Trends and Storylines We're Following at #PDMidwestLive

The summer showcase season has begun.   I am privileged to return to Des Moines to cover Friday's Prep Dig Midwest Live Showcase. I'll bring a bit of an "outsider" perspective as the Prep Dig's Nebraska scout, but this won't be my first trip to the Horizon Event Center to cover this annual outing. Iowa athletes always deliver at this venue, and I'm eager to see what the next wave of Hawkeye State talent has to offer.   Our post-event coverage will include all the details and player features you'd expect. Before I cross the Missouri River, though, I'll start with a few prevailing storylines leading up to #PDMidwestLive.     High School Cohesion   Prep Dig Circuit events often draw multiple athletes from the same high school squads. This is especially true for Des Moines events with a wealth of volleyball powerhouses in the metro area.   Here are a few schools well represented on our current entry list:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Dowling Catholic</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Ankeny</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>West Des Moines Valley</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Waukee Northwest</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Davenport Assumption</li> </ul>   Many of these high schools have represented themselves well at past Midwest Live events. I remember coming away from last year's event in awe of the depth at Waukee Northwest and its surrounding schools. Norwalk High School is another group we're excited to see on Friday.   Which school will lead the way in 2025?     Positional Breakdown   As soon as Friday's warmups begin, we'll get a feel for the positional balance on this year's entry list. Some events have been dominated by pin hitters, while others have featured a wealth of ball-control specialists.   Six-on-six drills will make up a bulk of Friday's action, but we'll also get to hone in on specific positions during early skill work. Many of our post-event features have highlighted position groups that stood out most during our showcase, and we'll likely employ a similar approach again.     All-Around Impact   We may have just dedicated an entire section to discussing positions, but showcase events are often about demonstrating skills that transcend position.   In other words, we might see players temporarily carry atypical roles. Middle blockers will get a chance to show off their platform and dish out some serves in six-on-six drills. Setters may log some hitting reps and display their defensive prowess, too. Left-side hitters could play on the right for a while.   Versatility and adaptability are invaluable traits in these showcase environments. This flexibility can also shine while players compete with many unfamiliar faces on their side of the net. Expect a lot of that in Des Moines.     Back in Time   Let's relive some memories from last year's Midwest Live Event. This will give an example of the kind of coverage you can expect Friday night!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1796672745071325220 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1796680487907594678 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1796679539466158179 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1796688961768755249 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1796693772174053661 </div></figure>

The summer showcase season has begun.