What Iowa Freshmen Are Ready To Make Postseason Noise?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each year we see freshmen come into the state tournament and have a huge impact. Last year, [player_tooltip player_id='389079' first='Bailey' last='Boeve'] of Hinton showed the state what she could do as one of the most dynamic players in her class. Ella Derrer was a dominant middle blocker on an Assumption team who won a state title. [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] was a key right side in the Pleasant Valley runner-up finish and was on their state championship basketball team. Who is next? Welcome Class of 2027...let's make some postseason noise! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489998' first='Belle' last='Seaman'] - Muscatine</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seaman has been the QB1 for a scrappy Muscatine squad who is on the rise at 23-10, they will have a regional semifinal match against Iowa City High which should be a great battle.&nbsp; Seaman leads the state among freshmen in assists with 836, good for nearly ten assists per set.&nbsp; One of her top targets is Brylee Seaman.&nbsp; The Muskies have some big wins this season with a sweep over Assumption and a recent win over a top ten West Des Moines Valley team.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493920' first='Tayah' last='Pollock'] - Janesville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They're back.&nbsp; Well, I don't think Janesville ever really left as a Class 1A power house and they have a freshman leading the way as their setter in [player_tooltip player_id='493920' first='Tayah' last='Pollock']. &nbsp; Pollock has nearly 800 assists on the season and leads her team in aces.&nbsp; She's dynamic, she moves well getting her hands to the ball to allow her hitters to swings away.&nbsp; Junior, [player_tooltip player_id='508680' first='Zoey' last='Barnes'] has been a force in the front row.&nbsp; The Wildcats are 25-11 and champions of the Iowa Star-North.&nbsp; Janesville has the top seed in their regional with other top competitors in Dunkerton, St. Ansgar, and Waterloo Christian who will be in the hunt.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490009' first='Leah' last='Caffery'] and Annie Holladay - Wilton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assist by Caffery has been a common thread among Wilton volleyball the past six, maybe seven years?&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='490009' first='Leah' last='Caffery'] is a freshman setter at Wilton where she has lead the Beavers with over 700 assists on the season.&nbsp; Older sister Ella Caffery was a standout player for Wilton and graduated in 2022 where she had plenty of state tournament matches and is currently at Northwest Missouri State.&nbsp; Caffery has helped lead the team to over 20 wins.&nbsp; Freshman libero Annie Holladay is having a massive season with five digs per set and over 400 per season.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493935' first='Stella' last='Largent'] - ACGC&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is another Largent tearing it up for ACGC and this time it is [player_tooltip player_id='493935' first='Stella' last='Largent'].&nbsp; Chloe Largent was a Class of 2022 athlete who had a decorated career for the Chargers and went on to UNI for volleyball, but has medically retired from volleyball and will now join the track team.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='493935' first='Stella' last='Largent'] is averaging over 3.6 kills per set for a team who is 19-10.&nbsp; They will open regional play this week when they take on Panorama.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490015' first='Mazie' last='Sweers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493657' first='Addison' last='Allaman'] - Pleasant Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pleasant Valley was suppose to be rebuilding after graduating some big time D1 talent in the front line, but they have reloaded like all good programs do.&nbsp; Senior libero Molly Albrecht is the lone senior and captain of the backcourt with 231 digs as a libero.&nbsp; This group is leading freshmen in [player_tooltip player_id='490015' first='Mazie' last='Sweers'] who has been a key contributor in the front row with 161 kills and defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='493657' first='Addison' last='Allaman'] has chipped in 131 digs and 27 aces.&nbsp; The Spartans are looking for another trip to the state tournament and could face Dubuque Senior again in a regional final.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493948' first='Melina' last='Snoozy'] - Sioux City Heelan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two years ago, Heelan had Maddy LaFleur and [player_tooltip player_id='217136' first='Maliyah' last='Hacker'] making waves as freshman as the Crusaders returned to the state tournament LaFleur and Hacker are still doing damage and have another freshman in the lineup who has had a great season in [player_tooltip player_id='493948' first='Melina' last='Snoozy'] who has 182 kills on the season.&nbsp; She also has over 30 blocks on the season.&nbsp; Heelan will meet Sioux Center or Spencer in the Class 4A Regional Final and could have a potential trip down I29 for a regional final against Council Bluffs Lewis Central with a state tournament appearance on the line.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493953' first='Deidra' last='Doeden'] and Addy Wolfswinkel - Cherokee&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cherokee has put together quite a season, most recently defeating top ranked in Class 3A, Western Christian 3-2. They have a strong senior group led by setter Ava Anderson and attacker [player_tooltip player_id='251663' first='Jada' last='Timmerman'].&nbsp; Freshmen [player_tooltip player_id='493953' first='Deidra' last='Doeden'] and Addy Wolfswinkel have combined for over 150 kills.&nbsp; Doeden leads the team in blocks and is among the top blockers in Class 3A among freshmen.&nbsp; The Braves have the top seed in Region 2 and will start with a quarterfinal match with Eagle Grove.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Addison Bollier - Iowa City Regina (Digs)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Regals are a defensive force with over 1600 digs as a team.&nbsp; They have four athletes with at least 200 digs on the season, one of them being Addison Bollier.&nbsp; They have a consistent touch on every contact with their top two attackers being sophomores.&nbsp; This Southeast part of the state is loaded with Class 2A talent.&nbsp; Regina has a match with West Branch, and with a win would face conference rival Lisbon where they dropped a tough five set thriller to at the end of September.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->