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…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inCHICAGO – 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.