Avoli Committed Athlete: Prep Dig Midwest Live Showcase

This article is sponsored by Avoli.

Prep Dig has teamed up with Avoli, the volleyball brand built specifically for female athletes, to present Committed — a spotlight series celebrating standout athletes at each 2025 Prep Dig Showcase. These athletes are chosen for their leadership, sportsmanship, and relentless work ethic — the same values Avoli champions on and off the court. Each featured athlete receives exclusive Avoli gear in addition to their own spotlight article. Learn more about Avoli and explore their performance-driven footwear at avoli.com.

Introducing the Avoli Committed athlete from Iowa's Prep Dig Midwest Live Showcase: Julia Schlarbaum Julia Schlarbaum 6'0" | OH/RS Clear Creek-Amana | 2028 State IA .

Over 50 athletes converged in Des Moines for another talent-stacked showcase at the Horizon Event Center. This annual outing has presented countless displays of leadership and tireless effort, making it difficult to single out one player for our Avoli award. However, we eventually honed in on an exceptional Class of 2028 outside hitter hailing from Clear Creek Amana High School and Iowa United.

Though I mostly scout my Nebraska homeland for Prep Dig, I was already familiar with what Schlarbaum brings to the court. She has made prior trips to Prep Dig Circuit events and left a big impression among her Iowa peers. Schlarbaum took another step forward at Friday's event.

This sophomore-to-be has logged plenty of high-level experience in the early stages of her prep journey. Schlarbaum was one of two freshmen to compete with last fall's Clear Creek Amana team and appeared in almost every match for the Clippers. She then pivoted toward the club season with Iowa United 151 Elite and experienced a full slate of challenging qualifiers and tournaments. 151 Elite made stops at Triple Crown NIT, MEQ, Show Me, and Windy City, allowing Schlarbaum to hone her skills against the nation's best.

That gauntlet has paid dividends with Schlarbaum producing innumerable highlight moments at the Midwest Live Showcase. She is a lethal terminator on the left pin and demonstrated her full range of shots during positional drills. Schlarbaum brought the same intensity to her backcourt work and was one of the most precise pin passers during serving reps.

But, of course, our Avoli Committed athlete has to go beyond the tangible skills. Schlarbaum's vocal leadership flourished at Friday's event, whether helping teammates get aligned or being the "hype squad" on the sidelines. This unwavering attitude surfaced even when Schlarbaum was scrimmaging with several unfamiliar faces on her side of the net. Our most memorable showcase performers have found ways to elevate athletes over than themselves, and these selfless qualities made Schlarbaum our Avoli Committed selection in Des Moines.

The Midwest Live Showcase was another stop in Schlarbaum's globe-trotting club schedule. She will rejoin her Iowa United squad to compete at Triple Crown's summer tournament next weekend. Then, Nationals prep begins.

Schlarbaum looks primed for that spotlight after exhibiting her competitiveness and leadership at Prep Dig Midwest Live.