12 New Names We’re Following after Prep Dig Iowa Clash

From a scout's perspective, Prep Dig events are all about surprises and discoveries.   This is especially true every time I'm able to cross state lines to cover these tournaments and showcases. I entered last weekend's Prep Dig Iowa Clash as the "Nebraska outsider" eager to find new, up-and-coming stars from around the Midwest. Nothing compares to the excitement of adding hidden gems to our radar, and it has become a focus of my event coverage over the last six years.   And I had a lot to learn from the Iowa Clash. Here are a dozen athletes who made an instant impression and put their names on the must-watch list heading into the spring.    Why not start in the Badger Region? Misky anchored the frontcourt for Fusion 18 Nationals, a Wisconsin visitor that made the most of its trip to Des Moines. This group set the tone with its physicality at the net, and Misky spearheaded this effort in the middle. The Cuba City junior also has the flexibility to shift over to the right side, adding to her expanding influence with her 18s squad.     Ostmeyer is a multi-sport star who also exhibits her versatility on the volleyball court. She's a pin-to-pin terminator who can carry a large offensive burden on either side of the setter. Moreover, her wing blocking helped Mayhattan Mayhem shut down some of the best hitters the Iowa Clash had to offer. Ostmeyer has takeover potential in any phase.     Januelwicz has made her mark as a first-contact gem, but the Iowa Clash rewrote our scouting reports. This dynamic athlete shouldered six-rotation outside hitter responsibilities with Iowa PowerPlex 17U Brogean last weekend. She wielded an explosive step-close that made her a leading out-of-system attacking candidate. Janulewicz can do it all.     Let's continue our theme of all-around pin standouts in the Iowa PowerPlex gym. Jondle is the kind of left-side hitter who doesn't need to light up the scoreboard to make an impact. She gave opposing passers fits with her wicked serve, catalyzing several rousing set victories for 17U Mendoza. Last weekend's runner-up finish has put Jondle on our watch list for the Midwest club circuit.     Molden's skillset is ready-made for the M1 position. The Johnston sophomore has a rare combination of lateral agility and attacking range in two-hitter rotations. We also watched 16U Nelson wield Molden as a serving asset in Rotation 6--a rare strategy at the club level. This is a middle blocker you want on the court as much as possible.     RVA 17U Boahen competed in a tough opening pool at the Iowa Clash, allowing us to get a full glimpse of the team's go-to attackers. Mudd fit this distinction and locked down the team's right pin in Des Moines. The Ballard High School standout soared to a 0.348 hitting clip with the Bombers last fall, and her high-efficiency work has flourished further on the club side.     Let's add to RVA's frontcourt prowess. Kline soared among her Class of 2028 peers in the 16s division and compiled an impressive highlight tape along the way. Aside from her willingness to take on a ton of hitting volume, Kline can also step into the passing pattern and stabilize 16U Jensen's serve receive. It's exactly what we'd expect from one of RVA's leaders.     Iowa PowerPlex's 2028 depth was apparent through its 1-2 sweep in the Clash's 16 division. Kelley was a lethal gap attacker for 16U Chapman and could run a diverse route tree in the front row. She boasts a large attacking window that makes her a setter's best friend in in-system situations. Her development is just getting started.     While Kelley was a menace in the middle for 16U Chapman, Connolly brought the hammer on the outside. The West Des Moines Valley prospect brought some of the most eye-popping heat in the Horizon Events Center. Her crosscourt shots were the most effective, but Connolly could also crank down the line when given the chance. Our list of sophomore stars keeps growing.     We couldn't miss the opportunity to cover RISE's high-flying opposite. Eischeid exhibited a knack for finding open windows at the net and snapping on the ball with incredible pace. That range made her a matchup nightmare at the Iowa Clash, and RISE 712 took full advantage. Look out for Eischeid's underdog team in future regional battles.     SWI3D's all-around talent was especially stark at the setter spot. The club's 17 Black group broke into the final 17/18 Open Gold bracket, and Klutts guided that triumph with her ball control skills. She took the reins of Logan-Magnolia's offense last fall, so her emergence with SWI3D is another big step in Klutts' upward trend.     Even my local Nebraska squads were full of surprises. Ruch's ever-expanding role with Nebraska Elite 15 Apex's offense was apparent when she competed in Des Moines last weekend. The Ruch name is already synonymous with dominant performances at the middle blocker spot, but this latest iteration has grown her positional range. She has already proven to be a force in the middle or at opposite, giving 15 Apex plenty of options heading into qualifiers.

From a scout's perspective, Prep Dig events are all about surprises and discoveries.