Prep Dig Nebraska Gift List: Austin’s Favorite Articles of 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's unwrap a few more memories.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First, I wanted to send my best holiday wishes to Nebraska's entire prep volleyball community. This is a valuable time to step back from the year-round flurry of activity and give back to those who enrich our lives outside of the sport. I hope this time has been restful and joyous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 has been a gift. Good luck trying to fit all the memories under one tree. I can't entirely untether volleyball from my holiday spirit, because I'm eternally grateful that I'm able to cover the sport and call it a career. It's a rare privilege, and the end of the year always renews my appreciation for this.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, let's spread a little cheer. We're stepping into the time machine, extending our ongoing year-in-review series on the Prep Dig Nebraska site. Today, we're listing off a few of my favorite features from the calendar year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/01/first-nebraska-2028-watch-list-released/">First Nebraska 2028 Watch List Released</a></em></strong> - Jan. 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We started the year with a bang.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This isn't so much about the contents of the article as it is the milestone and significance of the feature itself. We had been introduced to the Class of 2028 through the previous year's high school season and a wave of winter showcases on the Prep Dig Circuit. Future 15s stars were emerging.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, we can see how far we've come since that January release. We're now working with a full-fledged ranked list for the 2028s, and we're about to grow that group with our upcoming end-of-year rankings updates. Stay tuned.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/02/tc-nit-preview-nebraska-teams-battling-outside-power-pools/">TC NIT Preview: Nebraska Teams Battling Outside Power Pools</a></em></strong> - Feb. 12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Is there a bigger prep volleyball spectacle than Triple Crown NIT?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our annual trip to Kansas City always leads to some lasting impressions. Underdog Nebraska teams were a major theme of our NIT coverage, and several climbed from the depths against the nation's best. We won't soon forget that crossover duel between [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Elite and [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Synergy in the challenger round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/02/nebraskas-division-champions-from-asics-presidents-day-classic/">Nebraska's Division Champions from ASICS Presidents' Day Classic</a></em></strong> - Feb. 20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have to keep our heads on a swivel during Presidents' Day Weekend</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While we were absorbing all the calamity at Triple Crown NIT, Nebraska teams were having a field day in Omaha. Our divisional champion discussion featured Banzai VBC 18 Select and Club Legacy 16 Alpha, but the Great Plains resurgence went far beyond these two. Club Legacy was outstanding across the board and in multiple age groups. Nebraska Elite, [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'], and Nebraska Juniors shone, giving us a wide array of regional competitors to cover before qualifier season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/03/small-town-nebraska-club-spotlight-kearney-elite-16-1/">Small-Town Nebraska Club Spotlight: Kearney Elite 16-1</a></em></strong> - March 14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was a fun one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heading into 2025, I expressed my desire to cover under-the-radar clubs as much as possible. The small-town scene has expanded its club influence over the past few years, and our coverage needed to reflect that. So, I took a mid-March trek to bring some central Nebraska stars into the spotlight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This isn't just about Kearney Elite, either. That trip also gave us an early peek at <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/03/small-town-nebraska-club-spotlight-south-central-ne-16-black/">South Central NE 16 Black</a>, which would make a deep qualifier run at Show Me about a month later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/04/nebraska-bid-tracker-premier-16-gold-finishes-show-me-marathon/">Nebraska Bid Tracker: Premier 16 Gold Finishes Show Me Marathon</a></em></strong> - April 15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Qualifier triumphs are one of the best parts of our yearly coverage. Premier Nebraska 16 Gold delivered a memorable one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Relive the wild, winding road for 16 Gold in our Nebraska Bid Tracker feature. This path to an Open bid featured all the chaos, confusion, and catharsis that you'd expect from a late-season qualifier. We wouldn't have it any other way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1911843601543536810?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1911843601543536810?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/05/road-to-june-15th-our-favorite-2027-features-of-the-club-season/">Road to June 15th: Our Favorite 2027 Features of the Club Season</a></em></strong> - May 25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a feature list within a feature list!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The summer stretch may be a lighter time on the event calendar, but the grind doesn't stop. We spent much of that period honing in on Nebraska's Class of 2027, which started its recruiting journey on that heralded June 15 date. Since then, Nebraska has celebrated some high-profile commitments and a ton of growth from the state's under-the-radar prospects. That journey isn't over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/07/gjnc-podium-spotlight-south-central-ne-15-black/">GJNC Podium Spotlight: South Central NE 15 Black</a></em></strong> - July 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's another dose of that rural resurgence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Central NE had already given us so many postseason memories, particularly through this year's 17 Black group. Just when we thought that was enough, the 15s stepped up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The future of our small-town coverage is in good hands after South Central NE 15 Black climbed to the GJNC podium in Dallas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/07/austins-all-showcase-team-nebraska-stock-up-showcase/">Austin's All-Showcase Team: Nebraska Stock Up Showcase</a></em></strong> - July 28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Showcase season gets better and better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our July wave of circuit events was a doubleheader featuring the Nebraska Freshman Showcase and Stock Up Showcase. We didn't know what to expect after splitting classes into two outings, but this summer marathon gave us no shortage of storylines and standouts. That's especially true of our Stock Up Showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/08/first-impressions-from-2025-bellevue-west-invite/"><em><strong>First Impressions from 2025 Bellevue West Invite</strong></em></a> - Aug. 31</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On to the high school season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bellevue West Invite is our annual gateway into the high school season. This year's outing started the "Class A versus Class B" storyline that persisted throughout the fall. It was a precursor for all the big-city drama to come, which culminated in an incredible state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Which Star Players Delivered for Nebraska's Tournament Underdogs?</em></strong> - Nov. 11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have to reflect on this year's state tournament grind. Was 2025 all about the underdogs?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every corner of the Cornhusker State converges in Lincoln for postseason play, so we commit to a flurry of coverage during the first week of November. This will invariably produce some favorite features, including this underdog spotlight after a wild slew of tournament results.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/12/under-the-radar-gems-who-surprised-us-at-nebraska-exposure-tour/">Under-the-Radar Gems Who Surprised Us at Nebraska Exposure Tour</a></em></strong> - Dec. 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, we had to wrap up with a little more showcase reminiscence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our Nebraska Exposure Tour felt like the start of a new era for our circuit events. We were fortunate to have an outstanding new cast of coaches running the show, and Nebraska Elite was a gracious host, as always. Then, there was the diverse group of exceptional athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How things have grown. We can only hope for more in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->