Top Player in Iowa’s 99 Counties – Woodbury to Jackson
In this article:
I’m back on my tour of Iowa where I go through all the top players in each county. I’m a bit of a geography nerd, combine that with finding the top players across the state, and this article only makes…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingI’m back on my tour of Iowa where I go through all the top players in each county. I’m a bit of a geography nerd, combine that with finding the top players across the state, and this article only makes sense as it is in my wheelhouse. What has been fun in this article series is seeing where school districts land within county lines (and noticing how many counties these school district lines cross into). Some of these counties have multiple school districts, some used to have multiple districts but have now consolidated into a county school, and even some of the smallest districts I have actually biked through on RAGBRAI.
Here is the next part of the tour heading through the central part of Iowa.
Woodbury
Maliyah Hacker Maliyah Hacker 6'1" | OH Sioux City Heelan | 2025 State IA – Sioux City Heelan
Class of 2025
Hacker was a 1st Team All State player for Sioux City Heelan who has surged back into being one of the top programs in their class. They fell one match short of state this past season, but Hacker once again was one of the top players in Siouxland. She won a national title in the American Division with MVP United out of Sioux City. She is one of the top available 2025s in Iowa where this will be a big time recruiting year for her.
Ida
Rowan Jensen Rowan Jensen 5'9" | S Ridge View | 2024 State IA – Ridge View
Class of 2024
Rowan Jensen Rowan Jensen 5'9" | S Ridge View | 2024 State IA had a huge season for Ridge View who won the Western Valley Conference. Jensen had over 400 kills on the season and was named 2nd Team All State in Class 2A. They collided with state tournament team in Carroll-Kuemper in the post season and ended with a 34-9 record. Researching this district was interesting with the consolidation of Galva-Holstein and Schaller-Crestland. The high school is located in Holstein which is in Ida County.
Sac
Kate Vondrak Kate Vondrak 6'0" | MB East Sac | 2024 State IA – East Sac County
Class of 2024
East Sac County were champions of the Twin Lakes Conference and finished with over 20 wins on the season. A big part of that was senior Kate Vondrak Kate Vondrak 6'0" | MB East Sac | 2024 State IA , a Class 2A All State player who did a little bit of everything with 400 assists, 200 kills, and nearly 100 digs.
Calhoun
Brenna McAlister and Jayci Graeve – South Central Calhoun
Class of 2025
This junior duo had nearly identical seasons as they were options 1A and 1B for the Titans who won nearly 30 matches this season. They combined for over 700 kills and over 500 digs. They will be ready for a big time senior season come fall of 2024.
Webster
Meah McCaleb – Fort Dodge
Class of 2025
Fort Dodge finished 20-14 and were champions of the Alliance Conference. They were lead by an electric athlete in Meah McCaleb who was an unanimous 1st Team All Conference selection with nearly 200 kills, nearly 300 digs, and 45 aces for the Dodgers.
Hamilton
Olivia Gallentine – Webster City
Class of 2025
Webster City was part of an extremely balanced North Central Conference where Gallentine was named 1st Team All Conference. She had just under 200 digs and 35 blocks on the season.
Hardin
Ava Paige Ava Paige 5'8" | S South Hardin | 2025 State IA , Ava Salvo Ava Salvo 5'9" | S State IA – South Hardin
Class of 2025
South Hardin dropped a tough five set marathon to AP in the regional final, but these Tigers have a loaded junior class coming back next season who will be focused on getting to Xtream Arena. Two of those athletes are Ava Paige Ava Paige 5'8" | S South Hardin | 2025 State IA and Ava Salvo Ava Salvo 5'9" | S State IA , both named Class 2A All State. Ava Paige Ava Paige 5'8" | S South Hardin | 2025 State IA had over 900 assists while Salvo had nearly 300 kills and 300 digs.
Grundy
Payton Petersen Payton Petersen 6'0" | OH Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State #55 Nation IA – Dike-New Hartford
Class of 2024
Sioux County in Northwest Iowa is known as one of the top counties in Iowa in regards to high school volleyball. However, Grundy County is right up there with the likes of Dike-New Hartford, Grundy Center, Janesville, and parts of BCLUW, AGWSR, and Gladbrook-Reinbeck. With all of the top talent, Payton Petersen Payton Petersen 6'0" | OH Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State #55 Nation IA is at the top as she was named the top player in all classes and is a front runner to win the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year.
Tama
Addison Hochstetler Addison Hochstetler 5'2" | DS/L North Tama | 2026 State IA – North Tama
Class of 2026
North Tama is another program who has been to state and fell just short in 2023 with a tough loss to Don Bosco. However, a lot of these athletes are coming back including multiple All Staters. Addison Hochstetler Addison Hochstetler 5'2" | DS/L North Tama | 2026 State IA was one of the top liberos in Class 1A where she picked up 2nd Team Class 1A All State honors where she collected 519 digs.
Benton
Emma Townsley and Piper Nelson – Benton Community
Class of 2024
We’re heading into WAMAC territory where the talent runs deep. In Benton County there is Benton Community and Vinton-Shellsburg and I’m going with the senior duo of Emma Townsley and Piper Nelson. Townsley did a little bit of everything with over 400 assists and over 200 kills. Nelson was a big time attacker with over 400 kills.
Linn
Chloe Meester Chloe Meester OH Mount Vernon | 2025 State #37 Nation IA – Mount Vernon
Class of 2025
So many options from Linn County with the Cedar Rapids schools and all of the surrounding schools outside within the county. However, I’m going with one of the top players overall in the state with junior Chloe Meester Chloe Meester OH Mount Vernon | 2025 State #37 Nation IA . She was named Captain of the Class 3A All Tournament team, Elite All State, and Class 3A Player of the Year. Meester has verbally committed to Louisville.
Jones
Jadyn Kuper – Monticello
Class of 2025
Jones County – The Great Jones County Fair. And Creed is playing here in 2024? Sign me up. As for volleyball, the county was dominated by Monticello and Anamosa with Jadyn Kuper having a huge season, landing 2nd Team All State in Class 3A. Her numbers are video game like with over 450 kills and 400 digs.
Jackson
Hadley Farrell – Easton Valley
Class of 2025
Easton Valley School District is along the Mississippi River where the high school resides in Preston. This past season, Hadley Farrell was named 1st Team All Tri Rivers Conference where she had over 130 kills.