Going Gauntlet Team Preview – Rockets 16R

<!-- 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 [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 16R, a team I've watched several times with a roster with which I'm pretty familiar. </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>One of the first teams I saw this season was [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 16R. The team was competing at the Rochester (MN) Elite M1 Scrimmages right after the first of the new year. <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/01/observations-from-26-m1-rochester-elite-scrimmages/" id="https://prepdig.com/2026/01/observations-from-26-m1-rochester-elite-scrimmages/">I wrote about what I saw</a> from that viewing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Later that month, I scout 16R again during the Iowa Invitational, where it won the 17/18U Division title. I <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/01/recapping-what-we-saw-at-2026-iowa-invitational/" id="https://prepdig.com/2026/01/recapping-what-we-saw-at-2026-iowa-invitational/">worked up a report</a> on the squad from that event, too. A few weeks later, there was <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/02/notebook-proud-dad-at-presidents-day-classic/" id="https://prepdig.com/2026/02/notebook-proud-dad-at-presidents-day-classic/">a write-up</a> from me seeing it in St. Louis as the Nike President's Day Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team showed throughout the season that it can play at a high level when the components are connected. It's been building to reach its potential with a strong performance in the Premier Division at the AAU National Tournament during late June in Orlando. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockets 16R will tune up for that important event against tough competition at the Prep Dig Gauntlet. I'm looking forward to receiving a fresh look at it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's always fun watching setter [player_tooltip player_id='730426' first='Hazel' last='Schluckebier'] compete. The Iowa City High junior-to-be runs a clean operation and steadily completes all the tasks required of the position. She's continuing to improve from the pin and in the back row working in a 6-2 for this team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Schluckebier makes an on-court living feeding a talented group of attackers. That starts in the middle of the net with Williamsburg standout [player_tooltip player_id='730449' first='Kylee' last='Suhr']. She is one of the most improved players that I've watched this season and is turning into a very dynamic, two-way performer up front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Suhr is a riser, her parter at middle hitter, [player_tooltip player_id='773976' first='Rachel' last='McCaulley'], is breaking out this club campaign by taking her game to another level. The Pleasant Valley junior-to-be impacts matches with a heavy swing and an improving block. She's getting a better feel for reading the opposing attack and timing her resistance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solon's [player_tooltip player_id='768502' first='Charleigh' last='Whitford'] is a volleyball Swiss Army Knife. She explodes off of the court at the pin, generating velocity in the swing and reading the block well. Whitford also holds up very well in the back row against the opposing attack and in serve-receive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libero [player_tooltip player_id='759979' first='Julianna' last='Montez'] continually gains consistency and is a player that limits mistakes. The Muscatine senior-to-be covers a lot of court with good instincts, quick reflexes and by flowing well with the action. She's always communicating with teammates and in helping to keep everyone connected. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='751549' first='Katherine' last='Barickman'] provides Rockets 16R with another standout setter. The Geneseo (IL) High junior-to-be joins McCaulley as one of the breakout players for me this club season. She benefits from height and long arms, which help her achieve good extension on her sets, attack and block. She's also improving in serve-receive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linn-Mar's [player_tooltip player_id='922709' first='Alexa' last='Millius'] has shown the capability of being effective at both pins. That versatility has proven valuable as has that of teammates on this squad, [player_tooltip player_id='891576' first='Julia' last='Settles'] (Pella) and [player_tooltip player_id='547963' first='Grace' last='Kremer'] (Pleasant Valley). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grinnell senior-to-be [player_tooltip player_id='760844' first='Maryn' last='Sherman'] caught my attention early in the prep season with her play Iowa City West's Live Like Line Tournament. The lefty has continued her ascent for Rockets at the opposite pin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->