PD Midwest Live Brings Out The Best and New Names

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have been covering showcases since December of 2018.&nbsp; I've covered showcases in person, on BallerTV, through the mask/covid era, showcase across multiple states, showcases with 30 kids to 180 kids, I've seen a full range.&nbsp; The showcase at Prep Dig Midwest Live Showcase in Clive at Horizon Courts was just different - the talent, the energy, the stars aligned for what was one of the best showcases I have ever attended.&nbsp; Here is what to know from The Prep Dig Midwest Live Showcase.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":546745,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/PDMidwestLive1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-546745" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class of 2026 Prospects (L to R) - [player_tooltip player_id='230661' first='Ellah' last='Derrer'], [player_tooltip player_id='215427' first='Ava' last='Groeteke'], Nora Hany, [player_tooltip player_id='389019' first='Avery' last='Vogt'], [player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland'], and [player_tooltip player_id='455710' first='Kiley' last='Devery'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Prospects Locked and Loaded</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are less than two weeks away from June 15 when college coaches can start contacting those in the Class of 2026.  We had some of the top 2026s from Iowa with Creighton, Iowa, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa having coaches in attendance.  [player_tooltip player_id='389079' first='Bailey' last='Boeve'], the standout from Hinton while athletes from the other side on the state in the Quad Cities with [player_tooltip player_id='230661' first='Ellah' last='Derrer'], [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'], and [player_tooltip player_id='261085' first='Maren' last='Ouellette'] were in the house.  Central Iowa was well represented with PowerPlex athletes [player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland'] and [player_tooltip player_id='215427' first='Ava' last='Groeteke'] showing they are among the best in the Class of 2026.  The showcase format has athletes playing as a group, getting into positionals, positional combos, and finishing with six on six play.  The final six on six play was different in a great way.  This was high level, the best of the best going head to head.  The top athletes from across the state getting to play on the same side of the with each other.  Who knows, maybe some of these athletes will be playing on a college team together. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Class of 2027 is Loaded With Talent</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The depth of the Class of 2027 (15s, Finishing Their Freshman Year) was extremely deep.&nbsp; What is so fun about the 15s age group is how fast they improve.&nbsp; I saw a lot of these athletes at our Iowa Top 250 in December, the state tournament, or throughout the club season.&nbsp; These athletes are at another level than where they were even a month or two ago.&nbsp; Their poise, maturity, physicality, and athleticism is so different from where they were at the beginning of the club season.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The outside hitters in this class are going to have huge sophomore seasons.&nbsp; Based on what we saw Friday night and this club season, they will be breaking into All State lists, state tournament appearances, and even bringing home some big hardware.&nbsp; They are from across the state as well with [player_tooltip player_id='443092' first='Malia' last='Rogers'] (Waukee), [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493601' first='Piper' last='Ladwig'] (Waukee Northwest), [player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen'] (Iowa City West), and [player_tooltip player_id='273001' first='Ellie' last='Wilson'] (Iowa City Liberty) really stood out from the outside.&nbsp; They are explosive off the ground, have solid hand contact, and just know how to score points.&nbsp; A lot of these athletes had success as freshmen, but they are ready to take charge heading into their sophomore season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Energy From The Class of 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't watch any 14s.&nbsp; I draw a pretty firm line in the sand when it comes to covering 14s.&nbsp; They will have their time.&nbsp; I start watching the 14s (Class of 2028), the summer heading into their freshman year and these 14s/2028s were ready to make a statement.&nbsp; For anyone having been around club volleyball, 14s is a unique age group.&nbsp; These athletes are still growing physically, they are dabbling in what their position will be, there are still so many aspects of the game they are starting to learn.&nbsp; What was most impressive was their energy and communication - the controllables.&nbsp; This group of 2028s are coming from different clubs and high schools and were playing at an extremely high level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1796691940911509610","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1796691940911509610 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Adelyn Stein</strong> is a 5'10 setter playing for Six Pack and will head to Center Point-Urbana.&nbsp; Her game reminds me a lot of former Six Pack player and current Iowa State setter, Morgan Brandt.&nbsp; She has the size and athleticism to do a lot of things on her side of the net.&nbsp; However, with her hands, she is a pure setter who can impact the game in the front and backrow.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another athlete from Six Pack who was impressive was <strong>Caitlyn Schneider</strong> where her length and athleticism really stood out.&nbsp; She was someone who could be in any position and she was finding ways to be highly effective.&nbsp; She could set, swing, block, and she knew how to talk and direct traffic on her court.&nbsp; She played with great maturity.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Out of Central Iowa is <strong>Elle Hatlevig</strong>.&nbsp; The outside hitter who will prep at Norwalk has a lot of tools to score points.&nbsp; She has the length and athleticism with plenty of spring to contact high and isn't afraid to swing big.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What High School Programs Showed Momentum?&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have a packet of player information that will list various metrics that includes their high school and club.&nbsp; There are definitely some patterns when it comes to high school and it gives a glimpse into some programs who will be ones to watch this season as well as seasons beyond.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waukee Northwest</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolves are the defending Class 5A state champions.&nbsp; They do graduate a large core of their lineup, but they will be reloading.&nbsp; The Vogt sisters are back with setter [player_tooltip player_id='389019' first='Avery' last='Vogt'] (Class of 2026) and 6'1 outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'] (Class of 2027). [player_tooltip player_id='493601' first='Piper' last='Ladwig'], a 6'3 pin attacker will be one to watch at Northwest this fall after playing with Vogt on the Iowa PowerPlex 15s. Northwest also had [player_tooltip player_id='443125' first='Liv' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='443085' first='Avery' last='Edgington'], Gianna Fengler, [player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Leah' last='Janulewicz'], [player_tooltip player_id='545971' first='Avery' last='Cordes'], and Lyla Nelson.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dallas Center-Grimes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='394331' first='Maggie' last='Leifker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493973' first='Gwen' last='Farley'] had huge seasons for DCG as Freshmen.&nbsp; They will continue to lead DCG, but another athlete from the Class of 2028 to keep tabs on with DCG is Anna Jackson.&nbsp; Jackson is a libero/DS who will add ball control to their lineup.&nbsp; This team fell just short of the state tournament in 2023 and will be ready to go in 2024.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":546746,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/PrepDigMidwestLive2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-546746" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='261085' first='Maren' last='Ouellette'] of Pleasant Valley/Iowa Select</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pleasant Valley&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PV has had made it a tradition of playing in big state tournament matches where they won the title in 2021.&nbsp; After a final four appearance this past fall, they will be returning a strong core from this team. [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] and Maizy Sweers were two All State players from 2023 who were in attendance.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='261085' first='Maren' last='Ouellette'] is a really solid all around six rotation player was very impressive. Another pin for PV who was there making some big swings was [player_tooltip player_id='389818' first='Hanley' last='Schmidt'], a 2026 outside hitter.&nbsp; The Spartans have so much depth.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://prepdig.com/2024/05/states-best-ready-for-battle-at-prep-dig-iowa-sizzle","type":"wp-embed","providerNameSlug":"prep-dig"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-prep-dig wp-block-embed-prep-dig"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://prepdig.com/2024/05/states-best-ready-for-battle-at-prep-dig-iowa-sizzle </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa City Liberty&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'], [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'], and [player_tooltip player_id='273001' first='Ellie' last='Wilson'] had a big freshman season for the Bolts, they are ready to come back for more as sophomores.&nbsp; These three were in attendance Friday night where they have gotten better each time they have stepped on the court.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'] is ths libero with great poise and ball control, [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'] is the setter who can put it on the money, and Wilson is the explosive multisport athlete who is going to score plenty of points on the pin.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->