State Tournament Stock Risers in Nebraska 2028 Rankings (Pt. 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have a lot of stock risers to get to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our latest <a href="https://prepdig.com/nebraska/rankings/2028-rankings/">Nebraska 2028 rankings</a> have finally arrived. This update doubled the ranked list from 50 to 100, along with introducing dozens of new athletes to the watch list. Names were shuffled around, and players climbed the ladder.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last fall's high school season offered countless opportunities for players to show their readiness to rise in the rankings. There was no better venue to do this than the state tournament, where Nebraska's best teams and players converge in Lincoln. This prominent stage gave us plenty of second thoughts about the state's sophomore hierarchy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's highlight a handful of players who seized that moment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["739707"],"_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-695c33eb2357f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Piening was already firmly on our radar after contributing to Norris' Class B breakthrough in 2024. The standout middle blocker enjoyed an exceptional freshman season, but Year 2 was on another level. Piening soared past two kills per set while hitting a sky-high 0.383 over the entire year. Having such an efficient option next to the setter helped keep the Titans at the top of the Class B food chain, and the results speak for themselves. We'll now see Piening grow her setter-hitter connections even further with [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Synergy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["827611"],"_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-695c33eb235f1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Elkhorn North has never been afraid to lean on underclassman middle blockers. Palmer perpetuated this trend and put up eye-popping numbers for last year's Class B runner-up. She ranked second on the team in kills and hitting percentage while also pacing the Wolves in blocks. Palmer brought a rare combination of lateral quickness and size to the net, allowing her to become a multi-faceted threat across the front row. Sophomores don't often take the mantle as a team's top slide hitter, but Palmer was ready to defy the odds. Her upcoming tenure with Nebraska Juniors will be fascinating to follow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["737392"],"_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-695c33eb23640"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dolliver double trouble paid dividends in Lincoln. Malcolm toppled four-time defending champion Lincoln Lutheran in the quarterfinal round, and underclassman influence played a part in the effort. Dolliver put down 18 kills in the five-set win, adding to her 4.7 kill-per-set average during the 2025 season. This skilled athlete was a six-rotation mainstay who shouldered a large volume of first contacts in serve receive. Of course, the Dolliver name also looms large on the basketball court, with Payton averaging nearly 20 points per game for the second consecutive season. The grind never stops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["930868"],"_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-695c33eb2368d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tuttle has the rare distinction of being a new database addition who immediately jumped into our Top 100. She seized EMF's starting setter role last fall and maintained the positive momentum from 2024's runner-up triumph. Tuttle put up nearly 900 assists as a sophomore and passed every test you could levy against a 5-1 setter. We already knew she could distribute out of the back row, but Tuttle's net presence was a stellar addition to last year's EMF rotation. The Bobcats have a surefire leader to keep the renaissance alive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774696"],"_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-695c33eb236e8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Muller has done it all in the Milford gym. She's a multi-sport star who carries multiple roles with the Eagles' championship-winning volleyball squad. Her 230 kills during last fall's campaign enhanced Milford's balance and turned the team into a true title contender. However, Muller wasn't just a terminator. She was also a lethal server, averaging an impressive 0.5 aces per set in 2025. This yielded multi-ace performances in each of Milford's three postseason matches. Muller's backcourt influence continued in the defensive phase, making her one of Nebraska's most versatile 2028s on the small-town scene.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774698"],"_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-695c33eb23734"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Weigel had big shoes to fill at Lincoln Southwest's libero position, and the prospect of facing Class A terminators can be daunting. But Weigel's sophomore season proved her willingness to step up in the face of any challenge. She amassed four digs per set and took enormous burdens off her fellow passers along the end line. Weigel was also a savvy secondary setter in out-of-system situations, which can turn the tides in tense matches. Lincoln Southwest's multi-year tournament streak has been anchored by players like Weigel who are willing to accelerate their development to help the cause.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774922"],"_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-695c33eb2377f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Guardian Angels Central Catholic owes a ton of its success to the Class of 2028. Kreikemeier upped her freshman averages by a kill per set in 2025, terminating over 200 times as a sophomore. In fact, this all-around attacker improved her stats across the board as GACC made its postseason return. Defense was another highlight of Kreikemeier's game, as she piled up 4.2 digs per set in the middle-back area. Ball control will remain a strength of the Bluejay identity in 2026, so another November charge could be in the cards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->