Small-Town Stars, Big Impressions at Nebraska Freshman Showcase

Our showcases are at their best when we bring in stars from around the map.   Naturally, the annual La Vista showcase doubleheader brings in dozens of athletes from Nebraska's big cities. We talk about Omaha and Lincoln a lot. However, the Prep Dig Circuit has started to expand its geographical footprint and draw in hidden gems from smaller locales.   We were fortunate to be joined by a handful of small-town standouts at our Nebraska Freshman Showcase, and these 2029s were eager to make a big first impression. Mission accomplished.    Platteview High School is nestled in the shadow of southern Omaha and produces its share of exceptional volleyball talent. Stites competed with Premier Nebraska during the club season and brought an exceptional right-side presence to last weekend's showcase. Even as different setters rotated in during team drills, Stites managed to form cohesive connections and stay in a rhythm at the net. She's ready to add a little firepower to one of Nebraska's up-and-coming high school programs.     We're not done with Platteview yet. Brunssen was another future Trojan who stepped up and produced several hitting highlights last weekend. She reached over the top of opposing blockers and used her excellent court vision to find open seams. We also put left-side hitters through a gauntlet of defensive drills, allowing us to see Brunssen's impact potential in the back row. Impact underclassmen are on the way at Platteview.     Paxton High School is adding an athlete who can do a little of everything. Flaming's combination of ball control and fearless pursuit reminds us of so many other successful athletes in the [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] program. She logged some impressive reps with her club team this spring and has not slowed down in this late-summer stretch. No matter if she slots into an outside hitter role or a DS spot, Flaming is sure to make a positive impact in the Paxton lineup.     We expect to see Hopwood's name on the club trail for a while. She was a key contributor to Nebraska Juniors' leading 14U entry this spring and did anything she could to lift the team to victory. Hopwood saw some time as an attacker at our showcase, but could also run the offense from the setter spot. Shelby-Rising City is adding a versatile athlete to its roster and could see a considerable uptick in the win column this year.     Sandhills/Thedford has seen plenty of volleyball success lately and could keep the momentum going with its Class of 2029. Morrow wielded her explosive approach in La Vista and proved her skills can translate to big stages. Her on-court energy and hustle were also notable, particularly as the pace quickened late in the event. This was a perfect venue for Morrow to get a head start on her own scouting report.     We have another single-school double-dip from the small-town circuit. Ray added to the Sandhills/Thedford representation at Saturday's event and shouldered multiple roles throughout the showcase. This dynamic athlete exhibited her prowess as a setter and attacker, often shifting between both positions during team drills. We've covered so many multi-talented standouts at Sandhills/Thedford over the years, and Ray could add to the list.     Adams Central High School knows how to get the most out of its attackers, so we're excited to watch Goracke's development with this central Nebraska program. Goracke is fresh off a club campaign with NVA's top 14U competitor, making her a must-see recruiting target on the small-town scene. Her quick arm can do work in the middle or on the right side, so Adams Central will have plenty of options when Goracke joins the fray this fall.

Our showcases are at their best when we bring in stars from around the map.