Which Nebraska Teams Have Surprised Us in Early-Season Action?

A successful start to a new season is always rewarding, but the element of surprise adds an extra layer of intrigue.   Sure, we spent a lot of time stewing over our preseason class-by-class team rankings for Nebraska's 2026 high school campaign. Many powerhouse squads on those lists were no-brainer selections. But every new year brings emerging teams that outperform expectations.   We still have a long way to go in this year's prep calendar, and Nebraska's hierarchy will shift every week. Regardless, we're already eyeing a few teams logging an impressive string of early results.   Set the tone in September.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/IMG_1112-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1040046" style="aspect-ratio:1.5003893158197636;width:378px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lincoln Standing Bear competes at the 2026 Bellevue West Invite.</figcaption></figure>     Lincoln Standing Bear   The Grizzlies are still relative newcomers on the Star City prep scene, but their influence grows with every rep.   Wayne State commit Sydnie Cain has taken her termination to a new level with a whopping 5.7 kills per set through early-season play. We've watched her thrive on both pins throughout her prep career, but she is an unquestioned leader on the left for Standing Bear.   A stellar supporting cast has joined Cain in this Grizzly uprising. Senior Jayda Engelbart and freshman Clara Beeder have added to the onslaught on the pins, and Lindyn Stutzman has consistently fed the hot hand from the setter spot. Reese Pedersen and Lola Warnock anchor the back row.   This all culminates in a 6-2 start, with LSB recently picking up sweeps over Columbus, Grand Island, and Lincoln Northwest.     Johnson County Central   Hear us out on this one.   Yes, Johnson County Central was last year's No. 1 seed in Class C2 after rolling to an unblemished record. We included the Thunderbirds in our preseason rankings, too.   But we have to address the big counterweight here: JCC's 2026 class was exceptional. Ashley Beethe put up an eye-popping 6.6 kills per set on the outside, and Harley Lubben added another 3.3 terminations on a .300 hitting clip. That's a whole heap of offensive production for this year's crew to replace.   Early returns have been overwhelmingly positive. The Thunderbirds have rallied around junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='737390' first='Riley' last='Wellensiek'], who has morphed into a go-to pin hitter with a team-best four kills per set. Freshman standout Brynn Weber has added three kills per set through her first few matches, helping JCC notch a 5-0 start. Look for [player_tooltip player_id='930893' first='Sophia' last='Schmid'] to flourish as the team's returning libero, too.   This doesn't look like a rebuild. It's a reinvention.     Omaha Gross Catholic   The Omaha area is always stacked with powerhouses, but why not add another emergent contender to the mix?   Omaha Gross Catholic is doing its part to contribute to Class B's massive intrigue. The Cougars clawed to a 6-0 opening with triumphs over regional foes like Blair, Omaha Burke, and Ralston. The schedule keeps ramping up to test Gross Catholic's high-powered offense.   That offense is led by Adara Fowlkes, an ETSU commit with 5.7 kills per set on her tally. Fowlkes has demonstrated her range as a pin hitter and a middle blocker, giving her plenty of options to excel at the D1 level. Her eye-popping 0.612 hitting clip through the first handful of matches is a sure way to make a statement.   We're eyeing sophomores like Madisyn Skradski and Millie Kauffman, both of whom have terminated at a high clip after early-season clashes. Anna Rangel and Josie Mixan have contributed to Gross Catholic's flourishing ball control, which is needed for the video game numbers we've seen so far.     St. Paul   The Wildcats are back at it again.   We started this decade with a state title match appearance from St. Paul, so it's not entirely surprising to see this crew in the mix. But they've also made a considerable climb in the Class C1 hierarchy after wins against David City, Sutton, and Holdrege, among others.   Veteran leadership from Aubree Fitzgerald and Piepyr Klinginsmith has a lot to do with that revival. Fitzgerald has soared past four kills per set so far, while Klinginsmith leads the efficiency column with an impressive 0.324 clip. We also can't forget about Addilyn Platek, a Class of 2029 standout who is on pace to demolish the numbers she put up in Year 1.   Upcoming duels with Centura and Adams Central could provide our best look yet at St. Paul's all-around strength.     Red Cloud   This is another one of last year's tournament participants that has seemingly raised the bar even further in 2026.   Red Cloud was a Cinderella team last year. The Warriors made last year's Class D2 tournament after a big district final upset over Sandhills/Thedford. Moving up to Class D1 has not slowed Red Cloud's progress, and an 8-0 start has fueled hopes of a return trip to Lincoln.   The Class of 2028 has remained as steady as ever. Aiva Rust and Josie Faimon anchor this group and have combined for over six kills per set during the winning streak. The team has also rallied around a productive ball control unit, with Haize Heldt dishing the offense and playing terrific right-back defense.

A successful start to a new season is always rewarding, but the element of surprise adds an extra layer of intrigue.