Observations from ’26 M1 Rochester Elite Scrimmages

<!-- 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/2026/01/26-m1-rochester-elite-scrimmages-photo-gallery-i/">'26 M1 Rochester Elite Scrimmages Photo Gallery I</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/01/26-m1-rochester-elite-scrimmages-photo-gallery-ii/">'26 M1 Rochester Elite Scrimmages Photo Gallery II</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ROCHESTER, Minn. - </strong>I received the full experience here last weekend, from the scenic ride into town to the freezing temperatures for the stay to mixed precipitation heading home to Iowa City. In between, high level volleyball was witnessed during the M1 Rochester Elite Scrimmages at the National Volleyball Center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Programs from around the region brought teams to compete in timed competitions each lasting nearly an hour. Scores were kept but development was the mission. The event included a pair of Iowa organizations - [program_tooltip program_id='429065' first='Club' last='Iowa Juniors'] (CIA) and [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] - entering their top squads in the 15-18U age groups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While I focused mostly on the Rockets 15U, on which our daughter plays, opportunity to check out all the other teams from the state was enjoyed. Here's what stood out, understanding that it's way early in the season and everyone was working out the kinks:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18U </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CIA - </strong>This team competed well with the Rockets outfit we'll talk about next. That's saying something, as Rockets has a chance to be the Top 18s in the state for 2026. CIA featured six student-athletes that are uncommitted. Western Dubuque's [player_tooltip player_id='523167' first='Natalie' last=''] Mensen showed during her prep/club career and again here this weekend that she could help plenty of colleges as a setter. [player_tooltip player_id='389013' first='Kruiz' last='Ewoldt'], [player_tooltip player_id='800168' first='Lydia' last='Hook'] and [player_tooltip player_id='828182' first='Brylea' last='Metzgar'] flashed the versatility to assist schools on the next level needing flexibility with reduced roster sizes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rockets - </strong>A team built for success, Rockets 18R boasts a who's who roster of student-athletes from the 2026 graduating class in the same vein as Iowa Impact from a year ago. [player_tooltip player_id='261094' first='Reese' last='Naeve'] (Iowa State), [player_tooltip player_id='389066' first='Cambel' last='Drapeau'] (Creighton), [player_tooltip player_id='243182' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] (Drake), [player_tooltip player_id='389019' first='Avery' last='Vogt'] (Drake), [player_tooltip player_id='261085' first='Maren' last='Ouellette'] (Bradley), [player_tooltip player_id='373682' first='Kennedey' last='Whitford'] (South Dakota State) and [player_tooltip player_id='243457' first='Emily' last='Henderson'] (South Dakota School of the Mines) have found colleges. [player_tooltip player_id='389004' first='Eliana' last='Barickman'], [player_tooltip player_id='476860' first='Lilee' last='Boriskey'], Ava Greoteke and [player_tooltip player_id='329851' first='Macie' last='Lupkes'] still are searching for homes on the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17U </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CIA - </strong>You can check out our 17 Black team preview <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/12/2026-club-team-preview-club-iowa-juniors-17-black/">HERE</a>. It's a squad coming off a successful 2025 with new additions that could make this season even more special.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From this weekend, CIA showed it will be strong in the middle with [player_tooltip player_id='818213' first='Ryanne' last='Brubaker'] (Marquette) and [player_tooltip player_id='533587' first='Carlea' last='Dagel']. It certainly benefitted from a pair of dynamic six-rotation outside hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='389853' first='Kennedy' last='Krecklow'] and [player_tooltip player_id='495803' first='Ava' last='Jones'], and [player_tooltip player_id='493972' first='Tayah' last='Pollock'] showed again that she's a reliable and consistent setter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rockets - </strong>A preview of 17R can be found <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/12/2026-club-team-preview-iowa-rockets-17r/">HERE</a>. It's a squad with a strong foundation and interesting new parts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The foundation consists of dynamic middle [player_tooltip player_id='493658' first='Hattie' last='Galloway'] along with twins [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'] (Dayton) and [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'], at libero and setter, respectively. They play well off of each other having been together for years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='755481' first='Layla' last='Green'] and [player_tooltip player_id='840251' first='Dani' last='Piper'] are back from 15R. They're springy, athletic and versatile in the front row. Grinnell's [player_tooltip player_id='555788' first='Kendra' last='Nolton'] moves over from United, providing this team with another hammer at the pin. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CIA - </strong>We dropped a <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/12/2026-club-team-preview-club-iowa-juniors-16-black/">16 Black season preview</a> a while back. I caught much of this roster in action multiple times a year ago when it was 15 Black.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='730396' first='Caitlyn' last='Schneider']'s game is one I've come to appreciate watching her last season in club and this fall at Union. She showed again this weekend that she's a bouncy middle with a good feel for the game and a versatile skill set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six-rotation outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='902985' first='Jenna' last='Blythe'] impressed me last year, especially at the Iowa Regional. It looked like she'd take another step forward with her performance at the state tournament and again at the M1 scrimmages. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='755663' first='Adeana' last='Murch'] rocked at the pin in helping Denver win another state championship in 2025. She proved proficient at running the show at setter for 15 Black last year and was sharp again at the spot this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='804567' first='Anna' last='Embretson'] and Jaylin Burkle are interesting prospects with six rotation capabilities. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rockets - </strong>A 16R team preview for this season can be found <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/12/2026-club-team-preview-iowa-rockets-16r/">HERE</a>. The core of the roster is connected from coming up together through the age levels. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter [player_tooltip player_id='730426' first='Hazel' last='Schluckebier'] is a personal favorite. East Side, stand up. A complete player at the position with an emerging pin game, she improves each time I watch her play in person. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='730449' first='Kylee' last='Suhr'] has been a major player in the middle of the net for years. Like Schluckebier, the Williamsburg sophomore is continually improving. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='805108' first='Charleigh' last='Whitford'] has flashed six-rotation abilities for a few years now. [player_tooltip player_id='773976' first='Rachel' last='McCaulley'] shined as a two-way middle that should lead to success in club and at Pleasant Valley next fall, and [player_tooltip player_id='922709' first='Alexa' last='Millius'] hit well from both pins. [player_tooltip player_id='760844' first='Maryn' last='Sherman'] was a lefty with upside on the right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CIA - </strong>I watched the bulk of this roster compete throughout last season on 14 Black. It earned a USAV Nationals bid at the Iowa Regional Tournament and competed with the best in the state's age group throughout the campaign. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Tama's [player_tooltip player_id='769693' first='Stella' last='Zmolek'] ('28) brings a big swing to the opposite pin and is expanding her game. Taylor Kriegal is a steady hand at setter, trending towards making an impact at Marion beginning next season. Grundy Center has a good one in [player_tooltip player_id='891599' first='Charlee' last='Kirkpatrick'], who provided significant contributions to the Spartans' run to the state semifinals as a freshman this past fall. [player_tooltip player_id='754872' first='Natalie' last='Rausch'] looked capable of six-rotation contributions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rockets - </strong>This is the team I watched the most this weekend. It was done with a rooting interest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like with CIA 15 Black, expect 15R to rank among the state's best in this age group. United 15-1 Elite would be a clear favorite, but it's pretty wide open after that. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's 15R roster was led by [player_tooltip player_id='759977' first='Abbey' last='Kirk'], who did the same on 14R a year ago. The six-rotation outside from Marion was one of only three freshmen to earn all-state honors in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I wrote about [player_tooltip player_id='789484' first='Avrielle' last='Ohda'] during last year's Iowa Regional, when she was playing for a Pleasant Valley club that earned a USAV bid in finishing second in 14U. An impressive vertical leap stands out as does her heavy swing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='918371' first='Kaylin' last='Davis'] is a cerebral setter with a well-rounded skill set, and [player_tooltip player_id='889863' first='Ainsley' last='Conrad'] also played consistently well at that position. The same could be said for [player_tooltip player_id='782157' first='Maggie' last='Jensen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='780596' first='Audrey' last='Howe'] in the back row. [player_tooltip player_id='760983' first='Finley' last='Batchelder'], [player_tooltip player_id='931274' first='Emerson' last='Ehrke'], [player_tooltip player_id='890305' first='Johanna' last='Shaffer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='918377' first='Maleah' last='Wedo'] all delivered positive contributions at the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->