15U Ballers in the Back Row at Iowa Regional Qualifier

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/04/irq-week-2-pins-that-frequently-prevailed/">IRQ Week 2 Pins That Frequently Prevailed</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/04/15u-setters-that-stood-out-at-irq-week-2/">15U Setters That Stood Out at IRQ Week 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/04/marvelous-middles-from-15u-iowa-regional-qualifier/">Marvelous Middles from 15U Iowa Regional Qualifier</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state's top 15U teams met up last weekend in West Des Moines. Bids to this summer's USAV National Tournament in Dallas were on the line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You can find previously written standout student-athletes broken down by position linked at the top of this article. Below are a collection of back-row stars from the regional. </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":764966,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Reese Heim ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Norwalk","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Premier ","_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-67f1e1ef6a595"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Heim is polished for her age, meaning her skills are advanced as is her feel for the game. I like that she's very vocal in the back row, directing traffic and helping keep the operation in system. Heim is quick and moves well laterally. She stands in against big pace coming her way and anticipates well. It leads to her usually being in good position and making a play on the ball. After picking up 224 digs as a Norwalk sophomore last season, Heim is poised for a big step forward in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["729146"],"_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-67f1e1ef6a5fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I scouted Jackson last fall when DCG was at the Benton Tournament. When I watched her play live again at the recent Northern Lights and Iowa Regional Qualifiers, the progress she's made during the last six months was obvious. And that's saying something for a prospect that produced 448 digs as a freshman in 2024. Jackson reacts well to the attack and slides smoothly side-to-side. Those traits along with anticipation and preparedness put her in position to make the play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["762174"],"_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-67f1e1ef6a646"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A young Waukee team may have made the state tournament a year ahead of schedule in 2024, which bodes well for the coming season. That promise is bolstered with more talent on the way. Matlock fits into that category. I watched her at the recent Northern Lights and Iowa Regional Qualifiers and was impressed with the maturity of her game. Matlock communicates well, helping to direct traffic and pick up teammates. She's a good athlete that moves well laterally and reads plays quickly to be best positioned to do her job.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["766068"],"_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-67f1e1ef6a68c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Messerly is just scratching the surface of what she can be as a volleyball player. Still overshadowed on her talented high school and club teams, her athleticism and versatility portend a bright future. For Premier 15-1, her main task is being a defensive specialist. Messerly performs well in the back row, displaying the necessary quickness, reaction time and reflexes. She's taller than many at the position, which helps explain her contributions as a Dallas Center-Grimes freshman, when she totaled 43 kills is just 11 matches. Messerly possesses six-rotation potential and a high ceiling.</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":764958,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Elsie Gerdes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cedar Falls","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"CIA","_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-67f1e1ef6a713"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gerdes is a steady operator in the back row, limiting mistakes, especially on makable opportunities. She moves well and combines her athleticism with a good feel for the game. Gerdes isn't flashy, but she gets the job done. And that's the objective. Expect continued development from her playing in prep and club programs known for just that. Gerdes' starter kit makes her a name to know.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["759979"],"_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-67f1e1ef6a75b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I watched Montez play last club season. She's improved her consistency a great deal since then and has become very steady. Montez competes hard and hustles. She reads the attack well, which aids her in being the right position. Montez is a gamer that does whatever her team needs to win. That's evidence by her accumulating 371 assists, 93 kills and 120 digs for Muscatine last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->