Nebraska Teams Taking on Triple Crown NIT Power Pools

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's finally here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The magnitude of Triple Crown NIT speaks for itself. Kansas City becomes the epicenter of the club volleyball world every Presidents' Day Weekend. The nation's best teams flock to this invite-only event to compete on the season's biggest stage. It doesn't get much better than that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have the great privilege of joining the national coverage team for NIT. I'll be covering some power pool matchups and championship bouts for Triple Crown while also viewing the tournament from a national lens. Even with such a broad scope, you know I'll be keeping track of my Nebraska neighbors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Triple Crown's power pool teams are the best of the best. The nation's top-tier squads are selected to compete in round-robin groups while having a guaranteed spot in the Round of 64. It's a perfect venue to find a groove before facing the pressure of single-elimination play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, Nebraska will loom large in these groups. Here's the full breakdown of Great Plains representatives in this year's power pools. Championship contenders abound.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">18s</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If there's any age group to produce a Nebraska champion this year, it might be the 18s. And that's with only one team repping the Cornhusker State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Premier Nebraska 18 Gold is just that good. This squad has already taken the Open scene by storm on the USAV qualifier circuit. 18 Gold locked up its GJNC berth with an unblemished championship run at the KC MLK Qualifier, but the good times didn't stop there. This extraordinary feat was replicated at the Northern Lights Qualifier. Two qualifiers, two titles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pin-hitting prowess will keep 18 Gold in the spotlight at NIT. Omaha Skutt Catholic standouts [player_tooltip player_id='275935' first='Addison' last='West'] and [player_tooltip player_id='253907' first='Avery' last='White'] have formed a wicked left-right combo in the front row. Ball control remains a strength with [player_tooltip player_id='809398' first='Kami' last='Dyrstad'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349404' first='Lily' last='Zimmerman'] diming passes. Premier Nebraska is rolling in its rapid-fire 18s season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/2015431007336636623?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/2015431007336636623?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">17s</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Look out for this duo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 17 Elite left no doubt about its power pool worthiness through its early-season results. The Lincoln-based team trekked to Minneapolis and soared up the Northern Lights Qualifier leaderboard in 17 Open. A third-place finish locked up the team's postseason plans, but [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] will aim even higher in NIT's 17s gauntlet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most VCN teams operate through elite ball control, and that narrative holds with 17 Elite. Minnesota-bound setter [player_tooltip player_id='458165' first='McKinley' last='Moser'] runs a quick, efficient offense, and [player_tooltip player_id='458134' first='Millie' last='Mauch'] has expanded her setting role on the other side of the rotation. Moreover, pin hitters like Reese Eilentine, [player_tooltip player_id='807841' first='Alli' last='Bornschlegl'], and [player_tooltip player_id='809396' first='Kaelynn' last='Lottman'] are major contributors to 17 Elite's steady first contacts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":940999,"width":"406px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/01/RG1A0180.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-940999" style="width:406px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wallraff</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a big recruiting weekend for the 2028s, and 17 Elite has several sophomores playing up a year. [player_tooltip player_id='737370' first='Averi' last='Bridges'] has donned the libero jersey to help her fellow 2028s thrive. This leads to eye-popping terminations from [player_tooltip player_id='774910' first='Emma' last='Rink'], [player_tooltip player_id='573382' first='Haleigh' last='Bauer'], and [player_tooltip player_id='575237' first='Madison' last='Zajicek']. It's a full crew.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then, we venture to Power Pool C to find [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Synergy. The 2028 trend continues with [player_tooltip player_id='555495' first='Shayla' last='Rautenberg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='739707' first='Loryn' last='Piening'] commanding the middle blocker spot. [player_tooltip player_id='572006' first='Reese' last='Wallraff'] has also established herself as a backcourt force from the sophomore stable. Future Husker setter [player_tooltip player_id='458117' first='Malorie' last='Boesiger'] dishes out an offense that will lean on Creighton commit [player_tooltip player_id='445956' first='Reagan' last='Wallraff'] on the outside. Expectations will be lofty.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">15s</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All of Nebraska's 16s competitors are battling from outside of power pools, so we're jumping down to the 15s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like the 18s, we find a solo operation led by Premier Nebraska. Premier Nebraska 15 Gold's extraordinary GJNC success from the 2025 season has catalyzed a No. 2 seed in NIT's Power Pool D. The 15s are notoriously unpredictable, so keep close tabs on the Great Plains group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 Gold has the flexibility to run any system and wield its exceptional depth. Andi Blomenkamp and [player_tooltip player_id='846878' first='Maci' last='Falcone'] can seamlessly operate a 6-2, allowing 15 Gold to unleash its full frontcourt arsenal. Hard-hitting opposites [player_tooltip player_id='918755' first='Kenli' last='Donner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='775763' first='Fallyn' last='O'Connell'] have taken full advantage of their expanded frontcourt reps. Of course, the team is also stacked in the middle with [player_tooltip player_id='850372' first='Marianna' last='Zephier-Murphy'], [player_tooltip player_id='815053' first='Lucy' last='Labedz'], and [player_tooltip player_id='896272' first='Berkley' last='Gerdes'] patrolling the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're bound to learn a little something about 15 Gold in Kansas City.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->