Updating College Commits in Nebraska 2026 Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The journey is far from over for Nebraska's Class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've just updated our Nebraska 2026 rankings ahead of this group's final outing on the high school stage. Since we last checked in with this group, we've had a lot of movement on the college commitment front with several top athletes making their future plans known. Time to do a little housekeeping.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's an overview of how our list of commits has evolved this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">In-State Galore</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You won't have to travel far to catch up with many of Nebraska's 2026 stars at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top of our 2026 rankings is stacked with notable athletes who are staying home for collegiate competition. In-state commits have always been a staple of every class, but the amount of local representation seems even more expansive in this cycle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":852258,"width":"377px","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/5/2023/04/IMG_7129-crop-2641x1735-1754462540.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-852258" style="width:377px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sjuts</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps we'll start with Wayne State, a surging Division II powerhouse that leans heavily into the nearby talent pool. The Wildcats will fortify their frontcourt considerably by adding [player_tooltip player_id='349457' first='Bella' last='Sjuts'] and [player_tooltip player_id='396732' first='Payton' last='Sullivan'] next year. Sullivan has dominated the stat sheet as a middle blocker for Hastings St. Cecilia, and Sjuts has made her mark as a rare middle-setter hybrid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, we have to include Nebraska-Kearney in the D2 conversation. The Lopers have made a big splash by adding [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] standouts [player_tooltip player_id='251144' first='Ellie' last='Eckman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='253928' first='Madeline' last='Lamb'] to their 2026 ledger. We watched a new connection flourish between Eckman and Lamb after Lamb moved over to this year's [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 17 Elite lineup. Both athletes are building momentum from a deep GJNC run and are both seeking a postseason return on the Class A stage. You won't want to miss this fall's finale.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska only has one Division III college in the volleyball landscape, so we immediately turn toward the NAIA level to find our next wave of in-state commits. This is where things get pretty busy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Midland University boasts an impressive 2026 haul. The Warriors of Fremont have recently pulled in [player_tooltip player_id='276202' first='Ashley' last='Beethe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='253934' first='Scotlyn' last='Erwin'] from the Open-qualified Premier Nebraska 17 Gold lineup. Like our discussion of Eckman and Lamb at [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''], Beethe and Erwin were new club teammates in 2025 and brought a new spark to 17 Gold's frontcourt. Beethe has been one of the state's most impressive stat stuffers throughout her career at Johnson County Central, so we aren't surprised to see local colleges taking notice.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The small-town representation gets even better for Midland. We can also look forward to seeing multi-talented Nebraska Christian athlete [player_tooltip player_id='275965' first='Taytum' last='Perdew'] compete with the Warriors in the near future. We're eager to see Perdew's familiar brand of smooth setting and aggressive attacking at the collegiate level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Concordia University is pulling in one of Perdew's teammates from South Central NE 17 Black. [player_tooltip player_id='276201' first='Myla' last='Emery'] has mirrored Perdew's do-everything attitude on the prep stage and has helped Minden High School earn back-to-back state titles. That was clearly enough to put her on in-state radars, and the Bulldogs have capitalized.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While we're discussing Concordia, we'll add Nebraska Elite setter [player_tooltip player_id='276192' first='Amelia' last='North'] to the list of future Bulldogs. North got her chance to shine with Nebraska Elite's top 17s squad and knows the rigors of competing against Open teams. It's the perfect recipe for a collegiate breakout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":255180,"width":"346px","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/5/2022/12/15_Peyton-Svendsen-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-255180" style="width:346px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Svendsen</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're not done with that South Central NE squad, either. Shelton state champion [player_tooltip player_id='253923' first='Jalyn' last='Branson'] is heading to Omaha's St. Mary's College and has a wealth of six-rotation tools and impact potential. Small-town stars are getting their due credit among the 2026s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Branching Out</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's add a few more recent commits who will travel outside of Nebraska's borders for their next volleyball journey.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] has continued to rake in commits from its 17s rosters. Lincoln Southeast's [player_tooltip player_id='253933' first='Peyton' last='Svendsen'] is heading to Missouri S&amp;T and could have a dual role as a pin hitter and a middle blocker. Over with VCN's 17 Black squad, Lincoln Southwest setter [player_tooltip player_id='253922' first='Jadyn' last='Hazzard'] has pledged to Pittsburg State in the ever-competitive Kansas scene.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>D1 commits have kept rolling in, too. [player_tooltip player_id='184283' first='Alicia' last='Johansen'] is heading to Bryant, a perennial contender in the America East conference. We always have a handful of athletes who head east, and Johansen joins Premier Nebraska stars like [player_tooltip player_id='275936' first='Paighton' last='Erb'] and [player_tooltip player_id='809398' first='Kami' last='Dyrstad'] in making the trek.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elkhorn North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not all future D1 competitors are heading that far. We're thrilled to see [player_tooltip player_id='349479' first='Kamryn' last='Behrns'] land at Drake, a Missouri Valley frontrunner nestled in the heart of Des Moines, Iowa. Behrns has a dynamic lefty swing that has drawn recruiting attention for a while. Start writing some in-conference headlines as Behrns will face Elkhorn North standout [player_tooltip player_id='275901' first='Hayden' last='Booth'], who has also landed in the Missouri Valley at Bradley University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->