More Middle Blockers to Follow in Nebraska 2028 Watch List

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What about the middles?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our positional tour of <a href="https://prepdig.com/nebraska/rankings/2028-rankings/">Nebraska's 2028 watch list</a> has recently covered <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/01/more-setters-to-follow-in-nebraska-2028-watch-list/">setters</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/01/more-pin-hitters-to-follow-in-nebraskas-2028-watch-list/">pin hitters</a>. Today's feature moves into the middle, where several future stars reside. A few of these standouts have already been covered in <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/01/showcase-standouts-surging-into-nebraska-2028-watch-list/">Part 1</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/01/showcase-standouts-surging-into-nebraska-2028-watch-list-pt-2/">Part 2</a> of our showcase features, but we still have more ground to cover. This group has depth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We can't wait to see what's next from these freshman middle blockers on the 15s stage and beyond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["573382"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67802df810912"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bauer has been on our radar for a while. She played up a year with [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] last spring, so we got a glance at Bauer's potential while we were still figuring out the Class of 2027. This long, rangy athlete made her mark as a middle with VCN and earned outside hitter reps with Lincoln Southeast last fall. Bauer's sky-high contact point makes her an ideal fit for either position, even if she's still playing up a year on the club circuit. VCN 16 Elite will lean on their 2028 star to put away plenty of balls in front of the setter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["737386"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67802df81096f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Our next middle entry is building off a strong debut season with Omaha Gross Catholic. Fowlkes put down over two kills per set on a team-leading 0.220 clip. This versatile athlete is particularly effective at terminating in the 'gap' away from the setter and can swing on slower tempos if needed. Fowlkes' diverse routes and quick arms will make her a frontcourt game-changer with Premier Nebraska 15 Gold, and we're already seeing that potential materialize.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["575226"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67802df8109ba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] pulls in a standout freshman from North Bend Central to bolster its 15 Black lineup. Liekhus was a key contributor to last year's 14s team and brought infectious on-court energy throughout the year. She is the prototypical 'M2' who is equally effective as an attacker and a blocker. Her quickness off the floor allows Liekhus to work past opposing blocks and give defenders little time to react. 2025 could be a breakout year for Liekhus as her team looks to cash in on its bid aspirations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["574404"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67802df8109fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This year's club season will offer infinite opportunities to add to the Nebraska Juniors representation in our 2028 watch list. Carlson has already broken into the watch list and will continue to put out quality reps with Nebraska Juniors 15 Red. She has demonstrated her willingness to go over the top to score, but Carlson can also find seams and gaps if needed. Lincoln Southwest is great venue to train emerging middle blockers, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["568836"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67802df810a3f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Look out for this dynamic middle blocker on Nebraska Elite's top 15s squad. McGaugh made big strides during the 2024 club season and influenced matches as an attacker and a defender. Her physicality presented tough matchups for opposing hitters, as McGaugh could smother swings close to the net. Nebraska Elite also incorporated McGaugh in its in-system offense, especially on the 'quick' in front of the setter. Add to the list of up-and-coming middle blockers in the Nebraska Elite gym.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["575216"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67802df810a81"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Let's give [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] some run in this feature. Jonaitis looked right at home when River City's gym hosted our freshman showcase last summer. This Omaha Skutt Catholic prep athlete brings some impressive lateral quickness and scoring range to the middle blocker spot. She closed blocks effectively during team drills and was not afraid to swing away on the slide. Moreover, Jonaitis also wields ball-control skills atypical of a middle blocker. She could do a little of everything this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["737378"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67802df810ac2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We're wrapping up with a small-town shoutout. Mejstrik was among Nebraska's most efficient freshmen in the 2024 high school season. She racked up over 200 kills for Columbus Lakeview and finished just shy of a 0.300 season-long attacking percentage. This added layer of frontcourt firepower nearly propelled the Vikings into the state tournament, and another excellent opportunity awaits next fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->