Scouting Reports, Photos: Iowa City West 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa City West overcame pre-season staff changes to put together a solid season, earning a place in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Top 15 this week. I watched the Trojans battle rival City High last week and emerge with an electrifying, five-set victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As solid as West looks this fall, the future is extremely bright. A youthful roster means more growth ahead. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are scouting reports and photos of the 2024 Trojans: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["360642"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6709565d77e0e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Prep Dig's top sophomore in Iowa showed why she's so highly-regarded in this sport. Austen cranked out 32 kills (.324) in this match, adding 16 digs and 2.0 blocks. Beyond the numbers is the eye test. She's continually improved her skills and become a stronger, quicker athlete in the process. It's an enormous swing on the outside with sound technique and reading of the block. Austen explodes off of the floor and elevates well over the net. She moves well around the court and shows a good feel for playing the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["697463"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":702784,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6709565d77e85"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Small played with our daughter a years ago and, boy, has her game grown leaps and bounds. She's worked hard sharpening her skills and working on her agility. Small has expanded her hitting capabilities, looking very smooth on the slide. She's improved her timing and attack recognition in defending the net. With plenty of room for more development, Small's upside is high. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["555736"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":702785,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6709565d77ed4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I scouted Eastvold several times during club season and was impressed with her feel for the position. She's a well-rounded setter capable of contributing a lot to her team's success. Eastvold mixes up her offerings to keep defenses honest and puts the ball where her attackers can generate solid swings. She rolled up 52 assists in the City match, tied for the team lead with 2.0 blocks and ranked second with 17 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":702790,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='758803' first='Gracie' last='Liu']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027 ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Iowa City West ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67095a069f7bc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another important part of West's core of underclassmen, Liu fits this team nicely as a two-way performer on the right side. She's shown in club that she can hit effectively from either pin. Liu jumps well and generates good power on her swing. She times her blocks well by reading the attack and being in proper position. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":702796,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ava Bruxvoort","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Iowa City West ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67095a069f845"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bruxvoort ranked second among Trojans with 16 kills against City. She provides West with another powerful pin when Austen rotates to the back. Bruxvoort has worked hard in developing her game during the last few years. Her leaping ability has improved, and she's added power to her swing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:gallery {"linkTo":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"><!-- wp:image {"id":702827,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2993-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702827" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2024 (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702826,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2917-2-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702826" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen'] (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702825,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2678-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702825" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen'] (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702824,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2662-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702824" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen'] (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702823,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2604-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702823" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2025 Ava Bruxvoort (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702822,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2577-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702822" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen'] (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702821,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2555-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702821" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen'] (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702820,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2523-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702820" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2025 Sophie Bodin (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702819,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2415-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702819" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2025 Emma Fish (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702818,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2330-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702818" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen'] (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702817,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2282-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702817" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='697463' first='Audrey' last='Small'] (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702816,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2268-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702816" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2025 Elle Barnett (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702813,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2158-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702813" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='555736' first='Lila' last='Eastvold'] (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702808,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2145-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702808" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2025 Maeve Christians (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702796,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2253-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702796" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2025 Ava Bruxvoort (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702790,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2368-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702790" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='758803' first='Gracie' last='Liu'] (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702785,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2107-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702785" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='555736' first='Lila' last='Eastvold'] (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":702784,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/137A2527-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-702784" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iowa City West 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='697463' first='Audrey' last='Small'] (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --></figure> <!-- /wp:gallery -->