7 Uncommitted Iowa 2027s to Watch at Regional Qualifier

<!-- 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/2026/03/previewing-iowa-regional-volleyball-16u-tournament/">Previewing Iowa Regional Volleyball 16U Tournament</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/03/closer-look-at-iowa-regional-volleyball-17u-tournament/">Closer Look at Iowa Regional Volleyball 17U Tournament</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/03/in-state-18s-vying-for-national-bids-at-iowa-regional/" id="https://prepdig.com/2026/03/in-state-18s-vying-for-national-bids-at-iowa-regional/">In-State 18s Vying for National Bids at Iowa Regional</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I won't pretend to know more than college volleyball coaches when it comes to the sport. That said, I watch an awful lot of it and have a pretty good idea which kids are capable of playing at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, there are levels to the next level. Not all programs and scholarships are created equal. The most important part of a student-athlete's recruiting process is finding a school that works best for her. The best fit, as they say.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Volleyball recruiting is significantly different than football or basketball, which often unfold publicly. Volleyball mostly takes place in private. You don't see kids announcing offers or lists of Top 5 schools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scholarship offers and interest arrive on June 15 after a volleyball player's sophomore year. That's the first direct contact between college staff and athlete permitted by NCAA rules. It usually doesn't take long for verbal commitments to come rolling in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As someone that's reported on football and basketball recruiting, I think the volleyball process does a disservice to student-athletes, but that's a story for another day. I'd be happy to discuss it in person if you see me at an event. I'd like to steer this write-up back to its intent - highlighting 10 uncommitted, college-level seniors-to-be competing at this weekend's Iowa Regional Qualifier in West Des Moines and Ankeny. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>United 17-1 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clear Creek Amana</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm hoping Simpson has options and is still just sifting through them. With her busy schedule as a multiple-sport athlete, that would make sense. If it's that she doesn't have worthy options, then, I don't get it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simpson is all of 6-1 with long arms allowing her to play bigger than that. She's athletic and agile, getting up on the vertical and off of the court quickly. Power in her swing continues to tick up with more in there that can be tapped in a college strength and conditioning program. Her slide attack is effective, and Simpson could hit right side, adding versatility to her attractiveness as a next-level prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='555820' first='London' last='Taylor'], </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DS/L</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PowerPlex 17U Mendoza</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waukee Northwest</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What I wrote about Simpson applies to Taylor. If she's still trying to determine the best fit for her among offers, it's best to be as sure as possible. If there aren't already opportunities in line with ability, folks are missing out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor is taller for the back row but it works to her advantage, helping her cover more court with long arms to reach balls shorter players in the back row cannot. The quick-twitch athleticism and sharp reflexes are there. The natural gifts are complemented by a great feel for match flow, a high volleyball IQ, energy and communication.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490015' first='Mazie' last='Sweers']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Select 17 Mizuno</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pleasant Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I get that there might be some reluctance with Sweers. Let's face it, she's shorter than the cookie-cutter image of a outside hitter in college. I would point those folks to [player_tooltip player_id='800048' first='Kenzie' last='Moeller']. Dismissing Sweers based on height would be a mistake. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Moeller, Sweers is explosive off of the court with a heavy swing. She reads the block well with an ability to adjust thanks to the vertical and hang time in the air. The athleticism also aids in throwing up an effective block. On top of all that, Sweers has the flexibility to play setter, as she did for PV this past season, or hold it down in the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493658' first='Hattie' last='Galloway']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rockets 17R</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa City High </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I happen to have a little birdie with information here. Suffice it to say that interest level in Galloway is lacking relative to ability. And like others on this list, there's potential for much more than what we currently see. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Galloway is a good enough athlete to play college basketball. Heck, she may have more upside in that sport. It's hard to say. What isn't hard to identify is the explosiveness that combines with steadily improving strength and skills that have her on the way to reaching her potential. She's going to make some volleyball or basketball staff at the next level look smart. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495803' first='Ava' last='Jones']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CIA 17 Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waterloo West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've been a fan of Jones' game since I first saw her in person a few years ago. When a kid is undersized at the pin, watching live becomes a key component to scouting. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seeing Jones is believing in her skills. She gets off of the court quickly, rising up with a big vertical, and hangs in the air. Those traits along with proper technique lead to an effective attack against taller competition. Jones throws up a productive block, and her defense and passing from back row are consistently improving.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493982' first='Deidra' last='Doeden']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Salty 17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cherokee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The downside of living on the eastern side of the state means missing out on seeing players from the western part. There's a few club opportunities, here and there, but the state tournament is the best time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Doeden impressed the heck out of me in that setting last November. The junior came up with eight kills and four blocks during a three-set loss to Humboldt. Height, long arms, agility and a keen feel for the sport lead to current success and also provide reason for excitement for her future through further development.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='394331' first='Maggie' last='Leifker']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MH/RS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PowerPlex 17U Brogean</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dallas Center-Grimes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leifker seems to get overshadowed while playing alongside a lot of talented teammates in high school and club. Those teams win, and she's a key reason why they do. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leifker is a good athlete with a broad base of volleyball skills leading to versatility. She's effective as a two-way middle hitter capable of regularly ending points on the attack and blocking the opposition. She's also productive on the right side, looking just as comfortable there as when in the middle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->