Which Star Players Delivered for Nebraska's Tournament Underdogs?

Let's circle back to another one of our preview motifs.   Before the flurry of tournament action ensued, we examined a group of <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/11/underdog-era-20-players-to-watch-on-lower-seeded-teams-at-state/">20 players to watch on lower-seeded squads</a> at State. The postseason always brings out surprise performances from dark-horse teams, and this year's gauntlet was no exception.   So, we're honing in on the athletes who exceeded expectations when the stakes were highest and the lights were brightest.    Bahle didn't bat an eye when she took over the libero spot for one of Class A's emerging powerhouses. Rather, this 2027 prospect channeled her exceptional spring season with Nebraska Elite and got even better as Omaha Westside's defensive anchor. Bahle had some of her best moments during the epic semifinal bout with Lincoln North Star, as she compiled a team-high 20 digs and dished out a clutch ace early in the match. We're already looking forward to seeing what this stock-rising junior can accomplish in 2026.     If we're allowed to give a "Underdog Team of the Tournament" award, it would have to go to Holdrege. The Dusters hadn't won a tournament match before this year, but this crew rode its No. 8 seed all the way to the C1 title match. Pelster played a major role in the effort through her play in the back row, especially given her unusual niche along the end line. Rather than patrolling the left-back area like most liberos, Pelster slotted into middle back and commanded as much court as possible. When Holdrege needed a first-ball sideout, its senior libero could always get the play started through her passing.     There's a lot of credit to go around for Holdrege's stunning tournament run. We identified Johnson as a player to watch after her all-GJNC performance with South Central NE, and this sophomore middle blocker did more than back up the hype. She took over the offense whenever she rotated into the match. Johnson hit 0.488 in Holdrege's semifinal win over Omaha Concordia and also participated in four of the team's five blocks. Her all-around game is constantly improving, which is a scary proposition for future small-town opponents.     The Dolliver duo rightfully draws a lot of attention in the Malcolm lineup, but Johnson has distinguished herself as a new force to be reckoned with. She pounded down 18 kills on a 0.389 clip as the sixth-seeded Clippers toppled four-time defending state champion Lincoln Lutheran. A full team effort is needed to pull off such a feat, so Johnson's emergence on the right side was paramount. Malcolm got everything it needed and a little bit more.     Holdrege wasn't the only No. 8 seed to emerge as "giant killers." Tichota and Yutan scored the upset of the year by taking down undefeated Johnson County Central in the quarterfinal round. It was a long, late, arduous contest that saw Tichota step up with 22 kills on a whopping 79 swings. The senior filled every statistical category with a team-high 25 digs and a trio of aces. This heroism will forever live in the lore of Nebraska's postseason shockers.     We're going on a run of setters to wrap up this feature. It's easy to point to [player_tooltip player_id='830464' first='Briar' last='Ray']'s high-flying onslaught during Oakland-Craig's quarterfinal win over GACC, but don't forget about the picture-perfect setting she received along the way. Thomsen has a knack for using her jump setting to hold opposing middle blockers and open up seams for her hitters. The savvy distributor was also a stingy right-back defender who didn't let tips drop behind the block. The Knights have clearly had a wealth of setter talent during the 2020s--a decade of Oakland-Craig permanence at the state tournament.     It was always hard to consider Shelton an underdog after the team's championship run in Class D2. Still, we have to give a nod to Willis and the Bulldogs for earning another tournament berth despite moving up to Class D1. Willis led the way at the setter spot and produced a double-double during the five-set win over Central Valley. This was also a player to watch for triple-double consideration, as Willis carried a regular attacking role in her frontcourt rotations. That versatility is nothing new at Shelton.     Let's complete the setter trinity to close out this feature. Kvols has had a permanent spot near the top of Nebraska's assists chart, and it finally translated to a tournament appearance this fall. The Bears were not afraid to rally around Kvols during her freshman season. That experience has translated to pinpoint setting and exquisite tempo to L-C-C's diverse cast of attackers. Kvols logged 47 assists in the team's quarterfinal upset over Norfolk Catholic, and the ascent continued with a sweep over Oakland-Craig. Another year in the spotlight beckons.

Let's circle back to another one of our preview motifs.