Iowa Clubs Windy City Wrap-Up

CHICAGO – Prep Dig has you covered when it comes to Iowa clubs competing at last weekend’s Windy City National Qualifier here at McCormick Place.

Check out our photo galleries: Windy City Gallery I, Windy City Gallery II, Windy City Gallery III, Windy City Gallery IV, Windy City Gallery V

See our player reports: Windy City Outside Hitters I, Windy City Outside Hitters II, Windy City Middle Blockers/Hitters, Windy City Setters, Windy City DS/Ls

I’m finishing up my coverage of the event with a catch-all wrap-up.

STARTING LINE-UP

Hesitation prevails when naming an “all-tournament” team from an event. It’s designed to celebration outstanding performance, not to exclude. And it’s just one person’s opinion.

With that in mind, here’s my starting line-up of standouts from the WCNQ:

OH Payton Petersen Payton Petersen 6'0" | OH Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State #57 Nation IA , Six Pack 17U

OH Abbey Hayes Abbey Hayes 6'2" | OH North Scott | 2025 State #94 Nation IA , Six Pack 16U

OH/MB Chloe Meester Chloe Meester OH Mount Vernon | 2025 State #44 Nation IA , Adrenaline 16U

OH Reese Naeve Reese Naeve 5'9" | OH Iowa City Regina Catholic | 2026 State IA , Rockets 15U

OH Jadyn Petersen Jadyn Petersen 5'9" | OH Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State IA , Six Pack 17U

MB Ellah Derrer Ellah Derrer 6'3" | MB Davenport Assumption | 2026 State IA , Select 15U

Yes, they’re all hitter. They’re also versatile.

OBSERVATIONS

I ended up watching 10 different Iowa teams at this event, 14U-17U, some of which I’d scouted before. Every time observing helps in evaluation.

CIA 17U impressed me in my first look at that squad. It’s qualified for the USA Nationals with a roster of skilled, versatile performers. Xada Johnson Xada Johnson 6'0" | OH Clear Lake | 2024 State IA , Emily Naughton Emily Naughton 5'8" | MB Don Bosco | 2024 State IA , Ellery Luhring Ellery Luhring 5'8" | S Grundy Center | 2024 State IA , Trevyn Smith and Teagan Sullivan led a group with excellent chemistry. The club’s 16U team looked solid as well with Alexie Hogan Alexie Hogan 5'7" | DS/L Beckman Catholic | 2025 State IA , Tori Metzgar Tori Metzgar OH State IA , Audrey Tschiggfrie Audrey Tschiggfrie 5'8" | OH Dubuque Wahlert | 2025 IA and Ava Salvo Ava Salvo 5'9" | S IA .

Platform Elite Molten 17U appeared well-connected. Kylie Pickett Kylie Pickett 5'8" | S West Branch | 2024 State IA stands out at setter with Taylor Oetzmann offering quickness and coverage at libero. Avary Calonder pressures defenses from the outside.

Illustrating the high level of talent at this event is recapping how Iowa regional champions fared in it. Six Pack 17U finished 13th out of 41 teams in the Open division, Adrenaline 16U ended up 11th out of 32 in Open, Rockets 15U came in ninth out of 23 in Open, and Rockets 14U placed fifth out of the 38 in USA division.

Again, it’s a commentary on the strong competition here. The Iowa clubs should be proud of their performances.

Sometimes collecting top players at a position in tournaments can be uneven. There are more outside hitters than setters or middles. Good players frequently just miss these lists.

Here are some athletes from the WCNQ that fit that description: Adalyn Hermanson Adalyn Hermanson RS CR Kennedy | 2025 State IA , Adrenaline 16U; Maren Ouellette Maren Ouellette 5'10" | OH Pleasant Valley | 2026 State IA and McKenzie Moeller Select 15U; Brylea Metzgar, CIA 15U; Stella Smith, Rockets 15U.