Nebraska's AAU Nationals Stock Risers: Wave 3 Top Performers

Nebraska athletes always step up in the Sunshine State.   We have a Herculean effort ahead of us to cover all the postseason happenings from Nebraska's top teams and players. Expect us to bounce back and forth between Orlando and Indianapolis, discussing the full array of Great Plains contenders gaining summer momentum. There is no offseason on the Prep Dig site.   This one's for the Orlando crew. Wave 3 featured several notable Nebraska squads in divisions highlighting the 16s and 17s.    Bahle's meteoric ascent began far before Nebraska Elite 17-1's championship-winning run in Orlando. Last fall, she stepped into the libero jersey for Omaha Westside and delivered late-season heroics en route to the Class A semifinals. She proved her willingness to stand in and dig heat against the state's top terminators. Bahle has now taken that influence to prep volleyball's biggest stages, earning all-tournament honors at AAU Nationals. The Omaha area is loaded with impactful veterans at the libero position, and Bahle has placed herself in that conversation with her leadership, effort, and constant development.     We might as well add another one to Nebraska Elite 17-1's tally. Hoisting the trophy on the AAU podium requires an exceptional blend of high-octane scoring and stingy defense. Fortunately, Petersen patrolled the net to offer both. She has flourished as one of Nebraska Elite's physical anchors in 2026, particularly when her squad traveled to our Prep Dig Iowa Clash in February. Petersen doesn't stop at the standard skills you'd expect from a middle blocker. She takes pride in her M1 role and can dish out a wicked serve behind the end line. Orlando was quickly acquainted with the Elkhorn senior's willingness to do it all in pursuit of victory.     [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE']'s setter depth always astounds us, but it has been especially prevalent among this year's 17s. Dominy called the shots for [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Lime this season and tallied one more strong outing in Orlando. The Seward native has always been quick to the ball while delivering the perfect tempo to her outside hitters. Dominy is also the kind of athletes who won't shy away from risks while she's off the net. These traits will keep paying dividends as Dominy embarks on a swan song season with the Bluejays.     Tremendous defense is usually a focal point of [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs']' top squads. It's a trend that Miller understands well, especially when she leads the back row for her 16 Navy crew. Recent features have documented the consistently positive results from [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] at AAU Nationals. So, we were naturally drawn to hidden gems like Miller when watching this club battle through Wave 3. The Bellevue West senior looks poised for further breakthroughs as another high school gauntlet beckons.     Bartek remains in the spotlight as one of Nebraska Juniors 17 Red's anchor players. Most teams don't get a go-to attacker and a smooth setter in one package, but Bartek provides both phases for her upstart squad. The only difficulty is deciding which phase has been more impactful from Bartek this year. Her quick right arm and pin-to-pin distribution allow Bartek to put her stamp on all of 17 Red's successes.     We've seen this story before. Nebraska Elite teams love to operate through the middle. This translates to ample opportunities for Schwarz to tee off as soon as she rotates into the frontcourt. 16 Alpha has trained Schwarz to become a dynamic, rangy attacker who can also swing off two feet on the right side. She has a knack for closing blocks no matter which position she's anchoring. And, like all of the Nebraska Elite teams we'll cover from Wave 3, 16 Alpha battled to a winning record in Orlando and saved its best for last. That's a good omen for Schwarz's pivotal junior season.     AAUs brought good feelings across the board for Nebraska Elite. Carlson joined the action with a multi-position onslaught for Nebraska Elite's stacked 16 Flames lineup. She has wielded a heavy hand on both sides of the setter, which gave 16 Flames some all-important versatility through the long slate of AAU contests. Carlson showed no signs of fatigue as 16 Flames slugged to a 10-3 record in the 16 Club division. Rather, she strengthened her presence in the offense and made a major stock-riser bid among Nebraska's 2028s.     Setters are running the show in this one. Brodersen has been a frequent subject of our player spotlights whenever [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] 16 Navy enters the fray. She has not been shy about squaring up at the net in a 5-1 system, but Brodersen can flourish in any starting lineup. Her right-back defense has set the pace for 16 Navy, and it showed up again as River City navigated the 16 Club division. Brodersen's stock ascends after logging an 8-4 overall record at AAUs.     Wave 3 was all about the 16s and 17s, but we still had a handful of Nebraska 2029s playing up and showing out. Tallman led that group with her outstanding backcourt command with [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Titanium in the ever-challenging 16 Open division. The Lincoln Southeast underclassman has oscillated between primary DS spots and the libero role throughout 2026, allowing Tallman to demonstrate her match-to-match adaptability. AAU Nationals is always a grind, but Tallman and her team grew increasingly comfortable with escalating reps in Orlando. That should put the Lincoln-area crew on a solid footing heading into the fall.

Nebraska athletes always step up in the Sunshine State.