“Role” Players Ready To Rock The Iowa State Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At this point in the season, the stars have been shining for a while.&nbsp; Teams know the scouting report, media has highlighted the big name players, and there is always a buzz around the stat stuffers.&nbsp; But who are the role players who can be a catalyst to success at the state tournament?&nbsp; I have a few names in mind…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["389006"],"_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-6727dab2ba775"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There are setter with some pretty wild statistics.  Kelley is part of a two setter system for Pleasant Valley who is hitting .321 as a team - for those not familiar with statistics, that is a ridiculous percentage at the high school level.  One of her top attackers is [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] who is hitting .418 which is also mind boggling at the high school level for an outside hitter (most are around .200-.250).  Kelly has plenty of length that allows her to have some range in defending as well as getting her hands to the ball.  She has a high IQ where she knows how to find the best attacker for the situation.  PV will be looking for some big hardware as they have earned the top seed in Class 5A. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["508657"],"_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-6727dab2ba7ce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I remember watching Mount Vernon's run to the state championship game last year and being really impressed with Schurbon, the senior middle blocker for the Mustangs.  There is plenty of attention on [player_tooltip player_id='215385' first='Chloe' last='Meester'] on the outside and [player_tooltip player_id='215389' first='Sydney' last='Maue'] on the right side, but when Schurbon is in the front row, you have to respect her.  She will do the dirty work in regards to sealing the block, being available in transition, and making the most of her attempts.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["545971"],"_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-6727dab2ba815"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The freshman is ready to make her state tournament debut for Waukee Northwest.  There were plenty of question marks for the defending state champions heading into this season after graduating a large core of their team from 2023.  Cordes has stepped up in a big way for the Wolves where she has collected 166 kills while hitting .248 with 87 blocks.  There are no seniors in the lineup for Northwest who is making their third straight trip to state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["694203"],"_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-6727dab2ba859"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Assumption is no stranger to the state tournament.  This has become a tradition for this team to finish their season with a big trophy.  A key role players who has stepped up in a big way is freshman [player_tooltip player_id='694203' first='Belle' last='Cotton'].  She is a dynamic athlete who can score points, defend, and leads her team with 52 service aces on the season.  The Knights will look for plenty of power out the middle from Kansas State commit [player_tooltip player_id='230661' first='Ellah' last='Derrer'] and rely on the experience of senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='215761' first='Ellie' last='Schubert'] and [player_tooltip player_id='215436' first='Dru' last='Dorsey'].  They will be up against a fast tempo team in West Delaware. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Mylee Thurm","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Denver","_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-6727dab2ba8f1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Denver is coming into the Class 2A field as the top seed and has plenty of experience with a team who is stacked with junior talent.  [player_tooltip player_id='389012' first='Channing' last='Johnson'] is one of the top setters in Class 2A while she has the Mullihan Twins of [player_tooltip player_id='389009' first='Grace' last='Mullihan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='389017' first='Bailey' last='Mullihan'] who made quite a statement at the state tournament in 2023.  A player to watch who could have a big impact is Mylee Thurm, also a junior is going to be a key player for the Cyclones where she leads the team in blocks and is hitting over .350.  There will always be teams keying in on Johnson and the Mullihan Twins, but if they don't respect Thurm they will get burned. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Caitlin Martin","_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":"null","_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 Regina","_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-6727dab2ba97b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Iowa City Regina will be the hometown team this year with Coralville being in their backyard.  [player_tooltip player_id='261094' first='Reese' last='Naeve'] has racked up plenty of kills where she has nearly 800 on the season and had 39 in their regional final win over Pella Christian.  [player_tooltip player_id='403543' first='Addie' last='Bollier'] is a standout sophomore libero who has already had over 1,000 digs in her career.  However, they have an attacker who could play a key role in Caitlin Martin (I did laugh because I thought of Kate Martin - she would have been a dominant outside hitter).  Martin has nearly 250 kills on the season along with nearly 400 digs.  Teams know Naeve will get her kills, but when Martin has a big match - that means trouble for the other side of the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->