Which Nebraska 2026s Took a Step Forward at Show Me?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's get into some player-based features.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've spent the past few days adding to our Nebraska Bid Tracker with <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/04/nebraska-bid-tracker-[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']-17-black-captures-show-me-title/">[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 17 Black</a>, <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/04/nebraska-bid-tracker-premier-16-gold-soars-at-show-me/">Premier Nebraska 16 Gold</a>, and <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/04/nebraska-bid-tracker-south-central-ne-16-black-runs-it-back/">South Central NE 16 Black</a> punching their tickets to Nationals. Dozens of other Great Plains teams were in the Kansas City spotlight, so we have a lot more to cover.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Breakout performers came from every club, age group, and division at the Show Me Qualifier. We moved around the event's entire Nebraska landscape and came away with a few players who took a big step forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few picks from the Class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402985"],"_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":"We're starting with Nebraska's stacked field of 16 Liberty entries. Johnson was a major catalyst to Nebraska Juniors 16 Red's 3-0 start in Day 1 pools. She brought a ton of intensity to the court and backed that up with a quick arm in the frontcourt. Johnson's match point kill against Tulsa Power remains an unforgettable highlight from the Show Me Qualifier.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["349406"],"_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":"Premier Nebraska 16 Red secured a podium finish in 16 Liberty, and Neal's backcourt defense had a lot to do with it. This instinctive libero is finding her rhythm with 16 Red and can adapt to a variety of lineups. Neal's ascent will be worth watching as we enter a series of important regional events.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["237537"],"_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":"Carlstrom was mentioned in our South Central NE bid feature, but she also belongs here after her impactful tenure in Kansas City. This right-side hitter showed some game-changing power for 16 Black, giving the team a reliable in-system option behind the setter. South Central NE repeated its bid triumph from 2023 and is growing even stronger with more high-level reps.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["396769"],"_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":"We got a good look at Nebraska Pride Black 16s last weekend, and Pelster was a persistent leader at the setter position. The Holdrege High School athlete distributes well and provides consistent location for her attackers. She also has an extensive background as a defensive specialist and can carry that role, too. Nebraska Pride finished strong at Show Me with three wins in its final five matches.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["396782"],"_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":"Kastanek continues to anchor an impressive defensive unit for [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Lime. Aside from her ability to lock down quality first contacts, Kastanek also brought an aggressive serve that bolstered 16 Lime's serve receive advantage. Nebraska's 2026 libero landscape keeps evolving with every prominent national qualifier.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["275937"],"_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":"Eymann is another player who earned a shoutout after her team earned a GJNC bid. Premier 16 Gold reaped the benefits of Eymann's multi-faceted ball control skills whenever this talented setter rotated in. The 6-2 system allows Eymann to influence the team through her setting and her impenetrable right-back defense, which produced some must-see highlights at Show Me.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["349418"],"_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":"Rauner is becoming a do-everything asset for Nebraska Elite's top 16s squad. Her smooth setting rose to the KC spotlight, particularly in 16 Lokahi's three-hitter rotations. Rauner will also embrace an attacking role in the frontcourt, where we saw her amazing range on the right side. Setter-opposites are always a fascinating thing to behold, and Nebraska Elite has a good one in its gym.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["347297"],"_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":"Let's put another one of those setter-opposites on your radar. Peterson is a hard-hitting lefty who displayed her full array of attacking skills in Kansas City. She presents tough angles for opposing blockers and can work around hands with serious pace. We're excited to see Peterson develop with Lincoln Northeast, where she also gets to set the offense from the back row.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["349413"],"_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":"Premier Nebraska 16 Black has no shortage of eye-catching athletes at the setter spot. Miller is entering that conversation after what we saw at the Show Me Qualifier. The Gretna prep star gets her feet to the ball quickly and sets against the grain with pinpoint accuracy. Lineup options abound for 16 Black.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["349467"],"_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":"Setters are dominating the headlines here. Dutcher helped spread the ball around for [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] 16 Navy and performed well against tough competition. We've seen her thrive with this group before, but last weekend's qualifier was a collective step up for 16 Navy. More milestones are on the way for Dutcher and [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'].","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["396762"],"_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":"Nebraska Juniors 16 Black finds success through its physicality. That's where Plas helps lock down the net from the middle blocker spot. She generates sharp angles in front of the setter and is even stronger as a blocker. Plas will even put up long serving runs from the M1 position. Look out for 16 Black's large collection of up-and-coming hitters.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_11_player":["349488"],"_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":"King has demonstrated remarkable improvement to become one of VCNebraska 16 Black's go-to hitters. She can play on the right side or in the middle while providing consistency at both spots. 16 Black's frontcourt prowess generated great returns in Kansas City, and King was a focal point in that effort.","_player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":12,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66192ecf66874"} /-->