What Newly Ranked Iowa Sophomore’s Are Starting Fast?
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The Iowa Class of 2026 is off to a fast start this season where some of these athletes are leading their team and some are even leading the state. These athletes have also been on the inaugural rankings list that…
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Continue ReadingThe Iowa Class of 2026 is off to a fast start this season where some of these athletes are leading their team and some are even leading the state. These athletes have also been on the inaugural rankings list that were posted last week. Plenty of names to have on the radar!
Sophie Sander Sophie Sander 5'10" | S Anamosa | 2026 State IA – Anamosa
Setter
Sander has been quarterbacking Anamosa to a strong start to the 2023 season. She leads all sophomore setters with over 400 assists so far this season. They got roughed up a bit this past weekend at Linn-Mar, but this team is still pretty young. Their top two attackers are juniors in Reise Neuhaus Reise Neuhaus OH Anamosa | 2025 State IA and Lola Holub. They are part of a very competitive conference in the River Valley where they will look to build momentum throughout the season and make some noise come late October.
Alexa Buhman Alexa Buhman 5'8" | S Sumner - Fredricksburg | 2026 State IA – Sumner-Fredericksburg
Setter
Buhman is no stranger to running the show as the Cougars are competing against top teams in Class 2A. As a freshman, Buhman was a key piece to their success which landed them in the Class 2A quarterfinals. The top target for her is senior Isabelle Elliott Isabelle Elliott 6'0" | OH Sumner-Fredericksburg | 2024 State #130 Nation IA who has committed to Northern Iowa. The road is never easy when playing in the North Iowa Cedar League where they have a triangular with Dike-New Hartford and Grundy Center this Tuesday where these teams are all in the top five.
Reese Naeve Reese Naeve 5'9" | OH Iowa City Regina Catholic | 2026 State IA and Kiley Devery Kiley Devery 6'1" | MB Iowa City Regina | 2026 State IA – Iowa City Regina
Outside Hitter and Middle Blocker
These two have already combined for nearly 400 kills on the season so far as they are leading a rising Iowa City Regina program. Naeve is the springy outside hitter who can score from anywhere, she can make an impact in the backrow as a passer and can score from there as well. Devery is a long, athletic middle blocker who causes plenty of havoc in the front line. Her length and athleticism has a huge upside. Teams will only be able to key on one of these when they are both in the front row. They have also teamed up for a successful run so far with Iowa Rockets during the club season.
Jovi Evans Jovi Evans 5'6" | DS/L Mid Prairie | 2026 State IA and Harper Pacha Harper Pacha 5'11" | OH Mid-Prairie | 2026 State IA – Mid-Prairie
Outside Hitter/Setter and Pin Attacker
Mid-Prairie had a huge day at the Live Like Line Tournament at Iowa City West where they defeated Ankeny, Regina, Prairie, Iowa City West, and dropped a tough three set match to Dowling. Jovi Evans Jovi Evans 5'6" | DS/L Mid Prairie | 2026 State IA leads the team in kills and assists, she’s been doing it all which is no surprise as she did that last year as a freshman on the team. Pacha is her top target to find for a kill. I knew this team would be dangerous heading into the season and this past weekend was a major statement made.
Breanna VanDenTop Breanna VanDenTop 5'10" | MB Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2026 State IA – Sergeant Bluff – Luton
Outside Hitter
Over on the West side of the state, Breanna VanDenTop Breanna VanDenTop 5'10" | MB Sergeant Bluff-Luton | 2026 State IA has been a key attacker for SBL who is battling in a much improved Missouri River Conference. She currently has over 100 kills this season, good for over three kills per set. They have a key conference match up on Tuesday with Sioux City East and will head to a gauntlet of teams when they compete at the Waukee Tournament this weekend with some of the top Central Iowa Powers.
Brianna Wittrock Brianna Wittrock 5'10" | OH Kuemper Catholic | 2026 State IA – Carroll-Kuemper
Middle Blocker
Carroll-Kuemper graduated a lot of talent from their state tournament team in 2022, but they are still battling among the ranked teams in Class 2A (Kuemper seems to bounce back and forth between 2A and 3A). Wittrock has 44 blocks which is third among sophomores in the state, but also has 81 digs to go with. This Knights lineup is extremely balanced. Another sophomore on this squad to know is libero Kaylie Simons who is one of the top liberos in Western Iowa. They will have a big conference matchup with Council Bluffs St. Albert and will head to the CYO Tournament this weekend where they could face a ranked 4A squad in Sioux City Heelan.
Annistyn Wedgbury Annistyn Wedgbury 5'5" | DS/L Cedar Falls | 2026 State IA – Cedar Falls
Libero
Cedar Falls has a really strong sophomore class with Wedgbury and Brynn Bakula Brynn Bakula 5'8" | S Cedar Falls | 2026 State IA at setter. Wedgbury isn’t the first Wedgbury to have success in a Cedar Falls jersey where her older sister Emmy Wedgbury played in multiple state tournament matches, including a state title for the Tigers. Annistyn is off to a big start in her career racking up plenty of digs at the libero position where she leads all sophomores in Class 5A. The Tigers went through the Osage Tournament undefeated and will have their home tournament in a couple weeks with plenty of ranked teams!