Lincoln Standing Bear’s strong showing at the LPS Classic gave us plenty of underclassmen to talk about. Pedersen thrived on the defensive end and has expanded on her standout club season with VCNebraska . She has shown tremendous range in any backcourt zone and will not hesitate to take up space in the serve-receive pattern. Even her secondary setting has taken the spotlight, allowing the Grizzlies to operate its out-of-system offense. We have a lot of 2028 liberos to assess for our rankings update.

Lincoln Standing Bear has generated plenty of headlines through its hard-hitting attackers, but don’t forget about the gems along the end line. Pedersen made a lasting impression with VCNebraska 15 Elite this spring, culminating in the team’s 15 USA berth at USAV Nationals. Lincoln Standing Bear is getting more of that steady influence. Pedersen brings rare instincts for someone still in the dawn of their prep career, so the Grizzlies have a lot to build upon in 2025 and beyond.

Like Lincoln Northwest, Lincoln Standing Bear is embracing the challenge of being a relatively new squad on the prep circuit. The roster is nearly devoid of seniors, so game-changing sophomores like Pedersen are the norm for the Grizzlies. Pedersen thrived with VCNebraska 15 Elite this spring and consistently raised the bar for the team en route to Nationals. Expectations are soaring again this fall with Standing Bear out to a 5-1 start to the 2025 campaign. Pedersen has led the charge with 50 digs and a wealth of positive touches that can’t be measured in a box score. Standing Bear’s growth is ahead of schedule.