Potential ’26 Breakouts in Back Row

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/06/setters-with-breakout-potential-in-2026/" id="https://prepdig.com/2026/06/setters-with-breakout-potential-in-2026/">Setters with Breakout Potential in 2026</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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>Life comes at you fast. So does volleyball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we hit the middle of June, high school teams are conducting open gyms. The start of training camps are a month and a half away. No time like the present to look ahead at what we might go down in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Many recognizable names will be back on courts around the state. Others will emerge. That's our focus for this series. It's a rundown of student-athletes with breakout potential in the prep ranks for 2026. We'll split the players up by position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue with defensive specialists/liberos:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='776054' first='Espyn' last='Decker'], 2029, Wapsie Valley/Six Pack:</strong> With Decker leading a Wapsie Valley team that reached the state tournament with 283 digs last year, it's probably silly calling for a breakout. Fair enough. That being said, Decker did not receive any postseason recognition for her contributions, something that will be an isolated incident when looking back at her prep career. Decker has a case for being the top back-row performer in the state's 2029 Class. So, this isn't a call for a breakout in terms of production. It's one where Decker will be acknowledged for her level of ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='956552' first='Kaci' last='Hodgson'], 2029, Western Dubuque</strong>/<strong>DBQ County WDVB</strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dubuque County Western Dubuque Volleyball Club has been one of the top 15U club teams in the state for 2026. The squad received a trickle down Freedom Division bid to this months USAV National Tournament in Indianapolis. Hodgson has served as a steady presence in the back row. She's looked like a player ready to contribute on the varsity level with her calmness and consistency. Western Dubuque returns its leader in digs from a year ago. The player that was second has graduated. That could open the door for a Hodgson breakout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='782418' first='Claire' last='Scherbring'], 2029, West Delaware/CIA: </strong>West Delaware and CIA are similar programs in that they consistently field competitive teams with talented rosters. They develop players, regularly reloading with new pieces. Scherbring has competed at a high level for a CIA outfit that qualified in the USA Division of the USAV National Tournament with a third-place finish at the Iowa Regional. The Hawks will be looking for back-row help with the graduation of three of the top four leaders in digs from a year ago. A breakout could very well be loading.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='498069' first='Kaelyn' last='Rinehart'], 2028, Ankeny Centennial/United Timmerman:</strong> Like Decker, Rinehart breaking out this fall will be in relation to an increased level of production bringing recognition as an all-state quality performer. The Ankeny Centennial junior ranked third on the team with 265 digs in 40 matches during the Jaguars' first-ever run to the Class 5A state title match last year. They graduated their libero, opening the door up for Rinehart to wear the jersey as she has for United this club campaign, when it qualified for the National Division at USAV Nationals this month in Indianapolis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='775051' first='Ingrid' last='Secory'], 2028, Waukee/PowerPlex: </strong>I've had the opportunity to scout PowerPlex 16 Nelson multiple times throughout the 2026 club campaign. It's a roster packed with high-level talent that can overshadow important role players that helped the team secure an American Division bid at this month's USAV Nationals in Indy. Secory would be one of those performers. She's been rock solid as a defensive specialist. Waukee graduated key contributors in the back row, which would provide Secory an opportunity to impact the action for a strong Warriors team this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->