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":["770463"],"_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-6a01343a33433"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Juergens looked comfortable running a 6-2 system with PowerPlex when I saw her competing at the '26 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge during the first week of May in Des Moines. That was after watching her play at the state tournament for Dallas Center-Grimes last November. Juergens appeared in 29 matches, starting three, as a Mustang sophomore in 2025. She was receiving more reps as a setter with PowerPlex and performing well with the opportunity. Technically sound in playing the position, Juergens is athletic and moves well around the court. She has a good feel for where the attackers like the ball and puts the right amount of air under it. Juergens is a solid defender at the net and in the back row as well as being reliable in serve-receive. She's one to watch in 2026 as a prospect capable of breaking out with more reps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["768227"],"_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-6a01353e638bd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When I watched United 16 Elite Timmerman earlier this season at the President's Day event in St. Louis, Gerke was not operating as the team's libero. She lined up there when I caught up with the squad at the '26 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge during the first weekend in May in Des Moines. It won the 16 Open championship at the event with the Ankeny Centennial sophomore operating in the back row. I saw the three-set match against PowerPlex, where Gerke matched up well against a strong attack and collection of servers. Listed as an outside hitter on the 2025 Ankeny Centennial junior varsity roster, Gerke appeared comfortable and effective of carrying out the responsibilities associated with wearing the jersey. She's a good athlete that moves quickly and smoothy laterally. Gerke reads the ball well on the attack and in serve-receive. The Jaguars lost quite a bit to graduation after last year's run to the state championship match, and Gerke looks capable of challenging for a spot in the rotation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["942743"],"_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-6a013d794ab52"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I first scouted Demmer in person during the USAV Iowa Regional tournament, when she was setting for a Western Dubuque Volleyball club that finished sixth in the event after entering it at the sixth seed. Demmer was a steady hand in the matches I witnessed. The same could be said for her performance at the '26 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge during the first weekend in May in Des Moines, where WDVB ended up tied for third in the 15 Open Division. The team earned a trickle-down bid to this summer's USAV National Tournament in Indianapolis, where it can be dangerous with Demmer running the show. She's tall with long arms for the position, helping her extension in setting the ball for attackers and in defending at the net. A good athlete with fluid actions, Demmer does well in serve-receive, too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["893729"],"_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-6a01feb75bde2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/10/scouting-reports-mount-vernon-mustangs-2025/" id="https://prepdig.com/2025/10/scouting-reports-mount-vernon-mustangs-2025/">wrote about Paulus</a> after scouting her in person at the Westside Invitational last October in Cedar Rapids. The sophomore looked to be packed with potential competing against a strong field for the defending state champions. Mount Vernon returns a lot of firepower this fall and should be formidable again. Paulus can be considered an important component for that optimism if what I saw at the 2026 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge during early May in Des Moines is any indication. She was standing out through six rotations for an Adrenaline team that impressively finished fifth in the Open Division. Paulus is an explosive athlete that generates good power in her swing after leaping up high in her vertical and getting on top of the ball. She reads the block well and finds soft spots in the defense. Paulus is a good athlete with good reflexes that moves well laterally, making her an effective performer in the back row. I feel good about putting Paulus high on my list of breakout candidates for 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["693817"],"_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-6a02043fc56ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Oliver played an important role in helping Marion reach the state tournament last fall. The sophomore came up with 230 digs, starting all 42 of the Wolves' matches and playing in 109 sets. She added 10 kills and 16 assists. After being impressed with her back-row work at the state tournament, Oliver stood out for her athleticism and explosion when I watched her competing with Adrenaline at the 2026 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge during. The squad finished fifth in the 16U Open Division with her holding it down in the back row but also getting in some swings at the outside pin. I wasn't sure how it would go until seeing her explode off the court with a crazy vertical and a heavy swing. Oliver flashes the potential to play six rotations more often but, no matter what, her versatility is an asset for teams being able to plug her in at the position of need.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->