2026 Club Team Preview: Iowa Rockets 18R

<!-- 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><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/01/2026-club-team-preview-iowa-rockets-15r/">2026 Club Team Preview: Rockets 15R</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 into this early part of the season. Then we'll shift to scouting reports and roundups from real matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The previewing 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 If you did not receive one (sometimes our contact information is outdated), you can send them to RobHoweHN@gmail.com.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>I probably should have started this preview series with the 18U division seeing as it wraps up its season first among all of the age groups. That's because many of these student-athletes need to wrap up club ball so they can get ready for college next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's certainly the case for Rockets 18R. Much like Iowa Impact's 18s from last season, this squad's roster features many of the top players in the state's senior class. Four of Prep Dig's Top 7 of the final 2026 rankings will line up for 18R.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top-rated [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] returns to Rockets after spending last season with 1st Alliance in Illinois. The Drake commitment is coming off of a senior season at Pleasant Valley that saw her lead the Spartans back to the state tournament with a team high 431 kills (.355), while adding 173 digs and 33.0 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='261094' first='Reese' last='Naeve'], Prep Dig's No. 3 senior and an Iowa State commitment, plays six rotations for this squad. The Regina all-stater came up with 730 kills (.334), 505 digs and 40.0 blocks in 116 sets in leading the Regals back to the state tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dubuque Senior middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='389066' first='Cambel' last='Drapeau'] committed to Creighton. Prep Dig's fifth-ranked player in the class recorded 437 kills (.394), 160 digs and 62.0 blocks in 91 sets. She's headed to Creighton. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seventh-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='389019' first='Avery' last='Vogt'] decided to join this Rocket outfit after leading Waukee Northwest to its third Class 5A state title in the last three seasons. The senior setter and Drake commitment handed out 939 assists, 93 kills, 171 digs and 45.0 blocks in 93 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Dakota State commitment [player_tooltip player_id='373682' first='Kennedey' last='Whitford'] has held down the libero position throughout the years on the Rockets top team for this graduating class. She picked up 446 digs and 116 assists in 101 sets as a Solon senior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='243457' first='Emily' last='Henderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='329851' first='Macie' last='Lupkes'] joined Whitford and Naeve in being veterans of the Rockets' squad in this age group. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Henderson, a South Dakota School of the Mines' pledge, helped power Clear Creek Amana back to the state tournament. She registered 1,012 assists, 92 kills, 249 digs and 26.0 blocks in 109 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At Xavier, Lupkes was instrumental in Xavier getting back to the state tournament. The senior middle hitter pounded out 229 kills (.303), 63.0 blocks and 68 digs in 77 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='261085' first='Maren' last='Ouellette'] returned to Rockets for her final club season. The Pleasant Valley senior and Bradley commitment contributed 147 kills, 141 digs and 23.0 blocks in 95 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ava Greoteke is making the trip from Central Iowa to Iowa City to be a part of 18R. The senior right side hitter served in a starring role with Dowling Catholic, posting 182 kills (.242) and 47.0 blocks in 86 sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='389004' first='Eliana' last='Barickman'] returned to Rockets after competing with 17R last season. The Geneseo (IL) High 12th-grader averaged two kills a set in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edgewood-Colesburg's [player_tooltip player_id='476860' first='Lilee' last='Boriskey'] rounds out this Rockets team. She rolled up 421 assists, 445 kills (.367), 241 digs and 73.0 blocks as a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->