Liberos Shine at Prep Dig Tour of Iowa Showcase

With athletes from four states competing in the Tour of Iowa Showcase, there was a strong crew of liberos who really stood out and made for a gritty battle in the backcourt. For those athletes at the libero position, they are accustomed to fighting for a spot, working on the small details to make movements and passing look easy while also making the big play to set a spark for their team. Here are some liberos to note who were at the Tour of Iowa Prep Dig Showcase at Iowa Select in Davenport this Friday night. <img class=" wp-image-129417 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/02/DSC05410.jpg" alt="" width="483" height="322" /> [player_tooltip player_id="117337" first="Alia" last="Schlimgen"] - Capital Volleyball Academy (WI) Class of 2022 I saw Schlimgen play this past summer in our Prep Dig Events for Sauk Prairie, she then went on to be the libero for a final four squad in Wisconsin’s largest class, and now is really coming into her own from a physicality standpoint and how she moves so easily to make the routine passes look flawless. She has a presence, she has a high standard for herself, and she is so strong in being able to take command and control the tempo from the first contact. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Bros who can serve receive. A few standouts [player_tooltip player_id="117337" first="Alia" last="Schlimgen"] Bri Gartner Darien Sanders Lulu Ahl Mia Kunnert Livia Thomsen <a href="https://t.co/or1fVGL8hJ">pic.x.com/or1fVGL8hJ</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1357855173352316928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [player_tooltip player_id="103709" first="Brianna" last="Gartner"] - Iowa Select 17 Mizuno Class of 2022 Each time I watch Gartner play, them ore impressed I am with what she can do - she also shows me something new each time. In our showcase style we have liberos play multiple backcourt positions and to see Gartner be in middle back and run a ball down to the corner for a pass to the setter showed me her court awareness, anticipation, and overall athleticism. She is an athlete who has steadily risen on the radar and is now one of the top liberos in her class in Iowa.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig_NE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDig_NE</a> represent! Lulu Ahl of <a href="https://x.com/mw_volleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mw_volleyball</a> and <a href="https://x.com/RCJRSOmaha?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RCJRSOmaha</a> - Nebraska athletes are always so well rounded in every skill! <a href="https://t.co/QgcbO2irl7">pic.x.com/QgcbO2irl7</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1357853545383485443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Lulu Ahl - River City Juniors 18 Navy (NE) Class of 2022 Ahl came across I80 from Omaha to Davenport where she definitely was a standout among the liberos. Great platform, solid footwork, and a knack for angles she was able to stand out with taking pace off the ball as well as being on point with serve receive. She’s consistent, solid, and like most Nebraska volleyball players, has the IQ and all around sense of the game. <img class=" wp-image-129418 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/02/DSC05498.jpg" alt="" width="458" height="305" /> Jaimie Marquardt - Sky High 15-1 NS (IL) Class of 2024 Marquardt was one of the top liberos in the gym and she is only a Freshman. At 5’9 and uber athletic, she has the all around skill where she covers quite the range and is making difficult plays look relatively easy. She is still well over a year from talking to top coaches, but she is one to put on the radar for Illinois liberos who have the athleticism to compete at a very high level from the Class of 2024. <img class=" wp-image-129419 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/02/DSC05665.jpg" alt="" width="503" height="335" /> Mia Kunnert - Adrenaline (IA) Class of 2022 Kunnert is scrappy, she knows how to read the other side of the net and beat the ball to the spot. She moves extremely well on the court creating good angles for her platform to make the right contact to her setter. Quick on her feet, she is one in the Class of 2022 from Iowa to definitely put on the radar that is rising.   Other Liberos To Note: Livia Thomsen - Iowa Select 17 Mizuno - Class of 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="119399" first="Amelia" last="Albers"] - Capital Volleyball Academy - Class of 2023 Darien Sanders - Iowa Select 15 Red - Class of 2024 Olivia Seeman - IPVA - Class of 2024 Reese Burgwald - Lions 15-1 Red - Class of 2024   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Friday was an awesome night of volleyball at the <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigEvents?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigEvents</a> Tour of Iowa Showcase! Talent from across the region took the court to battle it out, showcase their skills, and get recruited by colleges watching online. <a href="https://t.co/FVeWwd637f">pic.x.com/FVeWwd637f</a> — Prep Dig (@PrepDig) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig/status/1358922616233365505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>