Iowa Class of 2026 Setters On The Watchlist

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These athletes haven't even finished their freshman year of high school and they are already making an impact for their high school and club teams.&nbsp; Running the show at this level takes courage, they have to make a presence not only with their play, but with their body language and voice.&nbsp; There is an aspect of leadership that every setter must have.&nbsp; Here are some setters from the Class of 2026 Watchlist&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":373454,"width":437,"height":291,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/137A9816.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-373454" width="437" height="291"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'26 Six Pack's [player_tooltip player_id='261058' first='Brynn' last='Bakula']. (Rob Howe/PrepDig.com) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='261058' first='Brynn' last='Bakula'] - Cedar Falls - Six Pack&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stepping in to set for a state powerhouse like Cedar Falls is no small feat.&nbsp; Bakula had nearly 1,000 assists in her freshman season for the Tigers who are consistently one of the top teams in Class 5A.&nbsp; She has been important to the Six Pack 15s where she can get her feet to the ball and hit all the tempos to her attackers.&nbsp; This will be a dangerous team come nationals in Chicago at the end of June.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":242518,"width":615,"height":481,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/11/137A7018-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-242518" width="615" height="481"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'26 Tiffin (IA) Clear Creek Amana High S [player_tooltip player_id='389935' first='Emily' last='Henderson']. (Rob Howe/PrepDig.com) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243457' first='Emily' last='Henderson'] - Clear Creek-Amana - [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CCA made their way into the Class 4A state powerhouse chat when they made it to the 4A championship last year. They had the two seed in their region and defeated WAMAC rival Marion in their quarterfinal and North Scott in a five set thriller in the semifinals.&nbsp; Henderson had over 500 assists in running a 6-2.&nbsp; She's been one of the key setters for [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 15R who have been building a really successful season that includes an Iowa Region Championship and some wins in 15 Open National Qualifiers. This club season is building some big momentum for Henderson and her Clipper teammates who are ready to be one of the top teams in Class 4A for 2023.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PrepDig/status/1601642174407671808?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDig/status/1601642174407671808?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland'] - West Des Moines Valley - [program_tooltip program_id='428936' first='Club' last='Ignit Select']&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Setter/Pin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wieland took the state by storm this past fall when she led Valley to the state semifinals.&nbsp; The Tigers were a couple points away from losing in their regional when they caught fire to get to state and then upset Ankeny in the quarterfinals.&nbsp; Wieland set in the back row and was an attacker from the right side.&nbsp; She is incredibly dynamic where her athleticism is one her top attributes.&nbsp; She is a pure playmaker where she has an IQ and knows how to make something out of nothing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='390369' first='James' last='Steinbach'] - Des Moines Roosevelt - Power Plex 515</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Steinbach was one of the top freshmen setters in the state for Des Moines Roosevelt who dominated the [program_tooltip program_id='431974' first='Iowa' last='Alliance'] South Division this fall. She had nearly 800 assists for the Riders where they have some youth who will continue to build among the teams in Central Iowa. Steinbach has been on the Iowa PowerPlex 16 515 team who has had a big time season. They've been playing Open when it comes to national qualifiers where Steinbach is gaining valuable experience playing against top competition an age level up. They will be a tough matchup come Chicago for USAV Nationals in July.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1587554499039748096?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1587554499039748096?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='389012' first='Channing' last='Johnson'] - Denver</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson had big shoes to fill when her older sister, Reese Johnson graduated from Denver in 2022 as one of their top all time setters.&nbsp; All [player_tooltip player_id='389012' first='Channing' last='Johnson'] did was lead the state in assists with over 1200 and led the Cyclones back to the state tournament.&nbsp; Johnson plays with a high IQ where she's efficient, she knows how to find the open attacker and let them go to work.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='389011' first='Alexa' last='Buhman'] - Sumner-Fredricksburg - Six Pack&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buhman had a huge freshman campaign where she was able to be a key cog in her team's state tournament appearance.&nbsp; She's played in some huge matches so far being part of the NICL where every there the state tournament is loaded with teams from this conference.&nbsp; One of her top targets was [player_tooltip player_id='168172' first='Isabelle' last='Elliott'] where the two will be back this fall to get back to Coralville and look to make some noise.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='389942' first='Katie' last='Scheckel'] - Pella&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What an athlete.&nbsp; Scheckel did not play like a freshman this past fall as she was one of the top players in Southern Iowa.&nbsp; She had nearly 700 assists, 28 blocks, and just under 200 digs.&nbsp; She has the length and physicality to have a presence at the net and she knows how to defend her position in the backrow.&nbsp; Pella plays in a tough conference with the Little Hawkeye where the top half always has a shot to get to the state tournament.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->