Stellar Sophomores Soar at 2025 LPS Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've found a perfect way to check in with the Class of 2028.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The LPS Classic is an annual volleyball showcase for many of Nebraska's big-city standouts. Lincoln schools are joined by a handful of visitors from outside county lines, giving us an exceptional glimpse at players finding their midseason form.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even the underclassmen are shining against elite competition. Last weekend's LPS Classic has us buzzing about the 2028s, so we might as well highlight a few of them here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["737394"],"_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-68d0867287f68"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Prep newcomer Lincoln Standing Bear has no seniors on its roster, so the Grizzlies give us plenty of underclassmen to discuss. Cain engineered Standing Bear's run to the top bracket with her quick right arm and bountiful athleticism. She leads the Grizzly ledger with over four kills per set, and she snapped down plenty of highlight-worthy terminations at the LPS Classic. Moreover, Cain is expanding on the six-rotation potential we saw when she competed with [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] this spring. Last weekend's outing was a colossal step forward for Standing Bear's journey--and that journey just started.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["766750"],"_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-68d0867287ff6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lincoln Pius X has trended upward since breaking into last year's Class B tournament, and Ramirez-Rousseau has enjoyed a similar rise in her production. She has emerged as one of the most efficient attackers in the Thunderbolt lineup and hit 0.300 or better in over half of her LPS Classic contests. We've enjoyed covering Ramirez-Rousseau's well-rounded game with VCNebraska, where her range and power helped VCN 15 Elite climb the GJNC ladder. Now, she's back to her high-impact role on the Class B stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774698"],"_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-68d0867288096"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've grown accustomed to veteran-laden lineups at Lincoln Southwest, but Weigel defies the trend as the team's defensive leader in the libero jersey. She had an exceptional 17-dig performance during LSW's three-set gauntlet against Lincoln Northeast, finishing off a 3-0 record in pool play. Weigel also delivers the pinpoint passing needed to allow the up-tempo Silver Hawk offense to operate. This 2028 standout can handle the pressure of representing a Class A frontrunner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["739707"],"_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-68d0867288102"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Norris' stacked roster doesn't have much sophomore representation, but Piening makes up for it with her dominance in the middle. We alluded to her sky-high hitting efficiency in our LPS Classic preview, but it's worth reiterating how unstoppable Piening has been. Her iron-clad connection with club teammate [player_tooltip player_id='458117' first='Malorie' last='Boesiger'] has produced an astonishing 0.405 attacking clip from the middle. Piening is a flawless fit for the quick, multi-dimensional offense that has defined the Titan attack over the past several years. The defending champs have taken it to new heights in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["779511"],"_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-68d086728818e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lincoln Northeast battled through several close contests at the LPS Classic against teams like Lincoln Southwest, Lincoln Lutheran, and Lincoln Northwest. This marathon allowed us to get a full look at Chmelka's ever-improving game on the pin. She brought her best during Saturday's portion of the event and hit north of 0.400 in the finale against Lincoln Lutheran. Chmelka's blocking technique has also evolved to provide LNE with some positive touches to use in transition. The Rockets are on track to improve upon last year's win total and can continue to rely on Chmelka to reach that milestone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Irelynn Sughroue","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Grand Island","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='430647' first='Nebraska' last='Juniors Volleyball Club']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d0867288285"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We were introduced to Sughroue's defensive intensity through her work in the Nebraska Juniors gym. Now, she's ushering in the next wave of standouts for an upstart Grand Island team. The Islanders traveled east to the LPS Classic and brought emerging talents like Sughroue back into the spotlight. Sughroue has led GISH in the dig column and has a knack for covering tips and roll shots in the "campfire." Don't forget about central Nebraska's Class A contenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["573382"],"_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-68d08672882f5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Of course, we have to give a nod to the hosts. Lincoln Southeast has earned some impressive early-season victories to climb the Class A hierarchy, and Bauer's quick right arm has loomed large throughout. The VCNebraska middle blocker shifts to the outside for the Knights, where she's putting down over four kills per set with a team-leading 0.255 hitting percentage. This new role has also presented us with Bauer's ball control skills from the back row--a surprising wrinkle for one of the state's most physical 2028s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->