2026 Club Team Preview: Iowa Rockets 15R

<!-- 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><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/12/2026-club-team-preview-iowa-rockets-17r/">2026 Club Team Preview:&nbsp;Rockets 17R</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/12/2026-club-team-preview-iowa-rockets-16r/">2026 Club Team Preview: Rockets 16R</a></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 If you did not receive one (sometimes our contact information is outdated), you can send them to RobHoweHN@gmail.com.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>We've reached the stage of our preseason club preview series here on Prep Dig Iowa where I have a rooting interest. Don't get me wrong, I cheer for all the Iowa kids competing. It just hits different when your daughter is out there, as all of you parents understand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's 15R roster includes our youngest child, [player_tooltip player_id='780596' first='Audrey' last='Howe'], who plays in the back row. After evaluating her performance in my heads for years, I will now be writing about her. Objectivity is the goal. Before that happens, I'll start at the top after watching this squad compete during the M1 Rochester Elite Scrimmages this past weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion's [player_tooltip player_id='759977' first='Abbey' last='Kirk'] was one of just three freshmen to earn all-state honors in Iowa for the 2025 season. She played well when I watched her at the state tournament and did the same in Rochester. Kirk is one of the state's top rising six-rotation performers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockets 15R features another explosive pin in Pleasant Valley ninth-grader [player_tooltip player_id='789484' first='Avrielle' last='Ohda']. She stood out to me when hitting for the PV club team at the Iowa Regional last year and did the same at M1. Ohda explodes off of the court with an impressive vertical leap and power in her right arm. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='918371' first='Kaylin' last='Davis'] is a setter that maximizes her well-rounded skill set thanks to playing hard and smart. The Iowa City Liberty ninth-grader is a team captain for a reason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The squad employs another sharp setter in Burlington Notre Dame's [player_tooltip player_id='889863' first='Ainsley' last='Conrad']. The Nikes freshman dished out 739 assists in 93 sets during her first prep season, adding 60 kills, 333 digs and 29.0 digs. Conrad was one of 10 Iowa ninth-graders to be named to the all-district teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='782157' first='Maggie' last='Jensen'] wore the libero jersey in Rochester, for most the part, and performed with the consistency needed at the position. The Williamsburg freshman flashed the quickness and sharp reflexes that led to her contributing 91 digs for the Raiders this season. [player_tooltip player_id='780596' first='Audrey' last='Howe'] also delivered consistently strong play at M1, operating mostly as the defensive specialist with time at libero. Jensen and Howe should be one of the better back-row combinations among Iowa's 15U clubs this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If the passes and sets are sharp, as they were in Minnesota, 15R boasts a talented collection of student-athletes in the front row. It's particularly strong in the middle with [player_tooltip player_id='918377' first='Maleah' last='Wedo'] (Linn-Mar), [player_tooltip player_id='931274' first='Emerson' last='Ehrke'] (Pleasant Valley) and [player_tooltip player_id='890305' first='Johanna' last='Shaffer'] (Anamosa) occupying the position. They all stand out as two-way players capable of ending a point with a swing or sending back the opponents' attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last, but certainly not least, opposite pin [player_tooltip player_id='760983' first='Finley' last='Batchelder'] furnishes 15R with another weapon on the attack. The freshman ranked second on Alburnett in kills this season thanks to a heavy swing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockets will face a challenging schedule this season. The slate includes a couple of trips to Milwaukee along with stops in St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->