A Newcomer’s Observations of the Iowa Sizzle Day 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wow - am I having a blast in Iowa this week! For those who don't know me, I am a scout who primarily covers Wisconsin and Illinois. This is my first time covering Iowa volleyball, and I had so much fun. Here are some observations from day 1 of the Sizzle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Outside Looking In</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First, I came in knowing nothing. I had a completely fresh look at a very high-level volleyball state. I did not know which teams were in which division, who was committed, or what club athletes played for. It is a very refreshing way to watch volleyball. I had the opportunity to talk with coaches and parents and learn about their programs. Thank you to everyone who took the time to speak with me!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Competition was Fierce</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was a lot of head-to-head action. The matches were tight and intense, with several going to 3 sets. Every player was engaged and ready to battle with their team. Some key offensive weapons were Isabelle Elliott for Pleasant Valley, [player_tooltip player_id='230661' first='Ellah' last='Derrer'] for Assumption, [player_tooltip player_id='389071' first='Harper' last='Pacha'] with Mid-Prairie, and [player_tooltip player_id='261094' first='Reese' last='Naeve'] with Regina. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Defense was Gritty</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The scramble plays were nothing less than impressive. I saw some incredible saves today, which made me want to cheer along with the teams. I especially appreciated how disciplined the teams were in coverage. Lace Konck from Cedar Rapids Prairie, [player_tooltip player_id='403543' first='Addie' last='Bollier'] from Regina, [player_tooltip player_id='215395' first='Dakota' last='Mitchell'] from Mid-Prairie, Lextyn Pankey from Kennedy, and [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'] from Liberty were all stand-out defenders who made a huge impact on the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Some Wisconsin Teams Joined the Fun</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two teams from Wisconsin, Notre Dame Academy and Luxemburg Casco, joined the tournament. They added a fun wrinkle because it was completely new competition for anyone who played them. [player_tooltip player_id='178235' first='Maddie' last='Wolfram'], [player_tooltip player_id='178234' first='Grace' last='Borys'], [player_tooltip player_id='388553' first='Chayse' last='Penzenstadler'], and [player_tooltip player_id='178237' first='Adah' last='Danen'] were all standout players for Notre Dame Academy. Some key players for Luxemburg-Casco were [player_tooltip player_id='459898' first='Aubrey' last='Frey'], [player_tooltip player_id='229533' first='Isabella' last='Vander Velden'], [player_tooltip player_id='284079' first='Alayna' last='Deprez'], and Rylan Kaminski. Both teams will compete in Day 2 of the tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">It was a Family Affair</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were numerous sets of sisters playing together at the event, and I am sure I did not even catch most of them. [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'] both played significant roles for Liberty throughout the afternoon. Mid Prairie had [player_tooltip player_id='215390' first='Jovi' last='Evans'] and [player_tooltip player_id='775157' first='Jeorgia' last='Evans'], who both saw significant court time in different roles. Jovi is a huge leader on the court and both sets and hits. Jeorgia played at the libero position as well as on both pins and is a very versatile athlete. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williamsburg had three sets of sisters. Clarissa Suhr is one of their go-to pin hitters, and Kylee Suhr made an impact from the middle. Kalon Spratt is the only senior on the team and a natural leader, while Keston Spratt took some great swings on the right side. [player_tooltip player_id='551847' first='Averi' last='Nielsen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='849192' first='Ellie' last='Nielsen'] both set. Averi showed her experience and savvy as a setter, and Ellie has a lot of raw talent and good court awareness. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->