Small-Town 2028s Entering Nebraska’s Early-Season Spotlight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one's for the sophomores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, we discussed a group of <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/09/small-town-2027s-entering-nebraskas-early-season-spotlight/">small-town 2027s</a> putting up big numbers through the first few weeks of the high school season. Many of these athletes have not been in our coverage spotlight for a while, making it doubly important to hype up these rural gems in the fall. So, we're back for more with the Class of 2028.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Underclassmen have had no problem finding a foothold in Nebraska's ultra-competitive small-town scene.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["572604"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68cc5d8479c08"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We were first introduced to Wardyn's high-flying termination through her work with South Central NE. This physical opposite has competed on the GJNC stage and helped York reach the state tournament in her debut season last fall. Wardyn's momentum hasn't slowed in 2025, as she's racking up over three kills per set for the Dukes. The all-around strength and depth of Class B have not stopped York's underclassmen from standing out, and Wardyn has been one of the best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["702684"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68cc5d8479c6f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Like Wardyn, Dugan has accumulated plenty of high-level experience on the club side. She has been an effective attacker in the [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] gym and has more to gain on the prep side with Central Valley. The Cougars were on the cusp of a championship appearance last season, so the bar is already high for Dugan heading into Year 2. She has managed to exceed those expectations with three kills per set and a colossal five dig-per-set average from the back row. This six-rotation influence has been a catalyst for Central Valley's 10-2 start, and the Cougars are looking forward to several more marquee matchups to close out September.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["737406"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68cc5d8479cbd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We're on a run of last year's tournament participants. Oakland-Craig has been a postseason fixture since the team's championship triumph in 2021, and the standards haven't changed with players like Ray leading the way. The sophomore was a major contributor to last year's ascent, but the Knights have leaned on Ray even more this fall. She has neared triple-digit kills after only 24 sets played, and Ray also has 3.6 digs per set on her docket. Oakland-Craig has designs on another trip to Lincoln after opening this fall with a 9-2 mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["737401"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68cc5d8479d08"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Guardian Angels Central Catholic hopes to make up for 2024's tournament absence, and the 9-1 Bluejays are already exhibiting some of that motivation. Cohee has piloted the team's quick start with an incredible 10.9 assists per set and some savvy distribution to GACC's frontcourt weapons. Last year allowed Cohee to get her bearings as a freshman starter, and she has clearly found her groove one year later. GACC is back in the title discussion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["552285"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68cc5d8479d51"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Here's another setter making big strides between Year 1 and Year 2. Kaiser primarily embraced a serving role during her debut season with Lexington, but she now has the keys to the offense as a sophomore. She has racked up over seven assists per set and has made several eye-popping defensive plays in the right-back area. Like our discussion of Wardyn and York, competing in Class B is a daunting task for any program. Lexington is making the most of it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["877315"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68cc5d8479d9b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We'll wrap up with a pair of pin hitters who can fill up any statistical category. Faimon has soared past two kills per set for Red Cloud this year, matching her tremendous production as a freshman. However, this six-rotation force has also maintained the four dig-per-set clip she established in 2024. Faimon's first contacts have allowed other Warriors to find success this fall, and it's showing in the win column with an above-0.500 mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["831364"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68cc5d8479de3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Let's head north to Valentine. Janssen is only a second-year prep player, but she has seemingly done a little of everything in her prep career. She amassed over 150 kills last year as a go-to pin hitter, but the narrative has changed in 2025. Now, Janssen is handling backcourt duties to produce over six digs per set for Valentine. This stunning number is a testament to Janssen's willingness to do whatever it takes to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->