Recapping LOVB Midwest College Recruiting Showcase

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CORALVILLE, Iowa - </strong>There was nothing scary about the LOVB Midwest College Recruiting Showcase at GreenState Field House on Friday the 13th. The event hosted by Iowa United Volleyball Club provided more than 100 participants with an opportunity to compete hard and learn from college coaches from all divisions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those coaches energetically took the group through three hours of drills and scrimmages. They instructed the campers and answered questions from them after the playing was complete. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a fast-and-furious pace, to be sure. From a scouting standpoint, it was challenging. There were really good performances all around the courts going on simultaneously. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's what I was able to witness: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HEADLINERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-For the second time in two weeks, [player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum'] was recognized as the top performer at a showcase. She was named the outstanding performer at our Prep Dig showcase in Clive on May 30. Friday, she collected the most "dots", which were planted on participants arms each time they were seen standing out by the coaches for their play, energy, leadership, etc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Schlarbaum boasts all-state potential as a sophomore at Clear Creek-Amana this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The showcase also recognized 2029 middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='750513' first='Caylee' last='Jensen'] for her performance on Friday. The incoming freshman at North Cedar has proven to be one of the top players in her class. She has a chance to be special.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SENIORS SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> It was a small group, but Class of 2026 members made their presence felt. I saw [player_tooltip player_id='547128' first='Lydia' last='Cox'] get after it a few weeks ago in Clive. The spirited back-row performer brought energy and gritty play once again, giving the college coaches something to think about. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='553795' first='Annie' last='Elbert'] has waited her turn at Wahlert and showed Friday why she'll impact MVC matches this fall. She's a flexibility setter capable of putting it down from the opposite pin. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Washington's [player_tooltip player_id='455741' first='Leighton' last='Messinger'] is poised to build on a productive season after improving a ton this club campaign. The same can be said about [player_tooltip player_id='521584' first='Addison' last='Clark'] from Mount Pleasant.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edgewood-Colesburg multi-sport standout [player_tooltip player_id='476860' first='Lilee' last='Boriskey'] has volleyball game. She's an explosive athlete. Mount Vernon lost a lot of production to graduation, and [player_tooltip player_id='552878' first='Isabelle' last='Logue']'s energy and execution in the back row on Friday indicated she's ready to help. Jayce Grennan is an intriguing setter prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>JAM-PACKED WITH JUNIORS </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About half of the showcase's spots were filled by the Class of 2027. I'd scouted a large number of them before, and they confirmed they are good. That group would include [player_tooltip player_id='493658' first='Hattie' last='Galloway'], [player_tooltip player_id='729559' first='Halle' last='Gardner'], [player_tooltip player_id='489998' first='Belle' last='Seaman'], [player_tooltip player_id='555725' first='Brielle' last='Trout'], Kendra Nolte, [player_tooltip player_id='555746' first='Clare' last='Yeggy'], [player_tooltip player_id='488579' first='Mavrik' last='Schweer'], [player_tooltip player_id='273001' first='Ellie' last='Wilson'], [player_tooltip player_id='525829' first='Addison' last='Phillips'] and [player_tooltip player_id='555712' first='Sophia' last='Meester']. They all should hear from college coaches Sunday, when there can be direct contact between the two parties for the first time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My club schedule did not allow me to scout [player_tooltip player_id='555820' first='London' last='Taylor']'s Roots team this season, so it was great seeing her Friday for the first time since the state tournament. One of Iowa's top defensive specialists, Taylor enjoyed a really good camp with a maturing set of skills and expanded court coverage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I also hadn't caught [player_tooltip player_id='495803' first='Ava' last='Jones'] on the club circuit. She's made tremendous progress since my last in-person viewing of her at the beginning of the last prep season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='765628' first='Lyla' last='Chandler'] flashed potential when I watched her at the Windy City Qualifier. She played with a lot of energy Friday and has continued sharpening her volleyball skills. [player_tooltip player_id='849582' first='Ava' last='Frank'], Elle Milnes, Norah Mathes, [player_tooltip player_id='584675' first='Nataliya' last='Linder'], [player_tooltip player_id='751769' first='Benita' last='Anyanwu'], Baylee Bravender, Addie Slater, Kasey Weeks, [player_tooltip player_id='555777' first='Quinn' last='Schroeder'], Paisley Bro and [player_tooltip player_id='518035' first='Hayden' last='Anderson'] all impressed me on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SIGNIFICANT SOPHOMORES </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Schlarbaum headlined the 2028s at the showcase, but she had plenty of company in performing well. Other student-athletes I've written about this club campaign that stood out Friday included [player_tooltip player_id='763526' first='Myla' last='Rude'], [player_tooltip player_id='575805' first='Dyllan' last='Harn'], [player_tooltip player_id='752514' first='Brooklynn' last='Kelley'], [player_tooltip player_id='775182' first='Olivia' last='Marais'], [player_tooltip player_id='540833' first='Izzie' last='McDonald'], [player_tooltip player_id='533845' first='Taylor' last='Otte'], [player_tooltip player_id='730426' first='Hazel' last='Schluckebier'], [player_tooltip player_id='697463' first='Audrey' last='Small'], Adelyn Stein and Taylor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='783286' first='Taylor' last='Evans'], [player_tooltip player_id='751358' first='Emmie' last='Sager'], [player_tooltip player_id='770432' first='Kennedi' last='Tyler'], Nadia Pint, [player_tooltip player_id='730485' first='Salina' last='Schaper'] and Trinity Jirovsky were among a collection of new faces that will be on my scouting radar moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>INCOMING FRESHMEN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday showed us that an influx of talent will be hitting the prep scene this season. I've written about Jensen, [player_tooltip player_id='754551' first='Zane' last='Ehler'], [player_tooltip player_id='754657' first='Cyan' last='Blommer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='754537' first='Amelia' last='Guinn'] this club season. Their United 14-1 Elite team will be competing at the USAV Nationals in the Open Division. Four other players on that squad, [player_tooltip player_id='745251' first='Ava' last='Carlson'], Avery Stewart and Makinley Galvan, joined them in playing well here at their home gym.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='610472' first='Josie' last='Austen'] has played up an age group this club season. That competition has paid off in putting her in position to contribute as an Iowa City West freshman in the fall. A prospect on the rise, [player_tooltip player_id='785394' first='Hannah' last='Buhman'] kept that momentum going on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sage Teagle, [player_tooltip player_id='775626' first='Georgia' last='Sutherland'], Kendyl Olson, [player_tooltip player_id='785522' first='Ava' last='Lacina'] and [player_tooltip player_id='780596' first='Audrey' last='Howe'] were other incoming freshmen looking ready to boost their high school programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->