2025 Missouri River Team Previews, Players to Watch

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/07/2025-ciml-team-previews-players-to-watch/">2025 CIML Team Previews, Players to Watch</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/07/2025-mac-team-previews-players-to-watch/">2025 MAC Team Previews, Players to Watch</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/07/2025-mvc-team-previews-players-to-watch-part-i/">2025 MVC Team Previews, Players to Watch, Part I</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/07/2025-mvc-team-previews-players-to-watch-part-ii/">2025 MVC Team Previews, Players to Watch, Part II</a>   It's hard to believe Iowa high school volleyball practice officially starts in a few weeks. Camps kick off next week. It's exciting thinking about watching the state's top teams compete on the road to the championships in Coralville come November.   With that in mind, we're rolling on our conference previews and players to watch within those leagues in preparation for the campaign ahead. Next up is the under-appreciated Missouri River Conference:   BISHOP HEELAN   2024 Finish: 44-3 (4A State Champions)   Key Returnees:  [player_tooltip player_id='389834' first='Ava' last='Lloyd'], OH; [player_tooltip player_id='804194' first='Ireland' last='Jackson'], DS/L; [player_tooltip player_id='493980' first='Melina' last='Snoozy'], MH/OH; [player_tooltip player_id='389838' first='Mia' last='White'], DS/L;   Key Losses: Addison Kleis; Maddie LaFleur; Maliyah Hacker.   Outlook: Title runs are fun and, inevitably, end with attrition from graduation. That's the case for the Crusaders, who have open opportunities for student-athletes to step up. LaFleur and Hacker leave big shoes to fill, but Lloyd showed last year that she can take on more responsibility. Jackson and White return to form a reliable back-row tandem. Snoozy, a high-end hooper, has all-state potential in the middle. Dara Mollet, Madelyn Sexton and [player_tooltip player_id='831963' first='Emma' last='Moody'] saw time on varsity last year and are prepared for bigger roles.   COUNCIL BLUFFS JEFFERSON   2024 Finish: 4-27   Key Returnees: Alivia Kerkman, MH; Makena Kramer, DS/L; Teygan Rasmussen, RS/S; Kaylee Driver, S/DS.   Key Losses: Rylee Perrine; Izlea Macklem; Camryn Hosick; Ava Rief.   Outlook: Jefferson loses a lot from a team that struggled for wins last season. It also returns a core group that could raise the fortunes on West Broadway. Kramer showed a lot of potential as a freshman in 2024, and Driver is a steady hand at setter. Kerkman and Rasmussen are experienced players a year improved, which should mean better days are ahead for the Yellow Jackets.   COUNCIL BLUFFS LINCOLN   2024 Finish: 13-24 (5A Regional Semifinalist)   Key Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='843063' first='Kamryn' last='Hamilton'], S/RS; [player_tooltip player_id='812987' first='Ellie' last='Bradley'], MH/RS.   Key Losses: Preslie Girres; Aubrey Sandbothe; Hutson Rau; Teagann Mailey; Lydia Dix.   Outlook: Hamilton and Bradley form a sound foundation for Lincoln to build upon as it replaces a lot lost to graduation. Hamilton is a well-rounded setter that defends in both rows. Bradley has defense down in the middle of the net, and the attack is developing. [player_tooltip player_id='555107' first='Jasmine' last='Shields'], [player_tooltip player_id='843131' first='Kaybree' last='Blair'], Sawyer McCoy, Ana Watkins, Mallory Townsend and Emily Townsend all have varsity experience. They should compete with new members of the team for plenty of openings in the rotation.   LE MARS   2024 Finish: 12-23 (4A Regional Semifinalist)   Key Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='815294' first='Kenzie' last='Niehus'], MH.   Key Losses: Aubree Leusink; Haley Feldman; Alexa Wurth; Lily Kirby; Holly McNaughton; Jada Plueger; Brenna Leraas;   Outlook: The Bulldogs will be replacing a lot of production lost graduation. McNaughton is off to Northwestern College, and her classmates also will be missed. Niehus has a chance to help through six rotations as a junior. Ashley Hurd and [player_tooltip player_id='842009' first='Brianna' last='Bockelmann'] return with limited varsity experience. They and the newcomers will have plenty of opportunity to earn playing time.   SERGEANT BLUFF-LUTON   2024 Finish: 22-14 (4A State Semifinalist)   Key Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='816476' first='Madison' last='Kvidera'], MH; Bailey Ball, S; [player_tooltip player_id='389844' first='Bre' last='VanDenTop'], MH; [player_tooltip player_id='812711' first='Delaney' last='Griebel'], MH; [player_tooltip player_id='834093' first='Kenleigh' last='Panowicz'], OH;  [player_tooltip player_id='832907' first='Izzy' last='Schaap'], OH; [player_tooltip player_id='796794' first='Makenna' last='Nelson'], DS/L; [player_tooltip player_id='493652' first='Kaitlyn' last='Hardie'], DS/L;   Key Losses: Jayden Kneifl; Allison Meister.   Outlook: The Warriors were one of the pleasant surprises at last year's state tournament. They upset top-seeded Xavier in the Class 4A first-round before falling against another great story in Pella. Sergeant Bluff-Luton brings back much of the roster that delivered the unexpected run. Ball, VanDenTop (Sioux Falls) and Hardie will be three of the top players in this conference and in 4A at their respective positions. Kvidera isn't far behind and could be in for a big junior year. Griebel, Panowicz, Schaap and Nelson are varsity veterans capable of taking their games up another level this fall. [player_tooltip player_id='775209' first='Camryn' last='Glass'] is a younger player on which to keep an eye.   SIOUX CITY EAST   2024 Finish: 21-16 (5A Regional Finalist)   Key Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='814451' first='Jocelyn' last='Laws'], MH/OH; Lynasia Wooten, MH; [player_tooltip player_id='833148' first='Jaylee' last='Jackson'], OH; Natalee Miller, OH/RS.   Key Losses: Maggy Mehlhaff; Mattie Wineland; Hollie Peterson; Madelyn Jackson;   Outlook: The Black Raiders season ended in the regional finals against Waukee Northwest, which would go on to the 5A state championship match. East won some impressive matches along the way and played competitively against top teams. The Raiders will need to compensate for graduation losses, particularly in the back row, if they hope to take the next step to state. Jackson will be one of the conference's top performers, Miller is ready for a big role, and Laws and Wooten are packed with potential. Korbyn Savary, [player_tooltip player_id='389839' first='Jenna' last='Birk'], [player_tooltip player_id='797211' first='Monica' last='Robles-Romero'], Yamilah Shinall, Tori Drent and Brinley Winklepleck have various levels of varsity experience and will be competing for rotation spots.   SIOUX CITY NORTH   2024 Finish: 7-26 (5A Regional Semifinalist)   Key Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='493655' first='ZaRyiah' last='Van Buren'], MH/RS; [player_tooltip player_id='799400' first='Tayler' last='Schueth'], DS/L; [player_tooltip player_id='832689' first='Hayden' last='Lovrien'], OH/DS; [player_tooltip player_id='389835' first='Kinslee' last='Walrod'], S; [player_tooltip player_id='814144' first='Jaden' last='Brower'], MH/RS; [player_tooltip player_id='829149' first='Alexa' last='Hayes'], OH.   Key Losses: Ava Kelley; DJ Barker; Abbi Stevens;   Outlook: The Stars bring back their two 2024 captains in Walrod and Lovrien. The former ranks as one of the top setters in this league, while the same can be said about the Lovrien as a six-rotation presence. Van Buren is a hammer on the outside, and Hayes is poised for a step forward as a junior. Schueth is a steady defensive specialist, and Brower is an emerging talent. North has the pieces needed for improvement this season.   SIOUX CITY WEST   2024 Finish: 3-21   Key Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='817473' first='Ofelia' last='Rivera'], MH; [player_tooltip player_id='800459' first='Korbin' last='Olorundami'], OH/S; [player_tooltip player_id='843047' first='Kalahne' last='Burgin'], OH; [player_tooltip player_id='818232' first='Rylee' last='Callendar'], MH; Trinity Clausen, DS;.   Key Losses: Hannah Burge; Lilly Whiteshirt; Alexandria Vaul; Taylor Regier.   Outlook: West has a chance to take a step forward in the rebuilding process. Despite graduation losses, the Wolverines bring back a collection of well-rounded volleyball players. Rivera, Olorundami and Clausen contribute from multiple positions. Callendar and Burgin flashed potential last season and appear ready for more responsibility in 2025.

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