Nebraska’s Late-Season Stock Risers: 2026 Pin Hitters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a perfect time to slow down and reflect on a flurry of volleyball activity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Club volleyball seasons move at a frantic pace. We all know what that rush feels like. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the week-to-week storylines that we forget to stop and see the bigger picture. The calendar is about to turn toward May--a "slower" time in the 2024 campaign. Time to take a breath.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, our coverage marches on. We're taking this moment to get a second look at how Nebraska's prep landscape has evolved over the past few months. That evolution seemed to speed up throughout April with a huge gauntlet of qualifiers and bid tournaments filling the calendar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, how about some late-season stock risers? 2026 pin hitters are under the microscope for this one, but this is just the beginning of our position-by-position tour. Get ready.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["253923"],"_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":"Branson had already racked up plenty of accolades prior to the 2024 club season. She has been one of Nebraska's leading scorers in each of her first two seasons with Shelton High School. Her state tournament experience is noteworthy. However, Branson has seemingly taken the next step this year as she led South Central NE 16 Black to another Liberty bid at Show Me. This small-town star has embraced the challenge of being a six-rotation asset at the outside hitter position, and Branson is ready to bring those all-around skills to Vegas.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["349479"],"_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":"We've documented Behrns' ascent to [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']'s top 17s squad this year. That dramatic change has only accelerated the upward trend for this high-flying attacker. Behrns has posted massive numbers with David City on the prep side, but she's getting a chance to showcase that impact to a national audience this spring. She dominates on both pins and has settled into a right-side hitter role with VCN 17 Elite. GJNC will be an important test for one of Nebraska's most formidable 2026 attackers.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["349417"],"_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":"Nienaber's late-season charge with Premier 16 Silver caught our attention. She carries a heavy attacking load in the front row, but that only covers part of Nienaber's wide-ranging impact. 16 Silver also relies on this outside hitter's steady platform in serve receive. That become apparent during the Show Me Qualifier as 16 Silver climbed to the final bracket in its division. Nienaber was a focal point in that effort whether she was taking care of first contacts or delivering a terminal swing.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["396742"],"_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":"Milbourn's emergence has added balance and firepower to the Club Legacy 16 Alpha offense. Her heavy heat on the pin is the perfect complement to a well-rounded offense that 16 Alpha has wielded for a while. We saw Milbourn and her Club Legacy squad surge at the end of last season, and the same storyline is playing out in 2024. This is how to rise to the occasion.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["216933"],"_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":"Our scouting report on Freeland has transformed in the past several weeks. We knew about her game-changing ability as a middle blocker, but Freeland brings a lot more positional range to Premier 16 Red's frontcourt. She takes critical sideout swings on the left side and also brings an extensive background on the right. That covers all three positions along the net, so Freeland's designated position is open to interpretation. Either way, this Elkhorn standout has taken a big step forward on the outside this year.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["276194"],"_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":"Six-rotation opposites are a rare commodity at the club level, so anyone who can show this skillset is worthy of mention. Bassett doesn't just take on this unusual role for Nebraska Elite. She's excels in it. 16 Lokahi wields Bassett as a backcourt attacking option, especially when the team is out of system. We've also watched Bassett progress as a right-back defender and aid Nebraska Elite in transition. That's a lot of strengths to consider as Bassett continues her prep tenure with Omaha Burke.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["349449"],"_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":"Here's another entry for Nebraska Elite's 16s crew. Stradal made an early impression through her performances with Nebraska Elite 16 Nova at the Midwest Power League. This right-side hitter continued to raise the bar as 16 Nova took on late-season qualifiers, including Show Me in Kansas City. Stradal makes equally significant contributions as an attacker and a blocker, making her a stock riser worth following this fall.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["349455"],"_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":"[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] enters the conversation with one of its most dynamic attackers in the 16s age group. Gustafson has been a major headliner with her willingness to flex between middle blocker and opposite for 16 Black. Her quickness and athleticism make Gustafson an ideal fit for any spotu002du002das long as she's getting plenty of attempts along the net. This year's high school season will be fascinating for the Lincoln Southwest prospect.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["518590"],"_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":"Blomstedt established herself as a go-to option for this year's [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Lime squad. We ran into 16 Lime several times throughout the 2024 season, and Blomstedt always brought a competitive edge the team could rally around. She made the most out of tough swings, which is often the difference-maker in tight matches. Blomstedt kept making big impressions all the way to this month's Great Plains Region Bid Tournament, and we're excited to see what's next.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["396756"],"_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":"[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] gets another one. Bowen has shown an incredible amount of skill and finesse as 16 Black's primary right-side hitter. Even when circumstances are not in her favor, Bowen can attack the right gaps to put opposing teams in trouble. Of course, this is also an opposite who can hammer away on in-system balls. The Show Me Qualifier was a momentous outing for 16 Black, and Bowen brought her best to Kansas City, too.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66305fc45eb1f"} /-->