A Derby Weekend's Dozen of Top Prospects At JVA Midwest Challenge In Des Moines

Its Derby Weekend and of course the the start of the summer's Des Moines Farmer's Market which is a must do, just down the road will be the JVA Midwest Challenge held at the Iowa Events Center. Centrally located between multiple restaurants, the science museum, Pappajohn Sculpture Park, and Principal Park (Home of the Iowa Cubs - The Chicago Cubs Triple A Team). Yes, plenty of sites, but also some great prospects to watch coming into Des Moines this weekend for the JVA Midwest Challenge. Alex Lyle - Kokoro 17-1 (MN) Lyle is primarily an outside hitter for Kokoro 17-1, but has the ability to play on the right, and can even step in and set. A high IQ player and a tough competitor, Lyle would be a solid Class of 2020 pick up at the next level. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Class of 2021 rising prospect Elizabeth Dille finishes it off for <a href="https://x.com/kandielite?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kandielite</a> <a href="https://t.co/u1cZ3f4Rdz">pic.x.com/u1cZ3f4Rdz</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1089606027350343682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2019</a></blockquote> Elizabeth Dille - [program_tooltip program_id='429186' first='Kandi' last='Elite'] 17-1 (MN) [program_tooltip program_id='429186' first='Kandi' last='Elite'] comes from Willmar, MN which is about 90 minutes West of Minneapolis. This club consistently produces some of the top talent in Minnesota with players heading to top programs in the Northern Sun and Summit League. Dille is from the Class of 2021 on the 17s team as are most of the athletes on the 17s team. Dille is long, athletic, and can terminate sharp cross or down the line. Her setter is Makayla Snow, a 2020 recruit heading to Northern State. [caption id="attachment_44347" align="alignright" width="300"] Spann for CIS[/caption] Jacey Spann - CIS 17M (IA) Spann comes out of the middle and is just one of the many athletes on this CIS team. Playing for West Des Moines Valley High School, one of the top programs in Iowa, Spann is the fast twitch, high intensity type middles who can get up and swing or block with ultimate speed. She works extremely well with setter, Olivia Curry, another top athlete who can set and swing on the right side. Curry will and Spann will be Seniors for Valley this upcoming season looking to make a return trip to the Iowa State Tournament. Natalie Welch - Eastern Iowa Xtreme 17 Teal (IA) Welch is another athlete who played in the Iowa State tournament last year for Mount Vernon as a Sophomore. A swiss army knife in the front row, Welch can step into any position and find a way to score points. EIX has multiple Division 1 athletes that provide a firepower and with Welch being one of the younger athletes on the team she is seeing some top level competition day in and day out. Sidney Paulson - Milwaukee Sting 17 Black (WI) A dynamic lefty who can play in the backrow as well, Paulson has a fast arm and can set a nice block. Sting 17 Black will definitely be one of the favorites heading into the weekend with multiple athletes who can defend, score points, and execute come crunch time. [caption id="attachment_28156" align="alignright" width="357"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2018/11/KML-Gianna-Feld-2.jpg"></a> Feld at the Wisconsin State Tournament[/caption] Gianna Feld - Milwaukee Sting 17 Black (WI) Feld was a libero for a state runner up team in Kettle Moraine Lutheran and has been building a ton of momentum since the state tournament. With the combination of Feld and Rylee Vaughn in the backrow for Sting, they are always getting the ball in system to setter Izzy Schauer who is a Belmont commit. Carli Vargason - [program_tooltip program_id='429186' first='Kandi' last='Elite'] 16-1 (MN) Vargason popped up on the radar at the AVCA Phenom Showcase and put up another solid showing at the Molten Series, which is the Power League of all the top Minneapolis Metro teams. A really scrappy outside hitter, Vargason could even be a top level libero. Either way, she's an athlete coaches need in the gym who can step in, compete, and make the overall level of competition better. Brooke Weichbrodt - Kokoro 16-1 (MN) Such a high motor, the setter from Kokoro in the Class of 2021 can do a little bit of everything. Weichbrodt can swing as well and is a solid defender at the net and the backrow. Kokoro out of St. Paul, MN is a really gritty bunch that will be a top contender this weekend. Pypr Stoeffler - MVP 16 Blue (IA) Stoeffler is a six rotation utility player who can score points from the pin or could even be a libero. However, she has a big arm and can put a ball away with the best of them. She will be one of the leaders coming back for LeMars High School this year who returns their top four attackers from last season. Kiya Durant - Crossfire 16-1 (MN) Durant is going to be one to watch in the Class of 2021. Strong, athletic, and a big time presence at the net. Durant has been a big presence for her Crossfire team at the JVA Jamboree in Milwaukee and The Showcase in the Dells. Hannah Reichensperger - MN North 16-1 (MN) MN North is coming down from the Duluth area and Reichensperger would have a much closer drive to Canada than the Iowa/Minnesota border. However, Reichensperger is a Northern Minnesota gem, maybe a bit of a hidden one being part of the Class of 2022 playing up on the 16's. At 6'2, Reichensperger can move, she can block, attack, she is a force at the net and then - wait, she's just a Freshman. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2018/12/Katie-Gund-2022.jpg"></a>Katie Gund - Milwaukee Sting 15 Black (WI) Gund is progressing into being a top setter in the Class of 2022, her all around game is extremely strong and only getting better. Sting 15 Black has had some strong finishes in the JVA World Challenge and St. Louis Presidents Day. These athletes are well trained and know how to compete, should be a battle this weekend.