Small-Town Athletes with Big-Time Talent at #PDTop250ExpoNE

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska is known for producing its share of small-town volleyball gems. That trend isn't going away anytime soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Dig Top 250 Expo remains one of the best annual venues to get a look at small-town talents from across the Cornhusker State. And, with how quickly this event has grown, our opportunity to see these standouts was as good as its ever been this year. Naturally, we have a few names to discuss after this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, let's get into our discussion of some of the small-town talents who made a big splash at our Prep Dig Top 250 Nebraska Expo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["104992"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Milford has a rich history of producing some talented defensive specialists, and Bell is no exception. She represented the program well during this year's fall season and is looking to do the same for Nebraska Juniors in the spring. This weekend's showcase was a good starting point.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["152865"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Bojanski just keeps delivering. She is a regular sight on the championship stage with Archbishop Bergan, and it's hard to miss her relentless, steady floor defense in the Knights' backcourt. In the realm of small-town talents in the Class of 2024, Bojanski remains one of Nebraska's best.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["253909"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"This event was a great way to get Busteed on my radar. The Elgin/Pope John setter put up some big numbers while leading the Wolfpack offense as a junior, and she is poised for even bigger things next fall. Hitters at this expo thrived off of Busteed's precision and consistency.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["253914"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"How about a multi-talented athlete from all the way out in Scottsbluff? Foote made the cross-state trip to Omaha to put her volleyball skills on display, but the Bearcat junior is bound to succeed at whichever sport she pursues at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["105006"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Even those in Nebraska's big cities know Ryan's name by now. She dazzled the Lincoln crowd yet again this year by putting together one dominant performance after another, leading Overton to the Class D2 championship match. You're free to list Ryan as a middle blocker or an outside hitter, because this all-state standout can do a little bit of both.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["179361"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Uhlir's rapid ascent up the Nebraska 2024 leaderboards has been fascinating. She was one of Nebraska's assist leaders this year, but that only tells part of the story. Uhlir also has the intangible leadership skills that you hope to see from an upperclassman setter. Bennington's long-awaited return to the state championships had a lot to do with Uhlir's reliable presence in the Badger offense.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["237537"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Let's get into the Class of 2025. Carlstrom burst onto Nebraska's prep scene this year with a standout season at High Plains. The only question about Carlstrom's game is how to classify her on-court role, as she has demonstrated excellence as both a setter and a frontcourt opposite.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["214008"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Gleason is quickly become one of the most imposing 2025 middle blockers in the entire state. Her hard-hitting style has become an instant hit with both Beatrice and Nebraska Juniors, where Gleason has shown year-round dominance and efficiency.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["213983"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Steady ball control has become a hallmark of Fremont volleyball, and Hofer is an up-and-coming athlete who embodies this well. This showcase event was a perfect venue for Hofer to demonstrate her hustle and finesse.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["173522"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Johnson has been on our radar for a while, and the DC West sophomore will have an excellent chance to make an impression with Nebraska Elite this spring. Before we get ahead of ourselves, though, we have to give huge props to Johnson and the Falcons for their historic appearance at this year's state championships. It was no fluke.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["231947"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"Bring on the Class of 2026. Haase is a skilled outside hitter who represents Exeter-Milligan, a program that is no stranger to postseason success. That ought to give Haase ample time in the spotlight as her prep career moves forward, and her performance at our expo was a great start.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_11_player":["219728"],"_player_evaluations_11_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"Being a starting setter as a freshman is a tough job, but Hengelfelt handled that responsibility as well as anyone in Nebraska this fall. She led her Cross County team back to the postseason and looked like a seasoned veteran the whole way. This is just the beginning.","_player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_12_player":["222618"],"_player_evaluations_12_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_12_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_12_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"We're going to see a whole lot more of Sebree next year as she competes in the Premier Nebraska gym. On the prep side, Sebree appears to be the next in line to take over a Bennington offense that has seen its share of recent success.","_player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":13,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638e46790a57c"} /-->