Scouting Reports: Dike-New Hartford-Hinton Title Match
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Dike-New Hartford completed its campaign with a perfect 50-0 record, wrapping up a historically special season with Thursday’s sweep of Hinton in the Class 2A state title match. The Wolverines won their third championship in the last four years. They…
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Continue ReadingDike-New Hartford completed its campaign with a perfect 50-0 record, wrapping up a historically special season with Thursday’s sweep of Hinton in the Class 2A state title match. The Wolverines won their third championship in the last four years. They finished runner-up to Western Christian in 2022.
Both teams in Thursday’s title match are home to next-level talent. Here’s a look at some players that stood out during it:
If you follow high school volleyball in Iowa, I’m not breaking any news for you – Petersen in the best player in the state. The Wolverine senior capped her outstanding prep career by being the captain of the all-tournament team. She’s an explosive athlete with sharp volleyball skills and instincts. It will be fun following Petersen’s career at Louisville.
Payton’s sister also landed on the all-tournament team. Jadyn possesses excellent athleticism, a high volleyball IQ and razor sharp skills like her sibling. While not as tall as Payton, she makes up for that with a jumping ability and hang time. She shows good timing, contacting the ball at the top of her attack. She’s powerful. Her skills should make her a college success for Northern Iowa, where her mother, Bobbi Petersen, is a hall of fame coach.
Bixby is a perfect front-row complement to the Petersens. She’ll join Jadyn in playing for Bobbi Petersen at UNI and also should be a success at the next level. Bixby benefits from really long arms and being agile, especially for a taller player. She fits well in the middle, but also swings well from the right side.
My club schedule had me scouting a lot of Jensen’s matches last season. She’s continued improving and becoming more consistently good with time. She holds down the libero spot very well for the Wolverines. She moves crisply and displays quick reflexes. Jensen plays six rotations in club and has the versatility to do so going forward in high school. Her position flexibility should make her attractive to college programs.
I don’t think I’d scouted Joslin before that I can remember but look forward to watching her game grow. She shows the calmness and steadiness that works well at the setter position. She adds sound skills and an advanced understanding of what she needs to do. Her teammates trust her already and that should only grow. Dike-New Hartford is one of those programs that reloads instead of rebuilding, and Joslin will be a big part of that next year.
I last saw Boeve when she exploded onto the scene during last year’s state tournament. She’s grown a lot since then. She’s done so from a strength standpoint and in developing as a volleyball player. She can hit it from anywhere on the court. Boeve swings with supreme power on the outside and has added the slide attack from the right side. She’s improved in the back row and with her serve. Her trajectory so far is impressive and her ceiling high. More colleges should continue taking notice.
Kovarna is the type of do-it-all player that every successful team covets. She can hit. She can dig and pass. She can block. She’s especially good at setting. She filled the stat sheet throughout the week here after passing the 2,000 career assist mark earlier this season. She’s been chosen to play in the state coaches’ association all-star game on Nov. 11. She could also help programs on the next level.