Recap and Observations from MLK at BluHawk

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - </strong>Scouting club volleyball in January can be tricky. Most teams are working out the kinks and should be given grace while doing so.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other squads already are humming in the early going. That includes Iowa United 16-1 Elite, which ran the table in winning the top 17s division here at last weekend's MLK at BluHawk tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>United 16 looked connected from the get-go on Saturday and improved from there. It took down KC Power 15 Mize in Sunday's three-set final. Iowa Impact 16-1 and 16-2 also took United to three sets during the tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen'] continues her ascent as a top player, steadily improving in all phases of her game, and finishing a lot of points for United. It's where she impacted matches the most here, but she settled in as a steady, six-rotation performer as the tournament advanced.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A kid that has taken major steps forward from this time a year ago, [player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson'] is becoming one of the state's top middle hitters. She provides United with a player that can take over a match from the center of the net. You may have heard. Those humans are valuable on the volleyball court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The same compliments can be applied to setter [player_tooltip player_id='489998' first='Belle' last='Seaman'], who contributes beyond putting the ball on the money for the hitters. She defends in the front and back rows, and can end points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The back-row duo of [player_tooltip player_id='403543' first='Addie' last='Bollier'] and [player_tooltip player_id='488579' first='Mavrik' last='Schweer'] solidifies this team as a favorite to win the regional and achieve a lot this season. They alternate wearing the libero jersey and work well together no matter who's wearing it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='273001' first='Ellie' last='Wilson'] contributes through six rotations just as she's done at Liberty High for two seasons. She continues to sharpen all of her skills and is making noticeable strides in the back row and with serving. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>...Iowa Impact 16-1 Elite lost its United counterpart in three sets to start the tournament. It competed well in a tough division while still being in the early stages of developing chemistry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='443125' first='Liv' last='Davis'] setting is part of a strong foundation that includes libero [player_tooltip player_id='758787' first='Katelyn' last='Mescher'], [player_tooltip player_id='443086' first='Brynn' last='Cibula'], who contributes through six rotations, and emerging middle, Dottie Reed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>...Interesting teams and athletes from Impact and United flashed potential throughout this event. Here are some standouts not yet mentioned: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-United 17-1 Elite falls into the bucket of teams with intriguing parts that could come together to succeed as a whole. Tyra Jones, an Illinois product, influences the competition through six rotations. [player_tooltip player_id='261093' first='Reagan' last='Schulte'], [player_tooltip player_id='753959' first='Briley' last='Kaalberg'], [player_tooltip player_id='389854' first='Kampbell' last='Bryte'], [player_tooltip player_id='753942' first='Avery' last='Helmuth'] and [player_tooltip player_id='552878' first='Isabelle' last='Logue'] help comprise a squad that competes hard and has a chance to grow consistency. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Impact 17-1 Elite shares traits with its cross-state counterparts at United. It's capable of achievement courtesy of a lineup packed with potential. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='261083' first='Maegan' last='Cheeseman'] keeps the operation on time after leading Ankeny Centennial in assists this past fall. [player_tooltip player_id='753905' first='Brooke' last='Schulte'], [player_tooltip player_id='753974' first='Brynn' last='Roozeboom'], [player_tooltip player_id='552904' first='Madison' last='Anselme'], [player_tooltip player_id='443091' first='Jillian' last='Hammond'] and [player_tooltip player_id='490014' first='Maliya' last='Cobb'] all pitch in to the effort. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Seeing several of Iowa's top 14U programs during the last two weekends provided evidence for what was expected to be a strong group of teams. United 14-1 Elite took some lumps against older competition here, but it didn't diminish its place as the favorite in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='697463' first='Audrey' last='Small'] (Iowa City West) and Mila Jordan (Wapello) are coming off fabulous freshman seasons in the Fall. Big things are ahead for Zane Ehler, Cyan Blommer, [player_tooltip player_id='745251' first='Ava' last='Carlson'], Caylee Jensen and Amelia Guinn when they hit high school in 2025-26. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->