Previewing Tuesday's NCA All-Star Volleyball Match

Some of the state's best graduated seniors will play one final match representing their high schools at the Nebraska Coaches Association 2018 Volleyball All-Star Game at 7 p.m., Tuesday, at Lincoln North Star. Here is a look at each of the teams with some thoughts about their rosters. Blue Team Head coach: Laura Miller, North Platte Assistant coach: Tracy Kuester-Burtwistle, Stanton OH: Taliyah Flores, Papillion-LaVista South OH: Alexa Blase, Grand Island OH: Bailee Sterling, Kearney OH: Sami Mauch, North Platte (injured) OH: Taryn Mayfield, Grand Island Northwest OH: Julianna Kalil, Omaha Duchesne MH: Sydney Fitzgibbons, Papillion-LaVista MH: Hannah Heppner, Stanton RS: Riley Sis, McCook Setter: Delaney Saucier, Skutt Catholic Setter: Kinsley Tingelhoff, Wahoo Libero: Madison Evans, Millard North Libero: Taylor O'Malley, Skutt Catholic Pin hitters: Blue Team is undersized at the pins, but makes up for it in athleticism. Flores can terminate on anyone and Blasé can pretty much hit over anyone. I think people will be surprised by how strong and physical Sterling is. The Northern Colorado recruit is capable of playing middle or on the right side as well, and when Blue Team wants its best six on the court at the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if Sterling is in one of those two spots. Mayfield, Kalil and Sis are undersized but hit the tar out of the ball. Middles: Fitzgibbons had a standout career for the Monarchs and her athletic ability makes her tough to defend. It will be interesting to see how quickly she's about to develop timing with the Blue setters because she is very effective on the slide. Heppner is athletic as well but with less size than Fitzgibbons. Setters: Two of the best decision-makers and deliverers of the ball are on Blue in Tingelhoff and Saucier. It will be interesting to see if Blue goes to a one or two setter line-up in crunch time. Liberos: Blue is pretty stacked in the back row with two of the most underrated liberos in the state in Evans and O'Malley. It would be fun to see Flores slap on the libero jersey for a set, but she's just too valuable as an attacker in a match like this. Most Likely to Have Big Match: Flores, Blasé and Sterling. Watch out for Sterling - she could be unstoppable at the net depending on the match-ups she gets. Red Team Head coach: Briana Janda, Elkhorn South Assistant coach: Diane Torson, Hampton OH: Brooke Frederickson, North Bend OH: Claire Ostrand, Nebraska Christian OH: Taylor Quiring, Heartland OH: Jaela Zimmerman, Malcolm MH: Sarah Wing, Omaha Marian MH: Emily Krolikowski, Centura MH: Halle Meister, Omaha Roncalli MH: Kaitlynn Simon, Johnson-Brock RS: Ally Glaser, Papillion-LaVista Setter: Rachel Walker, Lincoln Southwest Libero: Riley Newton, Elkhorn South Libero: Lindsay Nottleman, Lincoln Pius X Pin hitters: Zimmerman is the best player in the state and Blue is going to have a really, really hard time finding anyone to put up a block that can contain her. Frederickson could be in line for a huge match, and she's a standout in the serve receive and passing game as well. Ostrand and Quiring are tremendous athletes and will make things happen. Wouldn't shock me to see Ostrand even do some setting at some point. She's a well-rounded player. Glaser can do it all, and is a great right side because of her ability to set second balls when out of system. Middles: Wing is a strong, physical and athletic player and by far the best middle on either roster, but Red has great middles. Krolikowski is similar to Wing, just not as big. Meister could play anywhere along the front row and do damage and Simon will hold her own at the net, but really excels in the back row. It wouldn't be surprising if Simon were a full-rotation right side at home point to take advantage of her all-around skills. Setters: Walker is a gamer and a tremendous setter and will likely get most of the reps at that position. But, I also see Walker wanting a chance to get in a few rips at the net because that's just the competitor she is. Glaser or Ostrand could easily step in and set for a set or so to give her that chance. Liberos: Newton and Nottleman each had standout high school careers and the Red team can't go wrong having either one of them on the court. They are both big time. Most Likely to Have Big Match: Zimmerman is probably going to borderline on unstoppable. Fredrickson is going to surprise a lot of people and Wing will be a blocking machine that could also put up double-digit kills. Prediction: I'm going with Red in four sets.