall campaign that ended in the ever-competitive Class A tournament. Her transition to the [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] gym is going just as well, and McKernan tallied another impactful outing in Kansas City. 16 Black has harnessed McKernan's explosiveness in front of the setter and on the slide, making her an all-around scoring threat in any rotation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["458128"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6809d3da7be72"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Langhorst's role with Premier Nebraska 16 Black has kept expanding, and the Archbishop Bergan sophomore has proven she can shoulder those responsibilities. This most recent Kansas City trip revealed the same dominant form that has made Langhorst successful at so many other past qualifiers. She gets off the floor quickly and has a knack for finding open gaps in the defense. Langhorst can also become a game-wrecking defensive force who anchors 16 Black's wall at the net. Premier's 2027 middle blockers took care of business at Show Me.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='521283' first='Katelyn' last='Krikac']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lincoln East","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Black","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6809d3da7bef6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Black is another squad with a lot of newness this year, but the high-level triumphs keep rolling in. Krikac has been a perfect fit for the 16 Black lineup and helped her team reach another Gold bracket in the 16 Liberty division. This Lincoln East prep athlete brings exceptional length to the frontcourt and seems to thrive in high-pressure moments. The Show Me Qualifier gave Krikac plenty of chances to showcase that clutch potential, which will be needed as her team prepares for GJNC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["591597"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6809d3da7bf3d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">How about another stout middle blocker from Show Me's 16 Liberty division? Baldwin joins a long list of South Central NE middle blockers who have turned into stars of the small-town scene. South Central NE 16 Black reached the final 16 Liberty bracket behind Baldwin's hard-hitting style and extraordinary attacking range. She converted on most of her one-on-one swings and was part of 16 Black's most memorable Show Me blocks. Sutton High School is eager to deploy this rising junior for another fall campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='773383' first='Claire' last='Perkes']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Omaha Concordia","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Club Legacy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6809d3da7bfd4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Club Legacy 16 Bravo will bring several new names into our Class of 2027 watch list. Perkes is part of that group and has made significant strides at the middle blocker spot. The Omaha Concordia sophomore can terminate over the top of opposing blockers and has incorporated several different routes into her repertoire. Perkes has seen plenty of time in the spotlight with 16 Bravo making deep runs at late-season qualifiers. It's the perfect launching point to more breakthroughs this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->