Backcourt Gems: Star Liberos Emerge at Nebraska Exposure Tour

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It wouldn't be a Nebraska showcase without some standout defenders, right?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every time we visit a Prep Dig Showcase event, one position group seems to distinguish itself among the rest. Perhaps it's a sheer "numbers game" with the entry list heavily skewed toward a single position. Other times, we're treated to quantity <em>and</em> quality.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive specialists were plentiful at last weekend's Nebraska Exposure Tour. We were immediately drawn to this group during positional drills, and the list of standouts quickly expanded.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some backcourt gems were already discussed in our all-tournament feature, but we're back for more in today's feature.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["773499"],"_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-692cfc691d9b8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Larson is the kind of defender who wants to be right in the middle of the action. Her best showcase moments came in the middle-back area, which reflects her vast prep experience as a left-side hitter. The Norfolk junior was primarily a DS at Saturday's showcase and was a rock-solid passer in serve-receive drills. Larson wasn't afraid to take the initiative on tough seam balls and deliver pinpoint contacts to her setter. This year's strong season with Norfolk has brought out the best in Larson, and she'll look forward to carrying that into the Nebraska Elite gym in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["773439"],"_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-692cfc691da46"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Here's a big one for the small-town contingent. South Central NE has given us plenty of showcase standouts over the years, and Jennings added to the narrative at Saturday's outing. The St. Paul upperclassman put up over 200 digs this fall in a key DS role for the Wildcats, so she set a high bar heading into our winter showcase. Jennings backed up her breakout season with a stout all-around stay in Elkhorn. Facing some lightning fast arms in six-on-six drills did not stop Jennings from producing higlight-worthy saves along the end line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["500185"],"_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-692cfc691dab7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Why not add to the rural influence? Rapp trekked from Ogallala to participate in the Nebraska Exposure Tour, and we're so glad she did. The 2028 prospect landed on our radar after Ogallala High School soared to Class C1's top seed this fall. Rapp pitched in through her tireless effort in the back row and brought the same energy to our showcase. She gets her feet to the ball quickly and is not afraid to absorb contact down the line. This multi-sport athlete is ready to make her western Nebraska ascent.</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":"[player_tooltip player_id='889970' first='Ellyahna' last='Valentine']","_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":"5'0u0022","_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":"Lincoln Northeast","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']","_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-692cfc691dbae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] is always a club to watch for libero talent. Valentine capitalized on her eastward trip to Elkhorn by bringing immediate intensity to positional drills. Her leadership and vocal communication also stood out--an often underappreciate trait of elite liberos. We still have a lot to learn about 2028s in the Lincoln area, and Valentine now has a headstart on those evaluations.</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":"Lennon Gear","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'4u0022","_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":"Norfolk","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Nebraska D-League","_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-692cfc691dc9e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gear has a knack for finding the ball and making contact, which is often half the battle for a floor defender. Her passing reps were stellar, and Gear translated that positive momentum to live scrimmages toward the end of the showcase. She's due to enter a Norfolk High School lineup that's full of defensive talent, but a big season with Nebraska D-League is first on the agenda.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["789881"],"_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-692cfc691dd13"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gering High School was a popular discussion topic this fall after the Bulldogs broke into the Class B tournament as one of western Nebraska's top squads. Canales aided this renaissance with a team-high 5.2 digs per set in her debut season. It's a high mark for a freshman, but Canales keeps demonstrating her willingness to improve and become even more productive. She took another step in that process at Saturday's showcase and was a consistent ball control asset in six-on-six drills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["907115"],"_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-692cfc691dd80"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We have a Norfolk triple threat for this feature. Kluver joined Larson and Gear at the Exposure Tour to create a formidable wall of Panther stars in the back row. This freshman star immediately donned Norfolk's libero jersey and racked up over 400 digs in 2025. Aside from her ability to handle first contacts, Kluver also excelled at secondary setting during out-of-system work at our showcase. It's the kind of all-around game we'd expect from a libero representing Nebraska Elite's top 15s team this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->