Nebraska 2023 Rankings Update: Stock Risers
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It’s never too late to be a stock riser. The Class of 2023 just wrapped up their high school careers, and several seniors rose to the occasion by having an outstanding swan song season. There are few things more thrilling…
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Continue ReadingIt’s never too late to be a stock riser.
The Class of 2023 just wrapped up their high school careers, and several seniors rose to the occasion by having an outstanding swan song season. There are few things more thrilling than watching athletes develop and improve, so we’ve got a feature dedicated to these overachievers.
Here’s a glimpse at some of Nebraska’s top stock risers in the latest Class of 2023 update.
What a senior season for the South Dakota commit. Laird rocketed to new heights this fall with more than four kills per set on over .300 hitting, and it’s only fitting that Omaha Westside reached new heights alongside their senior star. Getting to the championship match was a huge step for the Warriors, and Laird helped pave the way.
We’re not done discussing South Dakota commits. Loschen’s outstanding senior season helped lift Omaha Marian back to the postseason stage, and the Crusaders found every way possible to get this veteran middle involved in the offense.
Leuck is another future Summit League competitor whose versatility was almost unmatched in Nebraska’s 2023 class. The Omaha commit had a featured role as a setter and an opposite for Omaha Skutt Catholic en route to the program’s eighth consecutive state title.
Here’s another 2023 star who went out with a state championship. Woods was a regular contributor in the GICC lineup throughout her career, but her final year on the high school stage was her best. Even in her team’s balanced offense, Woods managed almost three-and-a-half kills per set and had an extraordinary impact on the GICC’s passing and defense.
Weberg is another Omaha Skutt Catholic senior who left an indelible mark on this year’s eight-peat. Her defensive specialist role allowed her to defend either corner of the backcourt, and Weberg did so with incredible efficiency and finesse. Missouri Western State will be happy to bring in this championship-winning athlete.
Another Omaha Westside senior standout to make this feature, Gologan was the glue to held the Warrior backcourt together. She was particularly adept at digging crosscourt heat against some of the best prep attackers that Nebraska has to offer.
Kircher did it all for Norris this year. In the frontcourt, the physical senior was a go-to left-side attacker who wanted the ball in clutch situations. When Kircher rotated to the backcourt, she transitioned into a setter who could lead the offense and distribute to her vast array of talented teammates.
This was Kassebaum’s year to shine as one of the leaders of Waverly’s offense. She put down nearly 300 kills in her final prep season and was even a key contributor in the passing formation. The Vikings just keep getting the best out of their veterans.
It’s no surprise that Stanley remained near the top of Nebraska’s digs leaderboard as a senior. Still, the Sidney libero managed to find another gear the team’s backcourt leader. Stanley soared past the 400-dig mark this season and took a huge share of the serve receive burden off of her teammates, which perfectly encapsulates the impact of a good libero.
Cornwell surged into the spotlight with her brilliant floor defense and incredible effort in Gothenburg’s libero jersey. Her steady ball control became a cornerstone of Gothenburg’s historic run to the state championship match, and Cornwell has laid the foundation for future defenders to find success at this central Nebraska program.
You can’t lose sight of Becker’s contributions to the Cedar Catholic frontcourt firepower that led the Trojans to a D1 championship. The hard-hitting opposite carried a major role in late-season action for Cedar Catholic and was always a strong attacking threat behind the setter.
Another year at the top of the assists leaderboard for Unseld. The Pierce standout became a familiar sight on the championship stage and dished out a balanced, efficient Bluejay offense for a long time.
Papillion-La Vista got increased production across the board from its left-side hitters, and Sis was part of that big step forward in 2022. She easily eclipsed 200 kills this year and demonstrated that she could go pass-to-attack when handling the first contact.
Goodon is one of those game-changing middle blockers who shifts the dynamic when she rotates into the frontcourt. The Adams Central veteran was a centerpiece of the program’s consistent presence in the postseason over the past few years, so it seems right that Goodon got another chance to compete in Lincoln as a senior.
Loschen is not the only Marian stock riser on this senior feature. Wilwerding helped anchor a productive year for Crusader left-side hitters and brought a physical block on the defensive end.