Going Gauntlet Team Preview – Iowa Rockets 15R

<!-- 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></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm looking forward to checking out my first Prep Dig Gauntlet June 6-7 in suburban Milwaukee. Nine Iowa teams across the 15-17 age groups will be representing the state at the competitive, pre-USAV Nationals event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've been fortunate enough to have seen seven of the nine teams in person. One of the ones I did not catch, Iowa Premier 16-1,&nbsp;<a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/05/going-gauntlet-iowa-premier-16-1-claims-open-bid/?itm_source=parsely-api">was written about by Prep Dig's Chris Fitzgerald</a>&nbsp;in our "Going Gauntlet" series leading up to the show.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll be putting together previews for the rest of our state's teams. Here's a look at Iowa Rockets 15R. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockets 15R is a team that is more familiar to me than any other club squad in Iowa. Most of the regular readers of my copy (thank you!) understand why. Our daughter is on the roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm interested to see how 15R does against really good competition at the Prep Dig Gauntlet, its final official tuneup before traveling to the USAV Nationals later next month in Indianapolis. It will be competing in the American Division there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockets faced an interesting schedule this season. Early on, they tackled the Rochester (MN) M1 Elite scrimmages, and the Open Divisions at the JVC Winter Classic in Milwaukee and the Nike President's Day Classic in St. Louis. Other than that, they played up in older age groups at smaller, local tournaments, until the Iowa Regionals in late March. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A fourth-place finish at the state championships earned 15R a Freedom Division bid at Nationals. The team has since received a trickle-down American Division bid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During that stretch of time, the Rockets challenged themselves. They competed at two of the region's most difficult events. They finished 29th in the Open Division at the Adidas Windy City National Qualifier in Chicago without an injured top player for much of the tournament. They were ninth in the USA Division at the ASICS Show Me National Qualifier in Kansas City. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mizuno Midwest Challenge JVA earlier this month in Des Moines was 15R's last competition. It finished third in a field that included some of the state's top teams. After not winning its pool, 15R rebounded with a Gold Bracket win against United 15-1 Elite, which qualified for Nationals in the Open Division and won the Iowa Regional. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockets will seek consistency they can utilize at Nationals while lining up at the Gauntlet. They hope to have standout six-rotation outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='759977' first='Abbey' last='Kirk'], who is working her way through an illness. The Marion student is one of Iowa's top 2029s, influencing matches all around the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='789484' first='Avrielle' last='Ohda'] is a prospect on the rise that's developing as a six-rotation performer. As it is, the Pleasant Valley product is showing this club season that she owns one of the heaviest swings from the pin among in-state freshmen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='782157' first='Maggie' last='Jensen'] is emerging as one of the class's better back-row players. The Williamsburg libero teams with [player_tooltip player_id='780596' first='Audrey' last='Howe'], a defensive specialist from Iowa City High, in creating a formidable presence in the back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='917911' first='Kaylin' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='889863' first='Ainsley' last='Conrad'] provide 15R with a dynamic duo a setter. They're versatile players at the position. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='890305' first='Johanna' last='Shaffer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='917914' first='Maleah' last='Wedo'] impact matches in the middle of the net. They're both adept at throwing up the block and own emerging attacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Opposite pins [player_tooltip player_id='931274' first='Emerson' last='Ehrke'] and [player_tooltip player_id='760983' first='Finley' last='Batchelder'] are two of the most improved players I've watched this season. The latter will be trying to return from an ankle injury suffered at the Mizuno Midwest Challenge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->