Daily Dozen: Early Club Standouts from Nebraska 2028 Watch List

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our next rankings update is already looming.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first few weeks of the club season always reshape our perspective on Nebraska's future stars. 2028s are especially affected by this trend right now. Athletes often made major strides between the 15s and 16s level, and the Great Plains Region has offered several stark examples through early-season action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we have a solid sample size of matches to draw from, we can start putting together our next wave of rankings updates. This spring refresh will shift several 2028s from the watch list to the rankings. It's a big move that reflects the growth, development, and improvement we're seeing across the board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a dozen good candidates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["575242"],"_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-69a46b1a19bc1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bartholet is back. This hard-hitting opposite has been a "sleeping giant" since missing out on much of the 2025 club season due to injury. Now, she's leading the Premier Nebraska 16 Black offense on the right side and bringing physicality to the team's stifling block. Her rankings rise is inevitable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774682"],"_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-69a46b1a19c5b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brodersen keeps running the show for [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs']. The club's vaunted 16 Navy lineup produced a successful stay at the ASICS Presidents' Day Classic, and Brodersen's steady hands were all over this effort. Her intensity as a setter is matched by her lockdown defense in the right-back area. We'd expect nothing less from a [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] distributor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774672"],"_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-69a46b1a19e32"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">River City's recruitable 2028s are not limited to the 16s age group. Kava ascends the age ladder to dish out game-changing termination for 17 Navy. She's the ideal 'M1' who does a lot more than score on quick tempos. Kava is also a productive asset in her serving rotation and has given opposing teams trouble with her offerings at the end line. We can't overlook this kind of versatility at the middle blocker spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774689"],"_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-69a46b1a19cd3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Club Legacy has strong middle blockers to leverage at every age group. D'Agosto has risen to the forefront among the club's 2028s, providing lethal offense in front of the setter for 16 Alpha. Her lateral quickness also makes her a worthy slide option in two-hitter rotations. Even with 16 Alpha's balanced, well-distributed offense, D'Agosto still finds ways to take over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774692"],"_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-69a46b1a19e8d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Let's go from the middle to the backcourt. While D'Agosto has established 16 Alpha's net presence, Stockdale has brought the back-row stability to tie everything together. Her work at the Great Plains Region Gold Series brought immediate attention to Stockdale's adaptability at the libero spot. Posting a 6-1 record at the ASICS Presidents' Day Classic has elevated her stock further.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774641"],"_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-69a46b1a19dac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Premier Nebraska 16 Red was recently identified as one of the state's surging teams after February's gauntlet. Dyrstad has contributed to 16 Red's strong defensive identity, and the ASICS Presidents' Day Classic wrote another exciting chapter in that narrative. We saw plenty of long, grueling rallies and matches during the team's 7-1 journey on the Omaha stage. Dyrstad aided that breakthrough through her leadership, effort, and willingness to dig heat in any backcourt zone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["575219"],"_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-69a46b1a19ef7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nebraska Elite brought the full armada to last month's ASICS Presidents' Day Classic, so we have a lot of updated film to sift through. Lamotte-Protic is an early standout from these regional reps and has expanded her role with the 16 Alpha lineup. She's an all-around mainstay who isn't afraid to handle the first and third contacts in sideout situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774653"],"_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-69a46b1a19d2f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Perhaps Lamotte-Protic and Demulling are the "thunder and lightning" at 16 Alpha's pin positions. Demulling has vast experience on both sides of the setter, but her ball control has also elevated her team's all-around operation. Nebraska Elite is eager to let Demulling pass a large chunk of the court and keep 16 Alpha's first-ball offense in a groove. This is a big development for Demulling's scouting report.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["730560"],"_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-69a46b1a19f5e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Beran is fitting in nicely with her new squad. [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Black shuffled the deck for 2026 and added this exceptional defensive specialist to the fray. Beran is particularly adept in the middle-back area, as we saw during her most recent showcase visit on the Prep Dig Circuit. The ASICS Presidents' Day Classic brought several more big additions to Beran's growing highlight tape.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774609"],"_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-69a46cd379846"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Valish is the kind of pin hitter who can get the job done on either side of the setter. She made a big impression during last fall's high school season, helping Malcolm climb to the Class C1 semifinals. Her all-around reign has continued with [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Black, which compiled a 5-3 overall record in Omaha.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774629"],"_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-69a46cd3798a9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Owen reminds us of so many other six-rotation "glue" players in the Nebraska Elite gym. She sets the tone around the dial for Nebraska Elite 16 Flames, and early-season returns have been impressive. The Omaha Westside played a key role in 16 Flames' top-ten finish at the ASICS Presidents' Day Classic. Several more standouts from this team have landed on our radar, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["930895"],"_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-69a46cd3798f9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've already had a couple of run-ins with Banzai VBC 17 Power, allowing us to witness Pearson's rise in the back row. The Fort Calhoun sophomore averaged an eye-popping 4.2 digs per set last fall, and her stat-stuffing prowess has translated well to the club side. She plays up a year in the Banzai VBC gym and still exhibits invaluable leadership among her older peers. Pearson will not be daunted by any stage the 2026 season offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->