Going Gauntlet Team Preview – Iowa Select 15 Mizuno

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   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.   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, <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> in our "Going Gauntlet" series leading up to the show.   I'll be putting together previews for the rest of our state's teams. Let's keep it going with a look at Iowa Select 15 Mizuno.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Iowa Select has enjoyed plenty of success though the years. It's been another strong season for the Quad Cities-based club with its top 16U team earning a National Division bid to this summer's USAV Nationals in Indianapolis. Its 17U squad secured a USA Division bid at the event. It felt like the 15U team could have made a run at a bid had the season been a little longer.   Iowa Select 15 Mizuno brought back the foundation of a team that won last year's USAV Iowa Regional Championship as 14s, earning a National Division bid at Nationals. It came back this year with high expectations.   As often happens in club volleyball, teams change from year to year. That's often a result of player movement, some more impactful than others. Chemistry and continuity are too frequently overlooked when it comes to finding success on the court. Coaching changes also impact the product.   It seemed like both of those factors effected Iowa Select 15 Mizuno at the outset of the 2026 club campaign. First, Brian Schubert stepped in for Micah Cewe as head coach. Both guys have established themselves to be excellent on the sideline, but they emphasize different parts of the game and are different stylistically. Secondly, the roster experienced change at key positions. It went from a tight rotation in 2025 to more kids contributing this year.   Early in the season, talented individual players struggled connecting. You'd witness moments of brilliance followed by detachment. They'd build leads in sets only to watch them disappear. That was happening as recently as the Show Me National Qualifier during April in Kansas City. If you looked closely, though, you could see the pieces coming together.   While desired consistency hadn't been reached when I watched 15 Mizuno compete at the 2026 Mizuno Midwest Challenge JVA earlier this month in Des Moines, the squad showed its potential in knocking off Rockets 15R, a team it just had lost to at Show Me, one that went on to beat United 15-1 Elite, a USAV Nationals Open Division qualifier, in this event.   It's that upside that gives me confidence Select can compete at a high level when it arrives at The Gauntlet. If it finds consistency, it's going to be a pain the backside for successful opponents in the field.   The team is at its best when [player_tooltip player_id='741877' first='Tenley' last='Cewe'] wears the jersey. One of the top back-row performers in Iowa's 2029 Class, the Clinton High product is coming off a freshman season that saw her lead the Queens in digs.   Select also boasts a top setter among 2029s playing for an Iowa club. Moline freshman [player_tooltip player_id='745251' first='Ava' last='Carlson'] is a new addition after lining up for United last year. A high volleyball IQ and skill level are the reasons the well-rounded floor leader recorded 100 kills, 100 digs, 39 assists and 16.0 blocks as a ninth-grader.   Kerby Germann ranks as a top athlete among 2029s competing for an Iowa club. The Fulton (IL) High freshman explodes off the court, rises up and generates a heavy swing from the pin or the 10-foot line. She's also improving in the back row.   The middle of the net is an area of strength for 15 Mizuno.   Davenport West's [player_tooltip player_id='764788' first='Tatum' last='Comer'] is a rising prospect after coming up with 59.0 blocks as a freshman in 2025. She's a good athlete with long arms and leaping ability. Orion (IL) High's Elli Mielke complements Comer well, keeping the production in the middle at a high level throughout the match.   Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='939100' first='Ruby' last='Stevens'] provides Select with another finisher at the pin. Agile and athletic, the Knight sophomore is capable of playing six rotations effectively.   One of the better opposite pins playing 15U club ball in Iowa this year, Sarah Mitton brings great energy to the court. The Illinois prep also can produce, as evidence by her averaging 2.1 kills with 38.9 blocks and 65 digs in 89 sets played as a freshman in 2025.   Moline's Jocelyn Womack solidifies Select's back-row defense. The team can comfortably run a 6-2 with Bettendorf freshman [player_tooltip player_id='946899' first='Jena' last='Laver'] stepping in at setter.   As mentioned, the pieces are present for Select to compete with the top competition at The Gauntlet. It's great opportunity to work towards ending the campaign on a high note and gain momentum heading into 2027, when many in this crew likely will be back in the black and red uniforms.

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area