Artists on the court: Meet the 2024 Volleyball Super Six (2024)

The third volleyball installment of The World-Herald's Super Six is on display. That's why the Joslyn Art Museum was a fitting place for the photoshoot.

Two players are from the Metro Conference and two are from Lincoln. The fifth is from Class B power Norris while the sixth hails from Grand Island.

Four of the six competed at the state tournament while one led her team to a championship.

This is a talented group and all six— Omaha Westside's Ashlyn Paymal, Lincoln Lutheran's Keri Leimbach, Lincoln Southeast's Natalie Wardlow, Norris' Anna Jelinek, Grand Island's Tia Traudt and Millard West's Sierra Pokharel— will be playing at the Division I level soon.

Paymal, the lone returnee from last year's All-Nebraska squad, made an impact for the Warriors after transferring from Omaha Burke. The 6-foot-3 right-side hitter had 349 kills for 26-11 Westside, which reached the state semifinal. She had 19 kills in a first-round win over Grand Island.

The Creighton commit also had 99 digs, 86 assists, 73 blocks and 30 aces.

Leimbach, who committed to the Huskers last summer, finished with 550 digs in 2023.

The 5-4 liberohelped Lincoln Lutheran capture its third straight title as the C-2 Warriors outlasted Clarkson/Leigh in five sets to take home their fifth championship. Leimbach also had 107 assists and a team-leading 55 aces last season.

Wardlow, a 6-5 middle blocker, is an imposing presence for the Knights. The Wisconsin commit had 285 kills and 55 blocks in 2023. She had 203 kills and 55 blocks as a sophom*ore.

Jelinek, a 5-9 outside hitter, helped state tournament regular Norris qualify for the 25th time. She was fourth in Class B with 439 kills and also led the team in digs (381).

The Long Beach State commit had 23 kills and 23 digs in a five-set state semifinal win over Bennington. The Titans finished 33-4, losing to Omaha Skutt in the final.

Traudt, the younger sister of Creighton basketball player Isaac Traudt, was second in Class A with 476 kills to help Grand Island (26-9) reach state for the first time in 10 years.

Teaming with graduated outside hitter Haedyn Hoos (423 kills), Traudt helped the Islanders to their most wins since 2011. The UNLV commit was solid defensively with 351 digs.

Pokharel was a standout performer for the Wildcats, who just missed state after losing a district final. The 5-4 libero was fourth in Class A with 453 digs.

The South Dakota commit is the 37th overall prospect in the 2025 class, according to prepvolleyball.com.

Norris• Outside hitter

2023 in review: "We made it to the state finals and once again we played Skutt and fell short. But I think the team really became super close last year and it helped us get over coming up short. We started thinking about how much harder we need to work towards this season."

2024 outlook: "We know exactly what we need to work on, and we've already been in the gym several days a week. So everything's already looking good for us so far. And I think this year, the seniors were already a really close group of girls. We played together in club for a while. So, I think getting in the groove early and then just realizing that it's our last season as seniors. We're putting in as much effort as we can give."

College plans: "I'm super excited to be going to Long Beach State. ... I chose that school because of the atmosphere and the family aspect they have, and it really felt like home to me from the second I talked to the coaches and players. They accepted me for who I was."

Your favorite kind of art: "I'd say that I really like music. I'm always listening to it in the car, or pregame. It gets me going. For pregame, I listen to rap because it's more upbeat and gets me in my game mode. I like to listen to Drake, but I also love Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan, they're my country artists."

Your masterpiece: "I'd say one of our best matches last season was definitely the state semifinals against Bennington. I feel like every time we play them, it's definitely a battle. And it always seems to go five sets, but we usually end up coming out on top. I think that semifinal match really showed our grit because that was probably our hardest match all season."

Coach quote: "Anna has had a huge impact on the Norris volleyball program. She has been a six-rotation player since her freshman year and is one of those players that can really do it all." —Christina Boesiger

Lincoln Lutheran• Libero

2023 in review: "Last year we won state, and it was really cool. Our team had a really good chemistry, and it was just a really fun season. We worked hard in practice every day and it was fun being able to see the team accomplish what we did."

2024 outlook: "My goal is definitely to win another state championship. I think that we have full capability to do that. Our team works really hard, and we just want to have one goal, which is to work for each other and win a state title."

College plans: "I'm really excited to be going to Nebraska. I'm going to major in business and I'm really looking forward to going there because the fan base is literally crazy, and their coaches are so supportive. I just love that."

Your favorite kind of art: "My favorite is probably music because I listen to it all the time, whether I'm just chilling in my room or going on car rides. I like Zach Bryan, Luke Holmes and Morgan Wallen. So yeah, a lot of country."

Your masterpiece: "Our best match last year was the state final against Clarkson/Leigh. They had a really good team, and we had to fight through adversity during that match to figure out how to win. It was very fun but very tiring."

Coach quote: "Even at a young age, I knew that Keri would become a very talented volleyball player at her position because of her love of this sport and all of the dedication that she has put into her training. She inspires other teammates to work hard and use their God-given talents." —Sue Ziegler

Omaha Westside • Right-side hitter

2023 in review: "After transferring to Westside, it was my first year working with some of the girls. We made it to the state semifinals, which was a pretty good improvement."

2024 outlook: "Our personal goal is to win state. Overall, we have a pretty strong team and we should be going for it this year."

College plans: "I'm planning on graduating a semester early and then going to Creighton. I'm excited to get there and work with the team and improve as much as I can. I also like the fact I'll be close to home and that it's a great program with great coaches."

Your favorite kind of art: "I like music because it's something I can experience in everyday life. You can explore different genres, but I mostly listen to country and rap. I've been to concerts for Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan."

Your masterpiece: "I definitely played my best at state last year. I like playing under pressure so it's a great experience to play under the bright lights."

Coach quote: "Ashlyn is a great teammate and has a strong work ethic. ... She has so much more potential and I'm looking forward to seeing her compete for Creighton."—Andrew Wehrli

Millard West• Libero

2023 in review: "Last season was kind of different for us because it was the first season in a long time that we didn't make state. It was definitely heartbreaking. But this year we have a motto that we're going to come back better than ever and use last year as motivation."

2024 outlook: "My biggest goal is to have fun. I just want to leave it all out there with my team. I'm really excited because we have a tight-knit group, and I feel like we can accomplish a lot together. We have good chemistry, and that's not found in a lot of teams."

College plans: "When I visited (South Dakota), it just felt a lot like home. And I feel like my parents can come to all of my matches. It's away but it's not too far away."

Your favorite kind of art: "I'd probably say movies. I'm kind of a movie girl. ... I like sports movies a lot. 'A League of Their Own' and 'Remember the Titans' are two of my favorites."

Your masterpiece: "I think my best match was last year when we played Papillion-La Vista. They were a really good team, and I think that was my favorite because we played our best. We kind of proved what we could do that night."

Coach quote: "Sierra stands out as an exceptional player and teammate due to her unwavering dedication, impressive skills on the court and supportive attitude toward her peers. Her leadership and positive energy inspire those around her, making her an invaluable asset."—Joe Wessel

Grand Island• Outside hitter

2023 in review: " We made it to state last year, and we hadn't made it for 10 years before that. That was a big thing for us, and I felt like we grew a lot throughout the year. We had kind of struggled the few years before that, so it felt really good to get things turned around."

2024 outlook: "One goal is to make it back to state this year. And if we do that, we want to make a little more of a run because we lost in the first round. We have a couple of new pieces and a transfer coming in, so we're excited about the season."

College plans: "I love the coaches (at UNLV) because they were really welcoming. And the commits that they have are really nice, too. Plus, the warm weather."

Your favorite kind of art: "I love music and I listen to a lot of different kinds. I like country and especially rap before games. Morgan Wallen is the main person that I listen to."

Your masterpiece: "I'd probably say when we beat Papio at the LPS (Lincoln Public Schools) Tournament. They had a really good team and we beat them, so that was a really nice boost of confidence for us."

Coach quote: "Tia is a transcendent talent at Grand Island High. Not only is she a phenomenal volleyball player but she is equally as impressive in the classroom and the community."—Marcus Ehrke

Lincoln Southeast• Middle blocker

2023 in review: " We had three different coaches partly because our assistant had a pregnancy and then we switched coaches again near the end of the year. I think our team did well, but I felt sorry for the seniors on the team because there was just a lot going on."

2024 outlook: "I think this year we're going to have a young team, but I think we're going to be OK. Hopefully we have the same coach ... and the goal is to trust the process and trust in each other."

College plans: "I'm very excited to be going to Wisconsin. I'm not graduating early but I'm going to be working hard and doing lots of training to get ready. I want to stay with my family as long as I can."

Your favorite kind of art: "I always like listening to music, especially when I'm getting hyped up before matches. It puts me in the zone. Zach Bryan is one of my favorites."

Your masterpiece: "I would say it was against Fremont. Our team played really well together, and I had 22 kills that night. It also was our Senior Night and we won, so I felt like we hit our peak that night. It was a great atmosphere and experience."

Coach quote: "Natalie brings remarkable energy and leadership to our program, showing her passion through hard work and celebrating her teammates." —Abby Burt