Going Gauntlet Team Preview – Iowa United 16-2 Elite

<!-- 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><br>I'm looking forward to checking out my first Prep Dig Gauntlet June 6-7 in suburban Milwaukee. Iowa will be well represented across the 15-17 age groups at the competitive, pre-USAV Nationals event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've been fortunate enough to have seen most of the Iowa 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>I'll be putting together previews for the rest of our state's teams. Here's a look at&nbsp;&nbsp;Iowa United 16-2 Elite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/05/going-gauntlet-team-preview-united-16-elite-timmerman/" id="https://prepdig.com/2026/05/going-gauntlet-team-preview-united-16-elite-timmerman/">recently wrote about Iowa United 16 Timmerman</a> competing in The Gauntlet when it showed the team participating in the event on AES. It's no longer listed among the teams involved but United Elite 16-2 has been added to the mix.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>United 16-2 will join United Elite 16-1 in this premier late-season event. You can read about Elite 16-1 <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/05/going-gauntlet-team-preview-iowa-united-16-1-elite/" id="https://prepdig.com/2026/05/going-gauntlet-team-preview-iowa-united-16-1-elite/">HERE</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At last month's Mizuno JVA Midwest Challenge in Des Moines, Elite 16-2 finished fifth in the Club Division. It won four of five matches, claiming victories against RVA, Kokoro and Nebraska Juniors along the way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been a successful season overall for United Elite 16-2. It posted a 5-2 record competing at the Windy City National Qualifier during April in Chicago. It was 6-1 and finished fifth at the Nike President's Day Classic in St. Louis. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With United 16 Elite Timmerman and 16-1 Elite both qualifying for the USAV Nationals this summer in Indianapolis, the program is loaded with talent in the age group. That's further evidenced by the quality of players on Elite 16-2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clear Creek Amana held the top ranking in Class 4A throughout last season en route to making it back to another state tournament, where it advanced to the semifinals. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='902716' first='Kendall' last='Ronnfeldt'] started all 46 of the varsity matches, coming up with a team-best 355 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holy Trinity's [player_tooltip player_id='992682' first='Olivia' last='Bendlage'] is a bouncy outside hitter with good lift off of the court and a sound swing. She'll be looking to build on a 2025 sophomore season that saw her accumulated 215 kills (.212) and 285 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='819593' first='Talulah' last='Schroeder'] started as a sophomore for Benton last season. She proved to be impactful through six rotations, recording 207 kills (.153) and picking up 227 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='992691' first='Bentley' last='Rust'] from Prairie is taking another step forward in her progression for United after a sophomore year of 2025 that saw shine. The young middle hitter started all 38 of the team's matches, producing 101 kills and posting 78.0 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='849582' first='Ava' last='Frank'] enjoyed a super season in Linn-Mar's back row last fall. The sophomore came up with 362 digs and added 52 assists, showing she can process the two-ball into useful passes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='847955' first='Sierra' last='Crowner'] got her feet wet as a sophomore for a Mid-Prairie squad that reached the state tournament for a second year in a row. [player_tooltip player_id='762291' first='Beckett' last='Kruse'] saw swings on the Solon varsity as a 10th-grader last season and could be in line for a larger role with advancements made during this club campaign. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='992684' first='Tabitha' last='Letts'] spent the last prep season developing on the junior varsity for a strong Center Point-Urbana program. The same could be said for Nadia Pint, who is coming up through the Prairie system. South Tama's Layla Pansegrau is a versatile setter looking to increase her role on the varsity this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->