GJNC Podium Spotlight: South Central NE 15 Black

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The small-town crew is back at it again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're only two years removed from South Central NE putting a 15U contender on GJNC's 15 Liberty podium. This season's 15 Black squad was an entirely different group of small-town athletes, but history repeated itself in Dallas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The path to USAV Nationals remains the same, too. South Central NE has always pinned its qualification hopes on Kansas City's Show Me Qualifier, and the club's outstanding national success has extended to the latest 15 Black squad. A runner-up finish at Show Me was the prelude to another unforgettable outing at club volleyball's grandest venue.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at South Central NE 15 Black's run to the podium in Dallas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coming Up Clutch</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Central NE 15 Black was seeded modestly as the No. 16 overall team in 15 Liberty's 24-team field. We could easily label this squad as a small-town underdog, but we also know about South Central NE's tendency to defy initial seeding.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 Black's opening-round journey was a testament to the group's ability to bounce back and win while under pressure. South Central NE dropped its first match of the tournament to Austin Performance, the No. 1 seed in the pool. The Great Plains crew responded by claiming two hotly contested sweeps over 417 MoJrs and WAVE to end Wednesday at 2-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, South Central NE faced more adversity after falling in Thursday's opener against Madfrog. The loss put 15 Black in a must-win situation in the Round 1 finale to remain in 15 Liberty's top group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 Black answered the call by pushing past SynergyForce to stay alive. Friday's slate loomed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Central NE was paired with Texas Tornados and Panda VBC in the second round. The Nebraska visitors scored one of their best performances of the tournament by taking down the home-standing Texas Tornados squad. 15 Black fell to Panda VBC, but had done enough to reach the challenge round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":788289,"width":"316px","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/5/2025/06/RG1A5800.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-788289" style="width:316px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Staehr</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Suddenly, a Round 1 rematch with 417 MoJrs was on the docket. The stakes were much higher now with a spot in the 15 Liberty semifinals up for grabs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams exchanged set victories before South Central NE pulled away in a 15-11 tiebreaker. The "clutch factor" had returned.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 Black went one step further by taking down EVA to reach the championship match. Though South Central NE came up one spot short of the mountaintop, this small-town juggernaut successfully made waves in front of prep volleyball's biggest audience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Rural Roots</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We covered 15 Black's stars after the team's Show Me triumph, but these standouts have earned plenty more time in the spotlight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Central NE pulls its athletes from several small-town schools, but there was some special teammate synergy on this roster, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aurora High School standouts [player_tooltip player_id='572563' first='Hailey' last='Hoff'] and [player_tooltip player_id='570568' first='Kaitlyn' last='Staehr'] were both 15 Liberty all-tournament honorees for their efforts toward the runner-up finish. Better yet, this is a setter-hitter duo that can wield their uncanny year-round connection. Hoff's steady hands at the setter spot were the key to 15 Black's balance, and Staehr capitalized with some floor-denting swings on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":788290,"width":"327px","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/5/2025/06/RG1A5801.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-788290" style="width:327px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hoff</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 Black had a third all-tournament selection with Holdrege High School attacker [player_tooltip player_id='774622' first='Gracie' last='Johnson'] getting the well-deserved nod. Johnson is the kind of long, fluid attacker who can score from anywhere in the frontcourt. She has a strong background as a middle blocker but also thrives with slower tempos that are normally reserved for pin hitters. This allows Johnson's physicality to take over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several more exceptional athletes generated highlight moments along the net. Minden middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='572605' first='Aly' last='Cederburg'] has been a persistent threat for 15 Black and adds to the long list of frontcourt stars from her school. Moreover, [player_tooltip player_id='570903' first='Kamryn' last='Klockman'] has added her quick arm to the pin positions and can terminate on either side of the setter. Cederburg and Klockman are building off big introductions at last year's Prep Dig Freshman Showcase, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='780223' first='Ashlyn' last='Barber'] further fortifies 15 Black's intimidating presence. Don't discount this small-town club's ability to match up physically with anyone in its division. We got a stark reminder at GJNC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, any successful team has to have the first-contact prowess to back up its terminal arms. [player_tooltip player_id='774620' first='Bella' last='Heins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='573571' first='Adalyn' last='Cisneros'] have been the perfect candidates to bolster 15 Black's ball control, giving the team an edge in GJNC's grueling marathons. Terrific liberos have a history of emerging in unexpected places.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And as unexpected as 15 Black's Nationals run may have been to some, we know this group will be back for more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->