NLQ Recruiting Notebook: 20 Teams, 20 Prospect To Know

The temps might be cold, but things are ready to heat up at the Northern Lights Qualifier this weekend at the Minneapolis Convention Center.  This is a big recruiting event for the juniors, the 17s, the 2027s as plenty of college coaches from multiple divisions will be scouting. Here is a guide for who to watch from Wisconsin and Iowa.  Many of these athletes I have seen live in the past six months.  Let the games continue!     Playing up on the [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Elite team is [player_tooltip player_id='509331' first='Meghan' last='Bruss']. The 2027 setter is coming off a huge high school season where she was the conference player of the year, prepping at Bay Port High School. There is a smoothness to her game where she has great footwork, soft hands, and a high IQ where she knows how to find the best matchup for her attackers. [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Elite had a strong start the Windy City Qualifier advancing to day two gold pools and will look to punch the ticket to the USAV National Open division in Minneapolis.     [player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson'] will be one to watch out of the middle for Iowa United 171 Elite. She has a lot of length and athleticism for the club out of the Iowa City area. Watching her live, you can see how her movement looks effortless. She is quick to close her block on the pin and can transition quickly to be available for her setters. Speaking of setters, keep tabs on [player_tooltip player_id='489998' first='Belle' last='Seaman'] who will be setting for this team. She is one of the top available prospects in Iowa's Class of 2027. This team will have their eyes on the prize for an open bid after being a national division qualifier in 2025.     Gritty, scrappy, all the things you want in a libero. [player_tooltip player_id='769244' first='Payton' last='Nelson'] of [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] 17 Gold might just be a hair under five feet tall, but her game is big. I was able to watch her live for Oak Creek High School, playing in the large school division of the Wisconsin State Tournament. She has a strong platform, quick feet, and is able to anticipate well where she can beat the ball to the spot.     [player_tooltip player_id='807913' first='Ella' last='Fetherston'] is a small school prospect who preps at Jefferson High School inbetween Madison and Milwaukee. She will suit up for Madtown 171 National in the 17 Open Division at the Northern Lights Qualifier. She had a breakout junior season where she had nearly 400 kills. With her fast approach and violent arm swing, she creates a lot of chaos for her opponents. This can be done from the outside or right side. Her explosiveness would be a welcome addition at the next level.     This is another athlete I was able to see thrive at the state tournament this fall. [player_tooltip player_id='490016' first='Raquel' last='Risk'] preps at Ankeny High School, a large school power just north of Des Moines. She was a key piece to their final four run last November. Risk brings a multidimensional look to the game where she can play in the middle or the right side. She has plenty of athleticism and physicality where she is an imposing blocker, and knows how to score points as well. Above anything else she plays with a high motor and plenty of intensity.     1W out of the Green Bay area will be bringing a high powered 17s team to the Northern Lights Qualifier where they will compete in the 17 USA Division. [player_tooltip player_id='595947' first='Cora' last='Foster'] is a setter to watch where she has a really dynamic skill set. It's tough to pick a weakness in her game. During the high school season she is a setter/right side combo where she positively [program_tooltip program_id='431954' first='Impact' last='']s the game in so many ways. With her understanding of the game from multiple point of views, she would be one that schools at the next level need.     [player_tooltip player_id='495803' first='Ava' last='Jones'] out of Waterloo West High School and CIA 17 Black will be a six rotation outside to watch this weekend in the 17 USA Division in Minneapolis. She is a new addition to this CIA team that will be in the hunt for a bid this weekend. They have plenty of balance and ball control to make a run. Jones had a huge high school season where she was one of the top attackers in Iowa's large class. She has an electric arm that can handle plenty of swings and can score from multiple spots on the court.     2025 was a breakout season for [player_tooltip player_id='807830' first='Alaina' last='Patchett'] who will be a pin hitter to watch for [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 17 Navy. This team will be in the 17 USA Division at the Northern Lights Qualifier where there are plenty of 2027s that need to be on the radar. Patchett has plenty of length and athleticism where she can sky to the ball and score from multiple angles. She comes from a volleyball family with older sisters playing at Western Michigan and Bradley. Her best volleyball is ahead of her.     I have definitely written about the Geise family in the past. Miley is next in line who will be suiting up for Iowa [program_tooltip program_id='431954' first='Impact' last=''] 171 Elite. Her older sisters have played for Drake and Valpo. Could Miley be next in line to head to the MVC? At 5 '11, Geise has the length and physicality to control the net as a setter. Her strength allows her to set to the pin out of system and across the court. She knows how to lead her middles to an opening and use all of her attackers with multiple tempos. There is a fun combination of 2027s on this team out of the Ankeny area where I know they are going to win a lot of matches this season. The Iowa Class of 2027 is so loaded with talent.     What a spark to have on the court. [player_tooltip player_id='435242' first='Laina' last='Kirsch'] will be one of the setters for [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] 17 Black taking on the 17 USA Division at the Northern Lights Qualifier. She defends her position well and has a quick release to her hitters. She does a nice job of remaining neutral with all other sets which freezes the defense. She can hold the middle and send it to the outside. This 17 Black squad from Milwaukee will be one who can make noise this weekend.     Another attacker out of Ankeny High School to watch this week is [player_tooltip player_id='555797' first='Marlee' last='Ellison']. She will be suiting up for Iowa PowerPlex 17 Mendoza. I've seen Ellison play since her 15s year and it has been an exciting evolution for her game. She stepped onto the state tournament floor as a freshman and made a big [program_tooltip program_id='431954' first='Impact' last='']. She's continued to do so at the prep and club level. There is an explosiveness about her game where she makes things happen. She plays with a chip on her shoulder and isn't afraid to take a big rip, she wants to win.     [player_tooltip player_id='809649' first='Haley' last='New'] will be suiting up for [program_tooltip program_id='555793' first='RVA' last='Roots'] out of the Des Moines area as their 17 K Palea team will be competing in the 17 USA Division. This squad had an exciting start to their season as they took on the TransPacific Championships in Hawaii. What a change in temperature going from a tournament in Hawaii to Minneapolis :) New will be one to watch in the middle. She is able to hit the quick out of the setter's hands as well as a shoot set. She is a well rounded athlete and was a key piece to Indianola's run to the state tournament in Iowa's largest class this fall, collecting nearly 200 kills and collecting over 50 total blocks.     Another scrappy setter to have on the radar is [player_tooltip player_id='722577' first='Sierra' last='Sigl'] who will suit up for 1W 17-2 Elite. 1W out of the Green Bay area has some athletes who are on the rise, especially from the Class of 2027. Sigl was a key piece to Pulaski's high school surge in the high school season having one of their best years in recent history. She was the front row setter in their 5-2 scheme where she was one the defense always had to be aware of. There is a maturity to her game with a high IQ.     [player_tooltip player_id='500399' first='Lenna' last='Mayer'] had a huge 2025 where she was part of the [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Navy team who qualified for the 16 Open Division in Dallas and then followed that up with a state tournament appearance in Wisconsin's largest division at Stevens Point. Her game has been rising, she has really solid court awareness, can handle a high volume in serve receive, and has been part of winning teams! [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 17 White will be competing in the 17 Liberty Division where they have some sneaky good pieces who could put together a run in Minneapolis.     This could be a sneaky good prospect that can jump on the radar this club season. [player_tooltip player_id='827948' first='Tessa' last='Skartvedt'] is one of those small high school kids who is involved in everything and is also highly talented at volleyball. She is dynamic where she can attack and score points from multiple spots on the court. With her hang time, she can be utilized wherever her team needs her. IA Juniors is a relatively “new” club where this will be their first season of competition. There are a lot of gritty small town athletes on this team who will be fun to take on the 17 Liberty Division in Minneapolis.     Iowa United 172 Elite will be heading to the Northern Lights Qualifier after taking on some tough competition at Nebraska Premier. They will be battle tested heading into the 17 Liberty Division. A libero to know from this team is [player_tooltip player_id='795215' first='Kalynn' last='Timmons'] who preps at Solon High School in the Iowa City area. She has really good platform awareness where she knows how to adjust her angles. There is plenty of balance on this team and if the likes of Timmons can provide a clean first contact they can use their multiple attackers.     [player_tooltip player_id='501162' first='Emily' last='Becker'] will be a point scorer to keep tabs on in the 17 Liberty Division at the Northern Lights Qualifier. She is a 2027 outside hitter who preps at Wisconsin Lutheran out of Milwaukee, playing for MKE Sting 17 White. There is a high IQ to Becker's game. She knows when to go line, cross, and when to take some pace off the ball to find the open spot on the court. She was a key player for Wisconsin Lutheran this past high school season where she can carry that momentum into 2026.     [program_tooltip program_id='431537' first='Midwest' last='Penguins'] 17-1 will be making the trip up to the Northern Lights Qualifier from Waukesha, Wisconsin. A libero/ds to know would be Sage Christman. She is accustomed to competing against high level athletes. She was part of the Oconomowoc High School squad who was in the final four of Wisconsin's largest class this past fall. She can take pace off the hard swings, change her angles to provide a clean contact in serve receive, and bring a cool, calm, and collected presence to the court.     Platform Elite 17 Adidas will be making the trip up from the Quad Cities to Minneapolis as they take on the 17 Liberty Division at the Northern Lights Qualifier. One of the attackers to keep an eye on is [player_tooltip player_id='828565' first='Quinn' last='Schroeder'] who preps at Centrall DeWitt High School can score points from the middle or right side. At 6'0 tall, she has the length to take up space at the net with her block and can find ways to score points as well.     [player_tooltip player_id='435880' first='Analise' last='Coon'] is a new addition to [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] where she is a libero to keep tabs on. She preps at St. Marys Springs out of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin where she has a natural feel for the game. She anticipates well, has a controlled platform, and truly commands the game from the libero position. She's not afraid to take it herself on the second contact either. She provides a spark that will be exciting to see this upcoming weekend in 17 American.     [player_tooltip player_id='490002' first='Emma' last='Vanden Hull'] has been on the Prep Dig radar for a couple years where she is the setter who can run the show. She will be playing for Ohana 17U National out of Des Moines. She is a defender first where she can lock it down in right back, make the quick move to the net and put her attackers in position to score points. They will be in the 17 American Division.

The temps might be cold, but things are ready to heat up at the Northern Lights Qualifier this weekend at the Minneapolis Convention Center. This is a big recruiting event for the juniors, the 17s, the 2027s as plenty of college coaches from multiple divisions will be scouting. Here is a guide for who to watch from Wisconsin and Iowa. Many of these athletes I have seen live in the past six months. Let the games continue!