Which Liberos Made an Instant Impression at Iowa Exposure Tour?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll be talking about first impressions a lot this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crossing state lines to cover a showcase makes the weekend's outing a little extra special. I'm able to embrace the unknowns and approach the event with no preconceived notions about any athlete. Opportunities abound to make a big first impression, and we had plenty of those in Des Moines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is especially true for the talent-rich group of liberos we welcomed to the Horizon Events Center. We could go back and forth on which position group sets the standard in the Hawkeye State, but defensive specialists made a strong case through Sunday's action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["458150"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69376f06e528d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I couldn't pass up the opportunity to give a Nebraska shoutout. Borer joined me for the journey across the Missouri River for Sunday's showcase, and she took full advantage of the trip. The Boone Central/Newman Grove junior already made a splash this fall by putting up a whopping 5.6 digs per set for the Cardinals. However, seeing her skills in person added another layer to Borer's greatness. This instinctive defender will transition to the AVC Nebraska gym for club competition and should see some successful forays in the Great Plains Region and beyond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["796894"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69376f06e5345"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ramirez was tabbed as a player to watch from the SWI Third Degree camp, and she delivered on that promise with a stout Sunday in Des Moines. The veteran defender absorbed plenty of contact during positional drills and maintained that intensity through scrimmages. Ramirez's knack for the ball culminated in over 400 digs for Red Oak this fall, leading the Tigers to a 3A tournament berth. It's the perfect foundation for another senior surge in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["775107"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69376f06e53d1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It's about time we got Six Pack into the mix. Steege will carry the banner for Six Pack 16s this spring and will play a big role in anchoring the team's backcourt. The sophomore is fresh off a 500-plus-dig campaign with Sumner-Fredericksburg and was one win away from the Class 2A mountaintop. Perhaps we shouldn't have been surprised that Steege was an impenetrable force at Sunday's showcase and was particularly adept at defending outside her midline. Highlight-worthy plays are coming soon to the Six Pack gym.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["729146"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69376f06e545b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've spotlighted several of Iowa PowerPlex's homestanding stars from last weekend, but we need a bit of backcourt representation in that group. Jackson added to the extensive lore of PowerPlex liberos who have dominated on the Prep Dig Circuit. We honed in on Jackson's precise first contacts right away, but she's also an adept secondary setter when her side is scrambling. Dallas Center-Grimes has a future upperclassman gem who has already set a high bar as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["855017"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69376f06e54e5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dallas Center-Grimes gets another one. Ortmann is another name to watch in the Mustangs' gym, but she diverges from Jackson on the club side. The Iowa Impact libero used her instincts and quick feet to deliver reliable touches in serve-pass drills. Even if she wasn't the one taking first contacts, Ortmann's pre-serve chatter provided valuable direction to her rotating group of teammates. We'll now have Iowa Impact on our radar as we peruse Midwestern qualifiers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["903659"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69376f06e5564"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Exposure Tour series is made for players like Grimm. The West Des Moines native was largely an unknown heading into last weekend's event, but quickly rose to prominence in early defensive drills. Grimm is a strong midline passer who can also adjust her platform to fit the circumstances. Her club tenure with UGRA will be fascinating to follow, and it's more evidence of the Iowa Region's meteoric growth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["880709"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69376f06e55e0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Look out for the Class of 2030. We have no sample size of high school matches to glean from among the 2030s, but Sarcone is already distinguishing herself among her peers. She brings maturity beyond her years and is a confident mover in any zone along the end line. Sarcone got an early jump on her scouting report last Sunday and will be in the discussion again when she convenes with Dowling Catholic in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->