Top Freshmen from State Tournament
In this article:
CORALVILLE, Iowa – It turned into a big week for some newcomers to the state tournament. The freshman class shined here at XTream Arena. Here are some that stood out to me: Bailey Boeve HEIGHT 5'11" POS MB CLASS 2026…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingCORALVILLE, Iowa – It turned into a big week for some newcomers to the state tournament. The freshman class shined here at XTream Arena.
Here are some that stood out to me:
Bailey Boeve
Bailey Boeve
Boeve served notice that she’ll be a force during the next three seasons. The 5-foot-11 athlete shows a complete game with room for even more improvement. She earned a spot on the Class 2A all-tournament team for a outfit that reached the semifinals. For the season, she hammered home 300 kills with an impressive .461 efficiency.
Kaelyn Wieland
Kaelyn Wieland
Another newcomer with a bright future, Wieland helped Valley upset No. 2 Ankeny in the first round of the 5A tournament. She’s really advanced for her age, both physically and mentally. In the upset of Ankeny, she handed out 15 assists with seven digs, five kills and a block, showing off her versatility.
The 6-footer is just scratching the service of her immense upside. She did a fine job fitting in with a veteran team defending its state championship. She offers a high level of athleticism and agility in a big frame. The ceiling is high here. She contributed 11 kills, four digs and two blocks in the 5A final.
Highlights
Ellie Muller
Ellie Muller
The Maroon freshman changes the way teams attack Dowling with her presence at the net. She put up eight blocks in a state quarterfinal match against Ankeny Centennial here and added four kills with two digs. She combines height and length with skill.
Averie Lower
Averie Lower
Lower is a high-level athlete who also stands out on the basketball court. She jumps really well and moves around the court with ease. She possesses a versatile skill set that allows her to remain on the floor through rotations. She’s a big reason why the underdog Clippers reached the 4A title match. She delivered nine kills and 20 digs in the final.
Emily Henderson Emily Henderson 5'8" | S Clear Creek Amana | 2026 State IA
Emily Henderson Emily Henderson 5'8" | S Clear Creek Amana | 2026 State IA
Henderson is just getting started and should benefit greatly from experience obtained this season. She improved as the year went on and played some of her best volleyball here at the state tournament. In the championship match, she pumped out 17 assists and 11 digs.
Derrer contributed in a big way to the Knights’ 3A title run. The 6-foot-2 freshman shows an advanced game for her age. She knows how to use her height and length, and has a good feel for the sport’s intricacies. The stage was not too big for her. She chipped in with nine kills and two blocks during the championship match.
Highlights
Taylor Buhr
Taylor Buhr
The Warriors enjoyed a special season in large part because of Buhr’s play. She plays with great confidence and skill. She performs bigger than her 5-foot-6 frame would indicate. She produced 10 kills, 19 digs two service aces and an assist in her first state tournament match.
Alexa Buhman
Alexa Buhman
Buhman showed this fall that she’s a name to remember. She helped the Cougars reach the state tournament with an advanced feel as a setter. And she’s more than a one-trick pony. She dished out 38 assists in her first state match but also added 10 digs, two kills and a block.
Brianna Wittrock
Brianna Wittrock
Wittrock is a force defensively. She blocked four shots in her state debut match to go with three digs and a kill. She’s a really good athlete with a high ceiling. It will be fun watching her game grow the next three years.
Abby Jensen
Abby Jensen
Jensen took the challenge of filling the role of libero as a freshman with the two-time defending state champions and ran with it. She passes well and helps the Wolverines stay in system. She committed just three receiving errors in 58 receptions during three state tournament matches.
Channing Johnson
Channing Johnson
At 5-foot-8, Johnson boasts good size for a setter. She couples that with strong skills. She recognizes where her teammates need the ball to succeed and consistently helps them do that. She produced 42 assists and three digs in her initial state tournament match.
Addison Hochstetler
Addison Hochstetler
Hochstetler authored a memorable freshman campaign in helping the Redhawks reach the state tournament. She led the team in digs (469) and ranked second on the squad with 59 aces prior to arriving at the championships. She contributed 27 digs, three assists and an ace in her first state contest.
Presley Myers
Presley Myers
Myers ranked second on the Crusaders in kills (307) as a freshman coming into her first state tournament. In her first match on the big stage, she led her team with 12 kills and three blocks in its quarterfinal loss.