Prep Dig 2023 Class 5A All-State Team

We say it every year because it's true - the high school volleyball in this state rocks. In part, that's what makes selecting all-state teams so difficult. That's OK. It's worth the effort to honor worthy athletes that entertained us with their performance this fall.   We'll produce Prep Dig All-State Teams for each class before compiling an elite all-state with the best of the best from 1A-5A. That will illustrate just how bright high school volleyball shines in Iowa.   Let's tip off the exercise with the Prep Dig 2023 Class 5A Iowa All-State Team:   FIRST TEAM   [player_tooltip player_id='168151' first='Kenzie' last='Dean'], '24, OH, West Des Moines Dowling Catholic   The Kansas recruit capped her illustrious career by leading the Maroons to the state championship match for the first time in school history. She proved she could play six rotations as a senior, accumulating 169 digs to go with 474 kills (second most in 5A) and 68.0 blocks. She posted a .276 kill efficiency. Dean ended up with 1,182 kills and 171.0 blocks in her career, leading her team in kills in each of the last three seasons.   [player_tooltip player_id='168187' first='Ava' last='Helming'], '24, OH, Johnston   Helming will be taking her talents to Valparaiso University next year following an excellent prep career for a Dragon squad that reached the state semifinals this season. She cranked out a 5A-best 481 kills in '23, hitting with a .322 kill efficiency. Her 206 digs ranked third on her team and also chipped in with 27.0 blocks. She finished up her time at Johnston with 1,183 kills, 491 digs and 123.0 blocks.   [player_tooltip player_id='251675' first='Kamryn' last='Vogt'], '24, MH, Waukee Northwest   Northern Iowa gained a commitment from the Northwest senior, who played a major role in the Wolves winning their first state championship. The oldest daughter of Wolves head coach and UNI volleyball alumnus Jodi Vogt, [player_tooltip player_id='251675' first='Kamryn' last='Vogt'] ranked fifth among 5A players with 103.0 blocks this season. The athletic six-footer added 179 kills and 75 digs in '23. She wrapped up her prep career with 556 kills and 229.0 blocks.   [player_tooltip player_id='215429' first='Asta' last='Hildebrand'], '25, S/OH, Iowa City Liberty   I fully admit to being a [player_tooltip player_id='215429' first='Asta' last='Hildebrand'] stan. She's as fundamentally sound of a player as you'll find in the state and one of its most versatile. College programs need to wake up here. She helped Liberty win a state title last season and guided a very young team to within a win of another state appearance in '23. In three years as a varsity starter, she has piled up 1,653 assists, 614 kills, 746 digs and 75.0 blocks.   [player_tooltip player_id='215412' first='Ella' last='Rogers'], '25, S, Dowling Catholic   Rogers is a problem for opponents. First, she's as good at setting as anyone in Iowa. Then, at 6-foot-1 with long arms, she can defend the net and swing it. She led all 5A athletes with 1,083 assists this season in helping the Maroons to the state championship match. She added 116 kills (.398), 192 digs and 65.0 blocks. In her two seasons as a varsity starter, she's accumulated 1,720 assists, 161 kills, 268 digs and 103.0 blocks.   [player_tooltip player_id='215749' first='Delaney' last='Miller'], '25, OH, Ankeny Centennial   The Jaguar junior ranked third behind Dean and Helming among 5A performers with 437 kills, hitting .253. She added 239 digs and 30.0 blocks in helping Centennial reach the state semifinals for the second year in a row. Miller brings plenty of versatility to the party, her swing from the outside being her biggest strength. She's totaled 707 kills, 360 digs and 63.0 blocks in her two seasons starting on the varsity.   SECOND TEAM   [player_tooltip player_id='189864' first='Annalise' last='Grant'], '25, L, Dowling Catholic   The Iowa State verbal commitment added to her prep resume with an outstanding junior season. Her 437 digs in '23 were the fourth most in 5A, and she chipped in with 87 assists. Grant is a wall in the back row with excellent lateral movement, a keen sense for tracking the ball and quick reflexes. She returned with a loud junior season after missing '22 with an injury. She posted 493 digs as a freshman.   [player_tooltip player_id='251664' first='Claire' last='Ernst'], '24, OH, Iowa City High   Ernst led an upstart Little Hawk outfit to within a win of reaching the state tournament. She led the team with 356 kills, was second in digs (190) and added 21.0 blocks. The Oakland University signee contributed as a six-rotation starter the last three seasons. During that time, she stacked up 1,104 kills, 771 digs and 69.0 blocks. She'll be a tough one to replace at City.   [player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland'], '26, OH, West Des Moines Valley   Wieland can do it all. The daughter of UNI hall-of-famer Shannon (Perry) Wieland, Kaelyn contributes significantly through all six rotations. In '23, she ranked second on her team in assists (252), digs (240) and kills (199). She chipped in with 24.0 blocks. A tremendous athlete with sharp skills, she already has 743 assists, 393 kills, 478 digs and 58.0 blocks through two varsity seasons.   [player_tooltip player_id='215425' first='Jaeden' last='Pratt'], '25, OH, Ankeny Centennial   As I've written before, college volleyball's loss is college basketball's gain when it comes to Pratt. The junior is an Illinois State hoops commitment that could help a lot of volleyball programs on the next level. As one would expect from a Division I basketball player, Pratt stands out in volleyball for her athleticism. She springs off the floor and rises high. She posted 327 kills and 257 digs and 41.0 blocks in '23.   [player_tooltip player_id='168154' first='Molly' last='Romano'], '25, S, Council Bluffs Lincoln   Romano helped the Lynx stay in the Top 15 for a good chunk of the season and get within a win of the state tournament. She filled up the stat sheet with 896 assists, 144 kills, 233 digs and 68.0 blocks. The Wayne State commitment was more than a one-year wonder. The four-year varsity starter piled up 3,037 assists, 536 kills, 867 digs and 226.0 blocks. That's a very impressive prep career.   Paige Paup, '24, OH, Cedar Falls   Perhaps no player in 5A improved as much as Paup from last season to this one. The Tiger senior ranked fourth in the class with 388 kills in '23 after posting 41 as a junior. She added 206 digs and 47.0 blocks, also a sizable increase from last fall. While she's shorter than a prototypical outside hitter, Paup makes up for it by being an explosive athlete with developing volleyball skills.

We say it every year because it's true - the high school volleyball in this state rocks. In part, that's what makes selecting all-state teams so difficult. That's OK. It's worth the effort to honor worthy athletes that entertained us with their performance this fall.