Nebraska’s Title Contenders in Wave 3 Finale of AAU Nationals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska is bringing its best for Championship Tuesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've been watching results roll in from a hotly contested third wave of AAU Nationals. One of our recent features laid out the <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/06/nebraska-teams-taking-on-wave-3-of-aau-nationals/">Nebraska 16s and 17s teams participating in this group</a>, and many stood out as championship contenders. Now, as we head into the final day of Wave 3 action, several of those Nebraska competitors are still in the hunt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at our Tuesday title contenders at AAUs--and the treks needed to get to this position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">The Final Surge</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska Elite 16 Surge has been a title contender no matter where we've encountered this team. We covered this group's deep runs at the Northern Lights Qualifier and Show Me Qualifier, adding to the anticipation for AAU Nationals. This Orlando trip has offered more of the same.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Surge has only dropped two sets in its ten-match journey through 16 Aspire's pools. In fact, opposing teams have seldom eclipsed 20 points in a single set against 16 Surge. Tuesday morning's Round of 16 opener comes against Vaqueras, visitors from Puerto Rico.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">16 Alpha's Run Continues</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Why not add another triumph to <strong>Club Legacy 16 Alpha</strong>'s resume?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This squad has been dominant from the beginning of the 2025 campaign. 16 Alpha rolled through regional competition and compiled a perfect record at Omaha's Presidents' Day Classic. This was the prelude to several deep qualifier runs against the nation's best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perfection has prevailed again. Club Legacy has put up a flawless 10-0 record through three rounds of competition and a challenge match to reach the Gold bracket. This matches 16 Alpha's output in Omaha earlier this year, but there's more volleyball ahead. 16 Alpha meets KEVC 16-1 to kick off the Tuesday bracket in the Round of 16. The 16 Club division has a clear frontrunner carrying the Nebraska banner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Synergy's Redemption</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Synergy may find postseason glory after all.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This squad made waves in the Open division this year with elite, D1-bound talent. However, a few narrow qualifier defeats kept Synergy out of the USAV field. AAUs offered a chance at redemption, and [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] has seized the opportunity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Synergy has churned out a 10-0 record in Orlando's stacked 16 Open division. It's an extraordinary achievement that brought peak drama at the very end. [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] survived a 16-14 thriller in Set 3 to push past Sky High in the challenge match, keeping the team's Gold aspirations alive. A meeting with the home-standing OT 16 T JP is first on Tuesday's docket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Reaching the Peak</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nebraska Elite 16 Apex</strong> is saving its best for last.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As mentioned in our Wave 3 primer, 16 Apex tested its mettle in the Open division throughout the 2025 campaign. This core group was also an Open-qualified USAV competitor as 15s last year. All this experience has culminated in a berth in the 16 Premier bracket in Orlando.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1906351871612125649","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1906351871612125649 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Double Trouble</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is uncanny.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just like 16 Alpha, Club Legacy 17 Alpha is undefeated heading into its final 17 Club Gold bracket. This staggering stretch featured only one set loss, which came in 17 Alpha's tournament opener. Since then, this group has been untouchable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17 Alpha found its stride with a Silver bracket run at the Show Me Qualifier, proving this team could find some late-season form heading into the summer. The momentum has not slowed, and a matchup with 414 17 Elite awaits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1878476878362583440","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1878476878362583440 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Title Defense</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, we have the defending champs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] 17 Navy joins Club Legacy in the final 17 Club bracket. We have fond memories of 17 Navy's blitz through last year's AAU field, and we're enjoying a dramatic reprise this year. 17 Navy has <em>zero</em> set losses through ten matches of play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a championship favorite once again. AP 17 Baden is next on the slate. A collision with Club Legacy wouldn't come until the championship round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->