Avoli Committed Athlete: Nebraska Stock Up Showcase

Prep Dig has teamed up with Avoli, the volleyball brand built specifically for female athletes, to present Committed — a spotlight series celebrating standout athletes at each 2025 Prep Dig Showcase. These athletes are chosen for their leadership, sportsmanship, and relentless work ethic — the same values Avoli champions on and off the court. Each featured athlete receives exclusive Avoli gear in addition to their own spotlight article. Learn more about Avoli and explore their performance-driven footwear at avoli.com.

Future leaders can come from anywhere.

Our annual Nebraska Stock Up Showcase brings in dozens of talented athletes from the state's biggest metro areas. It's no surprise given La Vista's positioning at the crossroads between Omaha and Lincoln.

However, those who follow prep volleyball in the Cornhusker State are aware of the numerous stars competing outside of Lincoln and Omaha. Saturday's showcase outing drew must-see players from central Nebraska, and one of them is our Avoli Committed Athlete.

Today's spotlight belongs to Jamie Wilkens, a junior-to-be outside hitter representing Kearney High School and Kearney Elite 16-1.

Getting Acquainted

Our familiarity with Wilkens' game grew considerably during this year's club season.

Kearney Elite 16-1 arrived on the regional stage and immediately piled up wins. The team's roster was comprised entirely of standouts from Kearney High School, a central Nebraska program competing in the top classification of the NSAA. Wilkens piled up three kills per set for the Bearcats last fall and reconvened with her teammates for a foray on the club side.

This upstart club team found enough success to warrant a midseason feature on our site. Wilkens was a key figure in that article after we watched her exhibited a full array of skills at the outside hitter spot. She's the kind of athlete who can take over matches with her terminal ability or be the unsung hero through ball control and backcourt defense.

Wilkens and her team took their regional dominance to the national stage by competing at Kansas City's Show Me Qualifier in late April. The small-town crew aimed high in the 16 USA division and racked up the same elite reps we'd expect on the Class A high school stage.

Reconvening

When we reunited with Wilkens at Saturday's Stock Up Showcase, the Kearney gem took her all-around game one step further.

We've seen Wilkens thrive with her familiar cast of teammates, but the Stock Up Showcase proved her skills apply to any situation. She was a dominant force during six-on-six drills with her combination of cross-court heat and well-placed tip shots. Wilkens maintained her intensity and precision after rotating to the backcourt, where she reminded us of her versatility in the middle-back area.

However, being the Avoli Committed Athlete means going beyond tangible traits and statistical production. Even though Wilkens had one of the longest travel times among our showcase participants, the Gibbon native made herself right at home at The Volleyball Academy and embraced her new group of temporary teammates. Showcases create mix-and-match lineups that test an athlete's adaptability, and Wilkens responded to the challenge Saturday afternoon.

Wilkens had her share of individual success but made sure to cheer on the triumphs of others. Her vocal leadership also helped keep players organized as the in-and-out shuffle of scrimmage personnel ensued. It's exactly what we'd hope to see out of an athlete ready to assume upperclassman status.

We'd expect many more accolades from Wilkens at Kearney High School this fall, but she's getting a head start as our Avoli Committed Athlete from the Nebraska Stock Up Showcase.