Nebraska 2028 Rankings Update: The First Top 50

It's finally here.   Our <a href="https://prepdig.com/nebraska/rankings/2028-rankings/">Nebraska 2028 rankings update</a> is a big one, simply because we can call it a rankings update. We've been piling on to our watch list since we were introduced to the Class of 2028 last year, but we still had tough decisions to make regarding our initial ranked list. That list has finally arrived, and it's 50 strong.   We always like to accompany these debut releases with some trends, observations, and several important reminders. Some of our veteran readers will recognize the points being made in this introductory feature, but it's always worth reiterating as we start a new rankings journey.   The journey is just beginning.     Top of the Heap   Let's start at the top.   It's important not to get too caught up in the order and fine distinctions of this first Top 50. We were splitting hairs throughout much of this list. Still, a select few athletes distinguished themselves and proved their worthiness to climb our hierarchy.   [player_tooltip player_id='555495' first='Shayla' last='Rautenberg'] debuts as our top-ranked player in Nebraska's Class of 2028. The Milford middle blocker made a lasting impression at last year's tournament and continued her reign with [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Synergy during the club season. Rautenberg's latest act was her gold medal-winning tenure with USA's U19 National Team at this summer's Pan-American Cup. She will be near the top of our 2028 national rankings, too.   <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/1898750883908682185 </div></figure>   We have a Gretna-Premier Nebraska duo in the Top 5. [player_tooltip player_id='575235' first='Logann' last='Dostal'] led her Premier Nebraska 15 Gold squad to a 15 USA title at GJNC, cementing Dostal's high standing among her 2027 peers. Her high-volume onslaught with 15 Gold resembled her debut prep season with Gretna.   Climb up to 16 Gold to find high-flying opposite [player_tooltip player_id='575234' first='Koco' last='Janssen']. Playing up an age group is often a difficult proposition, but Janssen's quick lefty swing lifted 16 Gold to the upper echelon of the Open division.   [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] gets on the board through the rest of our Top 5. Grand Island Northwest outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='593775' first='Ava' last='Janulewicz'] put up some of Nebraska's biggest freshman numbers last fall, and she didn't yield with [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 15 Elite this spring. [player_tooltip player_id='737370' first='Averi' last='Bridges'], our top-ranked libero, played up with 16 Elite and gained exceptional Open experience en route to GJNC.   All positions are represented in the Top 10. Middle blockers are coming out strong with [player_tooltip player_id='573382' first='Haleigh' last='Bauer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='774910' first='Emma' last='Rink'] joining Rautenberg near the top. Setters get in the action with [player_tooltip player_id='774904' first='Tess' last='Solomon'] commanding the position.     <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/39-Kaitlyn-Staehr.jpg?w=996" alt="" class="wp-image-576574" style="width:289px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Staehr</figcaption></figure>   Club Variety   We've addressed some common contenders with [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'], Premier Nebraska, and [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] looming large in the Top 10. However, the club variety expands as we scroll down the list.   South Central NE had to have some names on the list after 15 Black's special run to the GJNC podium. [player_tooltip player_id='572563' first='Hailey' last='Hoff'], [player_tooltip player_id='570568' first='Kaitlyn' last='Staehr'], [player_tooltip player_id='572604' first='Harley' last='Wardyn'], and [player_tooltip player_id='573571' first='Adalyn' last='Cisneros'] are just a few of the gems who have thrived in South Central NE uniforms. Small-town representation will remain a theme for the next section of this feature.   Nebraska Elite exhibited tremendous depth in 2025, particularly as its teams enjoyed a summer surge at AAU Nationals. 15 Koa standouts like [player_tooltip player_id='743475' first='Tatyanah' last='Linnen'], [player_tooltip player_id='562301' first='Darriana' last='Damper'], and [player_tooltip player_id='575225' first='Elyse' last='Brisson'] have given us a lot to see in the Omaha area. Expect a few of these names to ascend the prep leaderboards this fall.   Finally, we have some "underdog" appearances from clubs like Club Legacy and Kearney Elite. [player_tooltip player_id='575239' first='Nora' last='Morgan'] was one of many standouts who helped Club Legacy 15 Alpha win a Show Me title, so expect a few more ranked players from this group. Likewise, Kearney Elite's [player_tooltip player_id='759472' first='Makena' last='Williams'] will build off a special club season and bring Kearney High School into the Class A discussion.     Small-Town Prep Performers   This year's club season informed a lot of our decisions on the new rankings, but we also pulled a few names that burst onto the small-town freshman scene last fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='737393' first='Bailey' last='Gerths'] joins the rankings after a massive freshman season with Guardian Angels Central Catholic. This dynamic outside hitter put up 3.7 kills per set last fall and should put the Bluejays back into postseason contention as a sophomore.   We're also looking for more big-time output from Winside attacker [player_tooltip player_id='737375' first='Bridget' last='Marotz']. She was near the top of the 2028 charts with four kills per set on a staggering 0.303 clip. Marotz is also developing the six-rotation repertoire to be a permanent fixture in our rankings.   Lastly, keep tabs on [player_tooltip player_id='737378' first='Jaelyn' last='Mejstrik'] from Columbus Lakeview. Her club stint with Lightning 17-1 served as a reminder of why Mejstrik hit nearly 0.300 with the Vikings last fall. Those numbers will likely escalate in Year 2.     Growing the List   This update wasn't just about introducing a new Top 50. We've also added 75 more names to our Class of 2028 watch list.   If you're looking for a few more small-town names to follow, our latest list of 2028 additions is a good place to start. We perused last year's high school leaderboards while also taking recent club reps into consideration.   We'll have more on these fresh faces throughout the week.     Final Reminders   We'll leave you with a few things that always come to mind when we release a new set of rankings.   First, we'll repeat the mantra that player order is very fluid, especially in the early stages of a ranked list. Comparing athletes ranked side-by-side in this Top 50 is not the purpose of this release. Rather, we're giving a nod to the few players who have excelled on the biggest stages--so far.   That leads us to our next point: it's early. Playing at the varsity level as a freshman is rare. Athletes will keep developing and become far more productive with more experience. That will shift the dynamic of our rankings and bring new names near the top.   Players currently on our watch list could feasibly break into the Top 50 upon our next update. Nothing is set in stone, and we're eager to use this year's high school season to inform future changes.   So, for now, sit back and enjoy the early steps in a long trek.

It's finally here.