Dominant Freshman Defenders Highlight Nebraska 2029 Watch List

First-year players aren't precluded from donning the contrasting jersey.   Our newly released Nebraska 2029 watch list has generated plenty of excitement for the future of the Great Plains Region. We've added nearly 150 players to our database, and we're due to add dozens more as we explore this year's 15s circuit. Even with so much work and additions to make, last year's high school season proved to be quite a launching point to this Class of 2029 journey.   That's especially true for the liberos, as several star freshmen became defensive leaders for their respective teams. Today's feature revisits a few of those backcourt gems while looking ahead at where they can be seen for the 2026 club campaign.    Put simply, Canales was Nebraska's most productive freshman libero last fall. She piled up over 550 digs during Gering High School's extraordinary climb to the Class B tournament. Reaching the postseason was a huge milestone for Gering's growing panhandle powerhouse, and Canales is already a major contributor to the effort. Not only did she pack the stat sheet with game-changing digs, but Canales was a steady force in the serve-receive pattern who helped the Bulldog offense flourish. Her club journey takes her to WyoBraska Sky's 16U squad.     Like Canales, Wegner's incredible backcourt efforts lifted her small-town team to Nebraska's biggest high school stage. Guardian Angels Central Catholic deployed their first-year gem in the back row and received an impressive 4.3 digs per set. Wegner meshed well with her fellow passers, many of whom were also underclassman standouts in the Bluejay lineup. GACC reestablished itself as one of Class D1's top contenders and will likely be a championship favorite in 2026. Wegner will see plenty more of the spotlight.     Class A competition brings out the best in backcourt defenders. The schedule features a non-stop gauntlet of hard-hitting attackers, and Kluver proved she was willing to take the heat. She placed herself in the Top 10 among all Class A athletes with 436 digs for Norfolk last fall. Kluver's influence could also be seen in out-of-system situations, as she nailed secondary sets to keep her attackers in a good rhythm. Her recent Prep Dig Circuit visit offered further evidence of her high-impact potential in the Nebraska Elite gym this spring.     Lincoln Southeast secured its first tournament berth in eight years last fall, and you'd expect that kind of breakthrough to be anchored by a veteran-laden lineup. However, young stars like Tallman played an indispensable role in taking the Knights to the next level. She tabbed 3.6 digs per set and exhibited the same ball-control prowess we saw from her at last summer's Nebraska Freshman Showcase. [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] is no stranger to dynamic liberos, and they have another one to rally around in the 2029 ranks.     We're wrapping up with two more defensive standouts from the small-town scene. Wiese ran the show for Bishop Neumann in 2025 and amassed almost 400 total digs along the way. She also influenced matches through her serve, finishing with 34 aces and keying up many more extensive runs. The 26-8 Cavaliers didn't have many seniors on last year's roster, allowing players like Wiese to flourish ahead of schedule. Stocks and expectations are already high for the upcoming season.     Elgin Public-Pope John is not far removed from its 2023 semifinal appearance, and Zwingman's emergence can help get the Wolfpack back to that peak. She's off to a great start with 4.5 digs per set during EPPJ's 21-11 season. Like any great libero, Zwingman took heavy burdens off teammates and allowed attackers to focus on their termination duties. Her willingness to pass large areas of the court will be a foundation for future Wolfpack success.

First-year players aren't precluded from donning the contrasting jersey.