2026 Club Team Preview: Iowa Premier 16-1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're rolling along with our 2026 Club Team Preview series here on Prep Dig Iowa. The goal is highlighting as many teams as possible before we get the season underway next month. Then we'll shift to scouting reports and roundups from real matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The preseason process works best when directors get us rosters or point us to where they're posted on line. Requests for those are out. If you did not receive one (sometimes our contact information is outdated), you can send them to RobHoweHN@gmail.com.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa Premier 15-1 burst onto the scene last season, earning a USAV National Tournament Open Division bid and winning the Iowa Regional Qualifier in dominating fashion. A case could be made that it was the top team in the state relative to performance in its age group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Premier, which operates under the [program_tooltip program_id='428914' first='Adrenaline' last='Volleyball Academy']'s umbrella, will run it back with the core of its team from 2025. Iowa Premier 16-1 is adding pieces that could make it an even more daunting task for opponents to take down, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The barrage starts with a quartet of all-state performers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norwalk six-rotation outsider [player_tooltip player_id='560368' first='Elle' last='Hatlevig'] followed up a fabulous freshman year with a super sophomore season that earned her second team all-state laurels in Class 4A. She piled up 465 kills (.285), the most in the state for a player above 2A, 167 digs and 35.0 blocks in leading her school to just its second-ever state tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter [player_tooltip player_id='545946' first='Addison' last='Waldorf'] was tabbed as a second-team all-stater in 3A after running a Humboldt operation that reached the state tournament for the second time in school history and surprised many onlookers with a run to the title match. The sophomore dished out 976 assists, the 11th most in the state, and showed growth in other areas of her game as evidenced by her 91 kills (.355), 180 digs and 34.0 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ankeny's [player_tooltip player_id='730419' first='Hailey' last='Wiederin'] landed on the 5A third-team, the only sophomore (or freshman) among the 29 student-athletes named all-state in the largest classification. An integral part of a squad that reached the state semifinals, she led the Hawks with 319 kills (.261) and ranked second with 80.0 blocks. The 10th-grader's versatility along the front line was critical to their success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hatlevig's Norwalk classmate, [player_tooltip player_id='809159' first='Reese' last='Heim'], claimed 4A third-team all-state recognition after holding it down the back row during a run to Coralville. The sophomore picked up 373 digs with her 76.0 assists illustrating her ability to set up teammates off of the two ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While not an all-state selection on the state's most loaded prep roster, Waukee Northwest's [player_tooltip player_id='545971' first='Avery' last='Cordes'] is as important to Premier 16-1's success as anyone else on the squad. Like Wiederin, Cordes puts the team first and has the unique traits to help wherever she's most needed. Her 92.0 blocks were the forth most in 5A this season, and she also contributed 185 (.316) kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='766068' first='Madison' last='Messerly'] is listed on the Premier roster as a libero/pin, which speaks to her broad base of volleyball skills. That was on display this season when she filled an important role in helping the Mustangs advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2020 and just the fifth time in school history. She contributed 138 kills, 141 digs and 3.0 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='702737' first='Alena' last='Schaack'] is back with Premier after leading Woodward-Granger to a 2A regional final, where it fell to Grundy Center. Schaack powered out 345 (.310) kills and came up with 208 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Premier welcomes three new members to the squad. Middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='533845' first='Taylor' last='Otte'] and [player_tooltip player_id='540833' first='Izzie' last='McDonald'], a libero, started for Iowa City West as sophomores, when the Trojans made the state tournament for the first time since 2016. [player_tooltip player_id='910871' first='Ella' last='Porter'] developed on Dowling Catholic's junior varsity for a Maroon program that returned to state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Otte paced West in hitting efficiency (.329) and blocks (59.0). She accumulated 209 kills. McDonald picked up 410 digs, the seventh most in 5A, and added 49 assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->