Nebraska 2028 Middle Blockers Rising after Triple Crown NIT

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have quite a position group brewing in Nebraska's Class of 2028.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Triple Crown NIT often introduces us to prep volleyball's future stars. This year, many leaders reside in the Class of 2028, where athletes have just wrapped up their debut seasons on the high school stage. Last weekend's trip to Kansas City offered another early pressure test.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nebraska's 2028s were keen to make an impression, and it all started in the middle. We came away from NIT raving about Nebraska's middle blockers from this class. So, why not discuss a few of them?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The future is in good hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["739707"],"_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-67bb501b64194"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Piening is a surefire addition to our next Class of 2028 watch list and is a do-everything athlete for [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Synergy. We enjoyed watching Piening's breakout freshman campaign with Norris, where she added to the team's extraordinary middle depth. She is now playing up a year with 16 Synergy and providing crucial reps as a middle-opposite hybrid. Piening excels at either position and can work into 16 Synergy's various crossing patterns and combination plays. That versatility was one of many factors that lifted [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] to last weekend's Open title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["555495"],"_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-67bb501b64207"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Of course, we have to feature another 2028 star of [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Synergy's frontcourt. Rautenberg has maintained the dominant form we've seen since she competed with Milford High School at last year's state tournament. She can terminate over the top of opposing blockers while also varying her shot selection to find the open floor. [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] allows Rautenberg to swing on the pin in first-ball side-out situations, and she can deliver there, too. 16 Synergy has not been afraid to pull its game-changing athletes from the 2028 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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-67bb56763adfb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Yes, we're sticking with the 16s for one more 2028 star. Bauer was identified as a player to watch heading into NIT, and she delivered on the hype as VCNebraska 16 Elite broke into the final Elite bracket. This long, rangy middle blocker hits incredible angles in front of the setter and has added some impressive slide attacks to her repertoire. Playing up with the 16s is no problem for Bauer, who has the physicality and quick reading skills to compete with high-powered offenses. This Lincoln Southeast prep athlete adds to a growing list of standout middle blockers in the Star City.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ofelia Ramirez-Rousseau","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lincoln Pius X","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 15 Elite","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bb56763aede"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ramirez-Rousseau is another [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] name we've mentioned before, and she's sure to land in our next Class of 2028 watch list. Her pin-to-pin agility gives VCN 15 Elite a huge boost in the blocking phase. It's also a helpful trait when Ramirez-Rousseau works to make herself an available attacker in transition. We entered the season with plenty of unknowns regarding VCN's 15s lineups, but Ramirez-Rousseau has immediately made her mark in the 2028 class.</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-67bb56763af45"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fowlkes does a little of everything for Premier Nebraska 15 Gold. During her earlier appearance at the Midwest Power League, Fowlkes demonstrated her willingness to take high-pressure swings on the pins. She slotted into one of the team's opposite positions and had an exceptional showing in that role. However, Fowlkes earned extended reps at middle blocker during 15 Gold's stay at NIT. Her quickness off the floor makes her an ideal fit for this spot, and Fowlkes still got the same attacking volume we had seen at early-season events. Who knows what she might do next?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='774638' first='Grace' last='Rued']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bellevue East","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Premier Nebraska 15 Black","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bb56763afd7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Premier Nebraska 15 Black will be the subject of many new additions to our next watch list. Rued helps fortify an imposing frontcourt lineup for 15 Black, which got to test its mettle against hard-hitting squads at NIT. Rued exhibits refined technique as a frontcourt blocker and brings an infectious energy to her on-court rotations. This 15 Black group has a high ceiling in 2025, and future national events should help that potential materialize.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->