GJNC Podium Spotlight: Premier Nebraska 16 Black

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another podium performer enters the spotlight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've been hopping around the Nationals landscape for a while, and our coverage isn't slowing down anytime soon. Our recent features have paid special attention to the top-three finishers in their respective divisions, including <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/07/premier-nebraska-15-gold-wins-usav-nationals-15-usa-title/">Premier Nebraska 15 Gold</a>, <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/07/gjnc-podium-spotlight-premier-nebraska-15-black/">Premier Nebraska 15 Black</a>, and <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/07/gjnc-podium-spotlight-south-central-ne-15-black/">South Central NE 15 Black</a>. The latest addition to this series brings another Premier Nebraska team into the mix, but we're moving up to the 16s for this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just like their 15s counterpart, <strong>Premier Nebraska 16 Black</strong> was the beneficiary of some club-wide success following the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament. 16 Black had finished one position short of a Nationals bid at the tournament, but subsequent qualifiers offered chances to change the narrative. Those changes materialized as Premier Nebraska 16 Gold clinched an Open bid through the Show Me Qualifier, nullifying the team's 16 National bid from the Great Plains Region. 16 Black slid into the 16 Freedom slot and set its sights on Dallas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Nationals journey that followed was a culmination of 16 Black's tireless effort to adapt and reinvent after several offseason roster changes. This growth happened just in time for an extraordinary postseason triumph.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Living Up to the Billing</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our Nationals previews suggested that Premier Nebraska 16 Black had high expectations heading into the 16 Freedom division. The team was slotted as the No. 7 overall seed in the division, placing 16 Black at the top of Pool 7 in the opening round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Black backed up that ranking in a big way. Premier Nebraska swept both of its Day 1 matches and looked ahead to three more contests on Tuesday. FC Elite and NKYVC managed to swipe a set off of 16 Black, but the Great Plains visitors won both three-set battles and finished with a 5-0 mark after two days of competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Round 2 usually brings stiffer resistance, but 16 Black somehow became even more dominant. The win streak extended to seven as 16 Black claimed sweep victories over South County and Renaissance. Another straight-set win over UVA propelled this divisional frontrunner into the Gold bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Black secured its place on the podium with a win over Austin Skyline 16 Royal in the quarterfinals. The only team to stop Premier Nebraska 16 Black was Premier 16 Black--that is, the Premier club from the North Texas Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A third-place finish punctuated 16 Black's continuous growth throughout 2025, setting the stage for even bigger accomplishments next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Reinvention</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All this talk of development and reinvention wouldn't be complete without the athletes who made it all possible.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When 16 Black needed a boost, its familiar leaders stepped up. We've seen Class of 2028 star [player_tooltip player_id='774904' first='Tess' last='Solomon'] flourish as the focal point of 16 Black's success at two different positions. She's a dynamic setter-hitter who can drop a triple-double any time she suits up for Premier Nebraska. Despite playing up a year, Solomon is emerging as the engineer for 16 Black's offense in every rotation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ball control has become a clear strength with standout defender Neveah Jacobson anchoring the libero position. She complements Solomon's fluid setting to give 16 Black excellent first and second contacts in clutch moments. Jacobson is playing her best volleyball this spring and will remain a force with Millard South.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":789794,"width":"434px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/07/IMG_8526-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-789794" style="width:434px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Huff competes with Elkhorn North High School.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This ball control excellence is anchored by tremendous depth, too. [player_tooltip player_id='505788' first='Addison' last='Cahow'] maintains 16 Black's high standards at the setter spot and often takes over during Solomon's frontcourt rotations. If she's not running the offense, Cahow can also lock down a DS spot or dial up game-changing serves from off the bench.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Black's defense is further bolstered by [player_tooltip player_id='458129' first='Kenzie' last='Morris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='458188' first='Logan' last='Hickey']'s frequent presence along the end line. Both of these multi-talented athletes bring a pin-hitting background to the mix, so 16 Black has so many weapons to deploy in any rotation. This is a duo that can instantly control the middle-back area and offer some offensive spark along with it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, we have several other players delivering their own offensive firepower. We've watched [player_tooltip player_id='498923' first='Kaitlyn' last='Huff'] and [player_tooltip player_id='746498' first='Averi' last='Webster'] slot right into this team and carry on their momentum from a season ago. Being able to adapt to a new environment has elevated the stock of these two incredible front-row weapons. Huff remains a force on the right side, while Webster does most of her damage in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='458128' first='Peyton' last='Langhorst'] and Norah Haynes fortify the middle blocker spot even further. We were acquainted with Langhorst's physical presence early in her prep career, but Haynes has started to carve her path as a game-changing athlete for 16 Black. Lineup options keep expanding.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, we have the all-around influence of [player_tooltip player_id='503568' first='Makenna' last='Sanders'] and [player_tooltip player_id='521179' first='Claire' last='Chapman'] on the left side. Chapman, like Haynes, has become an emergent member of the team who found her groove midway through the 2025 season. Sanders is the same relentless terminator we remember from her championship run at Papio South.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Black's athletes may add a bit more championship hardware in the months and years to come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->