Emerging Defenders Who Dug In at NSAA State Tournament

<!-- wp:image {"lightbox":{"enabled":false},"id":904061,"width":"323px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"custom","align":"center"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/PD_ExposureTour_NE.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-904061" style="width:323px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"21px"},"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|primary"}}}},"textColor":"primary"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color" style="font-size:21px"><strong><a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2017/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-nebraska?coupon=KingsleyPD25"><em>Click here to register with my coupon code!</em></a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p class="has-text-align-center" style="font-size:18px"><strong>Class of 2026-2029</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center">Nov. 29, 10:00 a.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center">UBT Sports Complex (Nebraska Elite) | Elkhorn, NE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":904060,"width":"247px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"center"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Kingsley_Code_ExposureTour.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-904060" style="width:247px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska's state tournament experience wouldn't be complete without some jaw-dropping defensive displays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have a lot of angles to cover from another thrilling postseason gauntlet at the NSAA State Volleyball Tournament. This season-ending spectacle gave us monumental upsets and breakout performances--exactly what we'd expect on Nebraska's biggest stage. However, one thing might have exemplified the event's magnitude better than any other: the defensive hustle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liberos and defensive specialists put on a show for onlookers at Pinnacle Bank Arena and the Devaney Sports Center. We knew we'd have some good defenders in Lincoln last week, but the group listed below shattered expectations anyway.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["573571"],"_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-6913c80119429"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've already highlighted several South Central NE stars throughout our tournament coverage, so let's add one more. Cisneros patrolled the end line for this year's South Central NE 15 Black team that made a podium run at GJNC. Perhaps that was a good omen for Milford's fall run to its first-ever state volleyball championship. Cisneros made clutch saves for the Eagles and was even more valuable through her pinpoint passes to set up the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["572006"],"_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-6913c80119480"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2025 has been a big year for Wallraff. She joined the loaded [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Synergy lineup and learned how to defend in the fiery crucible of Open-level volleyball. Elkhorn North needed a new commander in the contrasting jersey this fall, and Wallraff was it. She led all players with 17 digs in the Class B title match against Norris, proving Wallraff's ability to respond when the stakes are highest.</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":"Sophia Schmid","_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":"5'7u0022","_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":"Johnson County Central","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6913c80119523"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The sophomores keep rolling in. Johnson County Central wielded a red-hot offense during its undefeated regular season, but the backcourt platoon deserves some credit, too. Schmid became JCC's leading defender this year after carrying an all-around attacking role on last year's squad. She tallied 34 digs during the Thunderbirds' epic battle with Yutan, and we can't wait to see what Schmid's positional niche will be next fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["834932"],"_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-6913c8011956f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Make it a 2028 quartet. We're seemingly having a sophomore revolution at the libero position, and Hrasky filled that void Sumner-Eddyville-Miller in 2025. The 2023 D1 champs got 13 digs out of their second-year libero in the quarterfinal win against BDS and another 20 in the semifinal against Cambridge. Hrasky also produces the quality passing that isn't reflected in a box score, but onlookers were sure to notice her stable, reliable presence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["498984"],"_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-6913c801195b5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We couldn't help but give another nod to Shelton's extraordinary stat-stuffing libero. Willis' monster 33-dig performance was critical in Shelton's five-set triumph over Central Valley, and she locked in for more tiebreaker action against Overton. The Willis name loomed large in Shelton's ball control phase, and that won't change in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["560971"],"_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-6913c801195f9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Amherst pushed through several tense, nail-biting moments en route to a state title. Those slugfests require some stability in the back row, and Veskerna provided that for this year's D1 champion. She racked up a team-high 29 digs in the finale against Overton, but that's just par for the course for Veskerna. This Bronco star recorded 5.2 digs per set in her junior campaign and has a great chance for a repeat bid with Amherst next fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["803878"],"_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-6913c8011963d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What a way to go out. Schluter was all over the court during Exeter-Milligan/Friend's return trip to Lincoln. Last year's D1 runner-up looked even sharper last week despite coming up one step short of the Devaney Center, and Schluter's influence was felt throughout. She needed only three sets to surpass 20 digs in the Bobcats' quarterfinal win over Ansley-Litchfield. Schluter matched that total a day later as EMF went toe-to-toe with the eventual champions. We had to give this outgoing senior her time in the spotlight after forever changing this new consolidated school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->