Nebraska Year-in-Review: 20 Small-Town Stars Soaring into 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll take any chance we can get to celebrate the rural scene.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of our expressed goals for 2025 was to highlight Nebraska's small-town gems more effectively. As we've already covered in our prior <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/12/nebraska-year-in-review-biggest-surprises-of-2025-pt-1/">year-in-review features</a>, this year's club season brought unprecedented success for many "underdog" clubs in the Great Plains Region. This sets the stage for even more milestones in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, even though this is a 2025 retrospective, consider this a glimpse into the future as well. Here are 15 small-town stars who dazzled in one of the best-ever years for Nebraska's hidden gems.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["498907"],"_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-694da7a342a05"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Back to the club grind for Herian. The Pierce outside hitter thrived with her new [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Synergy squad and kept the momentum going with the Bluejays. It's easy to hone in on her whopping 5.6 kills per set as a junior, but Herian has also made major strides as a backcourt asset. That versatility could be a game-changer in 17 Synergy's pursuit of an Open bid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["773394"],"_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-694da7a342abb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Carmichael exploded onto the Great Plains scene with Nebraska Elite 16 Apex and kept climbing throughout 2025. This culminated in a 270-kill junior season with Norfolk and her quick rise in Nebraska's 2027 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["593775"],"_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-694da7a342b31"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We recently alluded to [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 15 Elite's tremendous 2025 season, and Janulewicz played a pivotal role in engineering that rise. So, her considerable jump in GI Northwest's kill column was no surprise. Janulewicz has accumulated nearly 800 kills in two seasons with the Vikings and is a scoring threat in any rotation. It's exactly what we'd expect from a VCN pin hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774622"],"_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-694da7a342ba2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Could 2025 have been any better for Johnson? Her South Central NE 15 Black squad made waves at GJNC, landing Johnson on her division's all-tournament team after a podium finish. Then, she guided Holdrege High School to the best Cinderella run of this year's state tournament. The eighth-seeded Dusters earned a spot in the C1 championship match, putting Johnson on an even bigger platform for next year.</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-694da7a342c13"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cohee made a strong case to be Class C2's player of the year in 2025. She somehow upped her outstanding freshman totals by putting up over 1,000 assists for GACC this fall. The Bluejays promptly made their postseason return, where Cohee's composure and command shone once more. We'll likely highlight Cohee again in 2026 as the Bluejays bring back a host of stars for another postseason push.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["737390"],"_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-694da7a342c82"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">You know you're doing something right if you lead your team to an undefeated regular season. Wellensiek built off a stellar campaign with Premier 15 Gold and averaged 10.8 assists per set for JCC. She has a knack for tracking down errant passes and can adapt to whatever system her team deploys. Next year's Premier 16 Gold group will have plenty of lineup options yet again and has some championship pedigree to defend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["575063"],"_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-694da7a342cf3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There's nothing like a state championship to boost your stock. Bartunek was a fabulous distributor for [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 15 Titanium this spring, but she took another step forward en route to Freeman's Class C2 triumph. She dished out over ten assists per set while establishing herself as a frontcourt attacking threat, too. Bartunek already looks like one of Nebraska's most dynamic 2028 setters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["575226"],"_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-694da7a342d61"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Liekhus has been a standout at various venues, and she still has more time for development. She is a prior Freshman Showcase top performer who has taken her multi-position onslaught to North Bend Central and [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']. Liekhus led the Tigers in hitting efficiency and will remain terminal no matter which position she plays for VCN. We can't wait to see which role takes precedence.</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-694da7a342dce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Central Valley returned to the state tournament stage this fall, giving us another stark reminder of Dugan's explosiveness on the left side. She led the Cougars with 3.6 kills per set and hit nearly 0.300 despite all this volume. We're thrilled to watch Dugan's game translate to year-round success in the [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] gym.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["912025"],"_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-694da7a342e51"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">On to the 2029s. Next year's club season will introduce us to a host of 2029 stars, but Ahlmann wasted no time making her name known. She terminated at a 0.326 hitting percentage this fall, even while facing ultra-physical blocks in the Class A arena. Nebraska Elite has a true building block at the net.</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='879940' first='Elli' last='Payne']","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Grand Island Northwest","_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-694da7a342f40"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The GI Northwest-[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] pipeline persists. This year's [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 15 Elite squad will feature a similar Viking influence to last year's iteration, with Payne leading the way on the outside. Her hard-hitting style yielded three kills per set on a 0.221 clip, setting sky-high expectations for 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["907288"],"_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-694da7a342f9f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We're paying a visit to the panhandle to check on one of western Nebraska's best from the Class of 2029. Hays piloted the Scottsbluff offense in her debut season and churned out 8.5 assists per set along the way. That's a high bar for Year 1.</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-694da7a342ff5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Let's stay in the panhandle a little longer. Canales produced an eye-popping 5.2 digs per set for Gering High School, helping the Bulldogs reach the state tournament among a field of Class B juggernauts. Canales also trekked to this month's Nebraska Exposure Tour and continued her ascent among 2029 liberos. This savvy defender will continue her prep journey with WyoBraska Sky on the club side. </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":"Addi Svehla","_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":"5'3u0022","_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":"Blair","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs']","_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-694da7a34309c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Our run of liberos continues. Svehla piled up nearly 500 digs in her freshman campaign while Blair sparred with some of eastern Nebraska's best. That experience will pay off when Svehla embarks on the club circuit with [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["907289"],"_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-694da7a3430f6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sherbeyn, like Canales, made a long trip to our Nebraska Exposure Tour and made the most of her appearance in Elkhorn. This multi-talented athlete already surged into the spotlight with Valentine this fall, putting up 4.6 kills per set and over four digs per set to boot. Keep tabs on this six-rotation gem from up north.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->