Up Next: Spotlight on the Game’s Future Stars

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday gave us a glimpse of young athletes across the area ready to make some noise! The Up Next Iowa Showcase was a perfect opportunity to see the up and coming talent in the next few years in the volleyball world. Here is a look at a few other standout players from Saturday:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>VCN 13 Elite player [player_tooltip player_id='875983' first='Kierslyn' last='Cattau'] is a versatile force on the court, combining smart court awareness with raw power.The 5'9” Class of 2030 can deliver aggressive, well-placed shots that challenge even the best defenses. On the pin, she transitions so smoothly and efficiently. Cattau is a phenomenal athlete. She takes big swings from the back row. To go along with her offensive prowess is her ability to dig balls and play great floor defense!&nbsp; Keep an eye on this future Shelby-Rising City Husky!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another standout from Saturday was setter Sloane Siedl. The 5'7” Class of 2030 athlete has such a soft touch. Siedl stands out with exceptional footwork and a natural feel for the game, allowing her to get to tough balls and deliver clean, accurate sets in any situation. Her soft-touch hands make even the most challenging passes look effortless, turning broken plays into smooth opportunities for hitters. Her floor defense footwork is top notch and she is excellent when it comes to platform to target. Her athleticism really shined when she was digging balls and being super scrappy. She is lefty making her a strong offensive threat as well. Keep tabs on her!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='878752' first='Gracie' last='Gibson'] was an athlete who stood out right away in the first few minutes of the Up Next Showcase. Gibson brings speed and intensity to every play, using her quickness to cover the court with ease. She makes fast, instinctive moves on both offense and defense. Whether chasing down a tight ball, her explosive first step gives her  a constant edge. Her strong serve makes her a threat as well. Loved watching her quickness and effort on Saturday! Keep an eye on this 2031 athlete!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mya Hergengrader is a game-changer in the back row, known for her ability to stay incredibly low and balanced on defense, ready to react to even the hardest-hit balls. One of her standout skills is running through balls—fearlessly chasing down tips, short shots, and deflections with relentless effort and focus. The 5'3” libero/defensive specialist has a great jump float serve as well. She really stood out during the chase and run through drills with her relentless defense. The future is bright for this Powerplex club player in the Class of 2031!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Skutt Catholic has some talent coming down the pipeline! Outside [player_tooltip player_id='878226' first='Kinley' last='Hinze'] took some monster swings on the pin for the 2030 athlete. She is really athletic and is so strong and explosive. She has such a fast arm swing and puts her full body into each swing. Not only is she strong in the front row she is a great hustler in the back row as well. Hinze plays club for Premier Volleyball. Keep her on your radar!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So much young talent to keep tabs on at all positions in Iowa on Saturday! Keep tabs on these athletes as their stock continues to rise!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->