Even More Names to Know from ’26 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge

<!-- 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/2026/05/photo-gallery-i-2026-mizuno-midwest-jva-challenge/">Photo Gallery I: 2026 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/05/photo-gallery-ii-2026-mizuno-midwest-jva-challenge/">Photo Gallery II: 2026 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/05/photo-gallery-iii-2026-mizuno-midwest-jva-challenge/">Photo Gallery III: 2026 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/05/best-pictures-from-2026-mizuno-midwest-jva-challenge/">Best Pictures from 2026 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/05/recapping-what-i-saw-at-26-mizuno-midwest-jva-challenge/?itm_source=parsely-api">Recapping What I Saw at '26 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2026 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge went down during the first weekend of May in Central Iowa. Teams competed at the EMC Expo Center in downtown Des Moines and at the RecPlex in West Des Moines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'd previously written evaluations for a lot of this event's competitors in 2026. I was scouting others for the first time during the club campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This rundown will include players I'd not yet evaluated:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["729453"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0472bf8f72f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I first happened upon Alexander when watching her operate for Powerplex at last year's Northern Lights National Qualifier in Minneapolis. A Van Meter freshman at the time, she was swinging away from the pin and playing six rotations. Alexander went on to pound out 207 kills (.236) in 94 sets as a Bulldog sophomore last fall. She added 24.0 blocks and 86 digs. I caught up with her again at the 2026 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge during the first weekend of May in Central Iowa. Back with PowerPlex, Alexander was swinging away from the right side. She added to the heavy swing I'd witnessed a year ago, grew a bit taller and continued utilizing her long arms in generating power. Alexander has a good feel for throwing up the block, flowing with the action and reading the opposing attack well. Versatility is one of her best traits. Alexander could be effective at any of the three front-row spots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["987305"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a047635cae4e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Berning experienced a breakout season of sorts as a Western Dubuque sophomore in 2025. She started as a first-year varsity player, producing 181 kills (.264) in 92 sets for the Bobcats. She added 24.0 blocks and 19 digs. I got a chance to scout Berning in person at the 2026 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge during the first weekend of May in Central Iowa. She was lining up for an Adrenaline team that finished fifth in the Open Division. An explosive leaper with bounce off of the court, Berning was delivering from the pin. She does well in getting on top of the ball and directing the attack through holes in the defense. Berning reads the block keenly and picks her spots. Her talents also lead to success as a blocker. Berning is one to watch in 2026 as a performer ready to take another step forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["987319"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0495f01511d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ironically, Stallman stood out to me for the first time as an athlete when scouting the Kennedy basketball team this past winter. She started for the Cougars, ranking second in three-pointers made, and third in scoring and assists. I hadn't gotten a chance to evaluate her during the volleyball campaign last fall, when she paced Kennedy in digs with 381 in 112 sets. I finally did get a chance to see her volleyball exploits when watching her compete for an Adrenaline team that finished fifth in the 16U Open Division at the 2026 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge during the first weekend of May in Central Iowa. Stallman was controlling the back row for the squad as its libero. She moved well laterally and showed burst in covering the court in front of her, too. Stallman delivers precise passes when defending against the attack and in serve-receive. She communicates well with her teammates and brings energy to the action. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["826795"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0495f01517e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mueller enjoyed a solid sophomore season for Cedar Rapids Kennedy in 2025. The young middle hitter contributed 79 kills (.201) in 33 matches, which included 32 starts and 90 sets. She ranked third on the squad with 37.0 blocks and showed off her athleticism and agility in coming up with 65 digs. That all was on display when I watched Mueller competing with Adrenaline at the 2026 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge during the first weekend of May in Central Iowa. The team finished fifth in the Open Division with the Kennedy 10th-grader proving a factor as a two-way presence in the middle of the net. Mueller is advanced as a blocker, reading and flowing with the attack well, getting in proper position and taking advantage of her long arms. She has a good feel for how to direct the ball off of the block, too. Mueller can put the ball down with authority already and has room to develop in that area, which makes her future one to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["959503"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a049819202a6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Haun tends to get lost in the sea of talent on Six Pack's 15U outfit this club campaign. The runners-up at the USAV Iowa Regional Tournament earlier this season, that team finished second when I watched it again at the 2026 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge during the first weekend of May in Central Iowa. It's a squad I've seen a lot this year. It benefits from Haun's versatility. Capable of lining up anywhere across the front row thanks to her bounce and athleticism, she fills an important role at the opposite pin for Six Pack. Haun adjusts well to sets from the right side, finding ways to mount an effective attack. There's heaviness to the swing. Haun also flashes potential as a blocker with her leaping ability and longer arms for her height. She developed on the Western Dubuque freshman team last fall. With the advances she's experienced in club ball, a breakout could very well be loading for the Bobcat varsity in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->