Iowa 18s Battle Each Other At The Mizuno Showcase

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Iowa Regionals are only a couple weeks away where Prep Dig will be covering at Drake for the 16s through 18s.  I’ve been able to get a glimpse of some Iowa teams here and there, but this past weekend at the Showcase in the Dells I was able to get a really good look at four Iowa teams in the 18s division that featured some top talent who will be competing at the next.  They even found some team bonding time to take some Moose Jaw pictures with antlers, the iconic picture of the historic Wisconsin Dells. </span></p> <p><strong>Six Pack 18s</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Solid all around, and players who can do a little bit of everything.  <strong>Rylie Olson</strong>, the Osage prep and Grand View commit showed what she could do on the right side where typically you would find her setting.  <strong>Grace Renaud</strong>, a multi-sport threat really showed how dynamic she is out of the middle with a fast arm swing and really solid lateral movement to close the block.  She connected really well with <strong>Jaima Tonne</strong> who will be heading to Upper Iowa. Keep an eye on Class of 2020 recruit, <strong>Kylee Oldenburger</strong> out of Cedar Rapids Prairie with a heavy, explosive swing with a lot of top spin that is really tough to defend.  Oh, and <strong>Kate Shannon</strong> at libero who is making the routine plays look easy and the ones you’d think would be out of range - she just finds a way to keep the point going. So athletic! </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Let’s call this “Rally of the Cedar Valley” with the 18s from <a href="https://x.com/6packvbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@6packvbc</a> vs. Eastern Iowa Xtreme <a href="https://t.co/VdqezJAzHo">pic.x.com/VdqezJAzHo</a></p> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1101880542067392512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Eastern Iowa Xtreme 18 Teal</strong> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Kenzie Mantz</strong> of Belle Plaine definitely showed why she is one of the top players in the state and will be a solid force in the future for Iowa State.  She plays high above the net, adjusts incredibly well based on where her setter is, and is so dynamic. There were times she was able to swing from the pin and you see flashes of Jess Schaben who just graduated from Iowa State.  Her future is bright for the Cyclones. On the flip side of the college outlook there is future rival of Mantz in Hawkeye recruit, <strong>Jaedynn Evans</strong>. I have read about Evans and the success she has had at the prep and club level, but this past weekend in the Dells I got to see it with the live eye.  What a versatile athlete! She can attack in any position and is lethal with a variety of shots to score points with. </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The roof is on 🔥🔥🔥 for IPVA 18 Black <a href="https://t.co/bAXAfLuFwY">pic.x.com/bAXAfLuFwY</a></p> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1101886599267319808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>IPVA 18 Black</strong> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This team has a lot of all around athletes who can contribute in a variety of ways.  The success starts with the first contact with their libero, <strong>Mallory Luther</strong> who is constantly communicating with her hitters and came up with some big service aces against one of the Sports Performance teams.  <strong>Natalie Clayberg</strong> is one of their go to outsides on the pin and shows a lot of athleticism being able to hit the smart shot and can adjust well to what the defense is able to give her. There is also <strong>Alison Blythe</strong> and <strong>Jacey Koethe</strong> in the middle and on the right who are able to provide a big block and swing when needed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>CIS 18</strong> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Small roster, no problem.  CIS 18s are comprised of plenty of 2020 athletes.  <strong>Riley Atzen</strong> is an all around outside hitter with a lethal serve and all around point scorer for CIS, Atzen plays for Southeast Polk.  <strong>Belle Vacek</strong> of is another 2020 prospect from Ankeny who is extremely athletic on the pin with a solid swing. Don’t sleep on this 18s team who has a lot of athleticism and 2020 athletes who are definitely under the radar who could make an impact at the next level. </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Look at this save by future <a href="https://x.com/CycloneVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CycloneVB</a> <a href="https://x.com/kateshannon_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kateshannon_</a> for <a href="https://x.com/6packvbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@6packvbc</a> <a href="https://t.co/ozZuA0xs2U">pic.x.com/ozZuA0xs2U</a></p> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1101563673095622657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>