Nebraska and Iowa 15s to Follow at Wave 2 of AAU Nationals

Make it a combo!   The multi-week extravaganza of AAU Nationals has already begun. Wave 2 has our attention as the 15s trickle into the Orange County Convention Center for the first time--and in only one division. 15 Open play starts Tuesday, and we're keeping close tabs on our Midwestern neighbors.   We're pairing Nebraska and Iowa to give you a few names to follow at this postseason spectacle.    Iowa Select 15 Mizuno is fresh on our minds after last month's Prep Dig Midwest Live Showcase. Livengood was among the many 15 Mizuno standouts from that event and demonstrated her full six-rotation range. This Milledgeville standout finds various ways to influence a match, from her pin termination to her lockdown backcourt defense. Livengood made the most of her showcase appearance in Des Moines and is bound to reach higher at AAU Nationals.     Amman is already emerging as a household name on the Iowa prep scene. She had an extraordinary debut season with Morning Star Academy, racking up over 250 kills and hitting near a 0.300 clip. Her explosive approach and unmatched power stood out at the Midwest Live Showcase, adding to Amman's expansive highlight tape from the 2025 campaign. Her AAU championship pursuit with Iowa Select will add to that film.     Here's one more for the Iowa Select crew. Hodge is a stout back-row defender who consistently makes quick reads to keep her team in system. It's exactly what we'd expect at Iowa Select, given the club's rich history of eye-catching defenders. We got a long look at 15 Mizuno's frontcourt talent at last month's showcase, but the ball control specialists will be just as important to the team's AAU success. Look for Hodge to seize a leadership role.     Otto earned some varsity reps with Freeman High School last fall, setting the stage for a breakout club season with [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 15 Titanium. This left-side hitter has enjoyed several high-volume scoring performances, particularly at the Windy City Qualifier in Chicago. Otto skies over the net tape and often fools opposing defenses with her timing and placement. Her balanced game will be crucial to 15 Titanium's success in a loaded 15 Open division.     Freeman High School is clearly contributing to 15 Titanium's success on the national club stage. Bartunek joins Otto on the list of standout Falcons who are thriving at the Open level with [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 15 Titanium. This savvy setter plays around the dial for 15 Titanium, allowing us to see Bartunek's full skill set along the net. She competes with the kind of edge and hustle that teams need from their setter, and this intensity should ramp up further in Orlando. Our lone Great Plains representative in 15 Open is ready to make some noise.     Dowling Catholic's collection of elite athletes keeps expanding. Crane, like many of the players on this feature, joined the Prep Dig Circuit last month and was an all-around force in our showcase environment. It's no wonder that Crane has become a go-to attacker for [program_tooltip program_id='555793' first='RVA' last='Roots'] 15U Naples, a team starting its AAU journey in 15 Open's Pool D. Crane hits a heavy ball on the right side and can adapt to any tempo from her setter. We're also eager to see how Crane's formidable block matches up against AAU's vast collection of left-side terminators.     Gerke is a multi-sport athlete with an incredible multi-position impact on the volleyball court. She has spent plenty of time piling up kills in the front row, but she's also a worthy DS substitute along the end line. [program_tooltip program_id='555793' first='RVA' last='Roots'] has harnessed Gerke's versatility to produce several impressive results on the regional stage, and now it's time to take the show to Orlando.

Make it a combo!